Find Your Adoption Competent Therapist Here
Every family’s journey with adoption and/or guardianship is unique, having the right support can make all the difference. Adoption-competent therapists are caring mental health professionals who have completed specialized training to better understand the unique experiences of adopted children, youth, and their families. Through adoption competency training, therapists learn how to address important issues such as identity, attachment, grief and loss, and family dynamics with compassion and sensitivity. Their expertise helps ensure that every family member feels seen, supported, and empowered to build stronger, healthier connections.
The Heart Galleries of Texas (HGTX), in partnership with the National Center for Adoption Competent Mental Health Services, has launched an initiative to expand access to quality adoption competent care. Through this program, we have recruited and trained a cohort of dedicated therapists from across the state who are ready to walk alongside families like yours. With their specialized knowledge and guidance, you can feel confident that your family is supported by professionals who truly understand adoption and are committed to helping your relationships thrive.
Adoption Competent Therapists in Texas
You can explore our list of adoption competent therapists here and find the right fit for your family. This is a new initiative, and we will add more therapists over time. If you have any questions about this list, please contact Samantha.Thompson@austin.utexas.edu
| Name | Location | Agency/Business | Bio | Website | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allison Baker, LPC-S | Austin | SAFE Alliance | abaker@safeaustin.org | Website | |
| Andrea Daniels, LCSW | Houston | Renewed Vision Behavioral Health Services | Therapist Bio | info@renewedvisionbhs.com | Website |
| Angeliqueca Avery, LPC-S | Port Author | Infinite Potential | infinite.potential@live.com | Website | |
| Anna Reed McBee, LCSW | Austin | Austin Center for Eating Disorders | Therapist Bio | anna@acedatx.com | Website |
| Annie Atwood, LCSW-S | Houston | The Sanctuary Foster Care Services | aatwood@sanctuaryfostercare.org | Website | |
| Carla Pelcastre, LCSW-S | Austin | Second Wave Counseling | Therapist Bio | info@secondwavecounseling.com | Website |
| Carol Stilwill, LPC | Boerne | Roy Mass Youth Alternative | cstilwill@rmya.org | Website | |
| Carrie Moore, LCSW-S | Fort Worth | Children’s Health: Rees-Jones Center for Foster Care Excellence | carrie.Moore@Childrens.com | Website | |
| Christina Foxhall, LCSW-S | Austin | SAFE Alliance | cfoxhall@safeaustin.org | Website | |
| Corina A. Marrufo, LCSW | Horizon City/El Paso | El Paso Child Guidance Center | cmarrufo@epcgc.org | Website | |
| Diana Q Miles, LCSW | San Antonio | Roy Mass Youth Alternative | dmiles@ryma@org | Website | |
| Earley Regina Barnes-Ullrich, LCSW-S | Leander | Hopeful Waters Wellness | Therapist Bio | earley@hopefulwaterswellness.com | Website |
| Elena Hampton, LMSW | Arlington | elenahampton22@gmail.com | |||
| Elizabeth Barrientes, LPC-S | Kingsville | Distinctive Counseling and Consulting | Therapist Bio | elizabeth.barrientes2022@gmail.com | Website |
| Jacqueline Difiore, LPC | Corpus Christi | Unity Mental Health Counseling | jacqueline.difiore@unitymhc.org | Website | |
| Jennifer Hester, LPC-Associate | Galveston | Family Services Center | jhester@fscgal.org | Website | |
| Jessica Dominy, LMSW | Livingston | Hopeful Waters Wellness, PLLC | Therapist Bio | jessdomi17@gmail.com | Website |
| Joy Kramer, LPC | Dallas | Buckner Children and Family Services | joy.kramer@buckner.org | Website | |
| Julia Gibson, LCSW | Austin | Live Oak Therapy Collective | Therapist Bio | juliaelizabethgibson@gmail.com | Website |
| Kaitlyn Christian, LPC, RPT | Dallas | Gladney | Therapist Bio | kaitlyn.christian@gladney.org | Website |
| Kara Leon, LCSW | Fort Worth | Gladney | Therapist Bio | kara.leon@gladney.org | Website |
| Kasey Nightingale, LMSW | Austin | Second Wave Counseling | Therapist Bio | hello@KaseyNightingale.com | Website |
| Katherine Watson, LCSW-S | Austin | Anchored Hope Therapy | Therapist Bio | ktawatson.counseling@gmail.com | Website |
| Kaysha Herd, LPC | Austin/Georgetown, TX | Kaysha Herd, MA, LPC | Therapist Bio | kaysha.lpc@gmail.com | Website |
| Kiante Conger, LCSW | Fort Worth | Gladney | Therapist Bio | kiante.conger@gladney.org | Website |
| Kristen Meeks, LCSW | Lubbock | Texas Boys and Girls Ranch | kristenmeeks@yahoo.com | Website | |
| Maria Cristina Diaz, LPC | El Paso | El Paso Child Guidance Center | mdiaz@epcgc.org | Website | |
| Michelle Koudsi, LMSW | Houston | Safe Space Therapeutic | Therapist Bio | michelle@thechronicallyempowered.com | Website |
| Mirakal McGill, LPC | Corpus Christi | Distinctive Counseling and Consulting | Therapist Bio | mmmcgill71@gmail.com | Website |
| Morgan Draper, LPC, Certified Play Therapist | Houston | Gladney | Therapist Bio | morgan.draper@gladney.org | Website |
| Naquasha Riser, LPC | Austin | Pursuit of Happiness | naquasha.riser@gmail.com | Website | |
| Natalie Wash, LPC | Dallas | Children’s Health: Rees-Jones Center for Foster Care Excellence | natalie.wash@childrens.com | Website | |
| Nicole Malone, LMSW | Austin | Nicolemalone214@gmail.com | |||
| Robertah Rodriguez, LPC-A | Lubbock | TX Boys and Girls Ranch | rrodriguez@txgbr.org | Website | |
| Ro’Linder Taylor, LCSW-S | Houston | Just Wright Therapeutic Solutions | Therapist Bio | justwrighttherapeutic@gmail.com | Website |
| Sara Hendrix, LCSW | San Antonio | Innova Recovery Center | shendrix413@yahoo.com | ||
| Sarah Fankhauser, LCSW | Austin | Private Practice | Therapist Bio | sarahfank.lcsw@gmail.com | Website |
| Sarah Waltz,LCSW-S | San Antonio | THRU Project | sarahwaltzlcsw@yahoo.com | Website | |
| Shelbie Michaels, LPC | Dallas | Bair Foundation | info@unleashinghope.family | Website | |
| Shelley Kalina, LCSW | Fort Worth | Gladney | Therapist Bio | shelly.kalina@gladney.org | Website |
| Sophie Cantu, LPC-S | Fort Worth | Children’s Health: Rees-Jones Center for Foster Care Excellence | Sophia.cantu@childrens.com | Website | |
| Staci Beck, LPC-S | Waxahachie | TBHC Foster Care and Adoption | sbeck@tbhc.org | Website | |
| Tonya King-Smith, LCSW-S | Bowie | Texas Community Counseling | Therapist Bio | tonya@texascommunitycounseling.org | Website |
| Yadi Puente, LPC-S, ATR-BC | San Antonio | Artvango Therapeutic Services Inc | Therapist Bio | yadi@artvango.org | Website |