Child and behavioral counseling
What is child and adolescent behavioral counseling?
Child or adolescent counseling is counseling with children under the age of 18 years old. The focus can be on the child receiving counseling with input from the parents or the family as a whole. Often children can be going through some challenging issues, but are hesitant to speak with their parents, as their emotions can seem confusing. Adolescents especially face a lot of challenges with social media, academics and relationships. Our counselors provide a neutral, compassionate avenue for your child to open up and discuss their emotions.
Treatment approach for family counseling
Often children and adolescents have difficulty communicating their emotions. Counseling with kids consists of helping them identify these uncomfortable feelings and open up about their problems. Therapists create an environment in which the child or adolescent can play with toys, sand trays and create music while talking which helps the emotion of what they are discussing decrease. This is often referred to as Play Therapy. This allows the counselor to address this emotion or problem and create positive coping skills.
We feel parents are an important part of counseling for a child and that the parent-child relationship is important toward growth. Our counselors will speak with parents to gain their perspective of the issues in the first session and provide updated progress related to their child.
Our counselors can accommodate sessions between the parents and child, the child by themselves, or the parent by themselves. In the first session the therapist will work with you on what types of sessions will be needed and what you can expect as you continue sessions for your child. At any point if a parent feels they need to discuss something with the child’s counselor they can securely message them through the patient portal or ask for some time during session.
When in session with the child we like to keep sessions private for that child. This helps create a therapeutic relationship and provide an avenue for discussion. If there is an issue that concerns us, we will discuss with the child the importance of parent involvement and help facilitate a discussion.
Benefits of therapy for family counseling
- Improved communication skills
- Conflict resolution
- New perspective
- Improved relationships
- Positive behaviors
Here are some thoughts our counselors have on children in counseling.
Written by Kyle Dickerson, LMFT
I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who brings an in-depth approach to working with families. I have worked in both private and non-profit sectors and am excited to be joining the Gibson Counseling team. In my career I have found that one fundamental principal is key to building trusting relationships and moving forward: be yourself. Life is complicated enough and counseling shouldn’t add anxiety for you or your family.
Child and adolescent behavioral Therapists at Gibson Counseling

Ana "Rebeca" Ramirez, LPC
Rebeca's Patient Portal / New Client Registration Read more about Rebeca
Location: In person in Cedar Park starting February or video for Texas residents
Insurances Accepted: Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, United Health Care (UMR, Oscar, Optum, Allsavers), Multiplan/PHCS, Humana, Sendero, Triwest, Tricare, Self pay $150
Accepting New Clients: NO
Rebeca speaks both English and Spanish. Rebeca habla español.
Expertise: Adults and Children 7 and up

Sheryl Stiffler, LMFT
Sheryl's Patient Portal / New Client RegistrationRead more about Sheryl
Location: Video Therapy for residents in Texas
Insurances Accepted: Aetna (NO AETNA EAP), BCBS, Beacon, Cigna/Evernorth (NO CIGNA EAP), Humana, Multiplan/PHCS, Sendero, Tricare, United Health Care (UMR, Oscar, Optum, Allsavers), Triwest-VA, Self pay $150
Accepting New Clients: YES (video only) Daytime availability only
Expertise: Kids (6 yr and up), Adults and Couples

Whitney Briggs, LPC
Whitney's Patient Portal / New Client RegistrationRead more about Whitney
Location: Video Therapy for residents in Texas
Insurances Accepted: Aetna (NO AETNA EAP), Beacon Options, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna/Evernorth (NO CIGNA EAP), Humana, Multiplan/PHCS, Sendero, Tricare, United Health Care (UMR, Optum, Oscar, Allsavers) , Triwest-VA, Self pay $150
Accepting New Clients: YES (Video Only) ADULTS, COUPLES & CHILDREN OVER 12
Expertise: Adults

David "Nathan" Evans, LPC
Nathan's Patient Portal / New Client Registration Read more about Nathan
Location: In Person and Video for Texas residents
Insurances Accepted: Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, United Health Care (UMR, Oscar, Optum, Allsavers), Multiplan/PHCS, Humana, Sendero, Self pay $150
Accepting New Clients: Yes In Person & Video
Expertise: Adults and kids over 15

Mary Ellen Martin, LMFT
MaryEllen's Patient Portal / New Client Registration Read more about MaryEllen
Location: In person South Round Rock and Video Therapy for residents in Texas
Insurances Accepted: United Health Care (UMR, Optum, Oscar, Allsavers), Self pay $150
Accepting New Clients: NO
Expertise: Kids (6 yrs and older), Adults

Amy Venn, LCSW-S
Amy's Patient Portal / New Client Registration Read more about Amy
Location: Video Only for Texas
Insurances Accepted: Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna/Evernorth, Humana, United Health Care (UMR, Oscar, Optum, Allsavers), Multiplan/PHCS, Sendero, Triwest, Self pay $110
Accepting New Clients: NO (Video only)
Expertise: Adults and Children (12 and up), No Couples
- ADHD
- Anxiety
- Autism
- CBT
- Child and adolescent counseling (12 and up)
- Christian Counseling
- Depression
- Grief/Loss
- Life adjustment
- Solution Focused Therapy
- Mindfulness
- Trauma
- Chronic illness

Kristi Long, LPC, LCDC
Kristi's Patient Portal / New Client Registration Read more about Kristi
Location: Video Only for Texas
Evaluations Offered: Addiction (e.g. porn, internet, eating ,etc), Anxiety and Panic attacks, Behavioral Issues, Bipolar, Depression, PTSD and Trauma, Schizophrenia and Psychosis
Insurances Accepted: Aetna, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Cigna/Evernorth (NO CIGNA EAP), United Health Care (UMR, Optum, Oscar, Allsavers), Humana, Triwest-VA, Tricare, Multiplan/PHCS, Sendero, Self pay $110
Accepting New Clients: NO (Video only)
Expertise: Adults and Adolescents (over 13 years), No couples
- ADHD
- Addiction
- Anxiety
- Anger
- Children and adolescent over 13 yrs
- Disruptive behaviors/defiant
- Self harm
- CBT
- Depression
- Grief/Loss
- Life adjustment
- Mindfulness
- Self-Esteem
- Solution Focused Therapy
- Trauma
- EMDR

Sally Guerra, LPC
Sally's Patient Portal / New Client Registration Read more about Sally
Location: Video Only for Texas Residents
Insurances Accepted: Aetna (NO AETNA EAP), Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna/Evernorth (NO CIGNA EAP), Humana, Multiplan/PHCS, Sendero, Tricare, United Health Care (UMR, Oscar, Optum, Allsavers), Triwest-VA, Self Pay $150
Evaluations Offered: ADD, ADHD, Mood Disorders, Anger Issues and PTSD
Accepting New Clients: YES (VIDEO ONLY)
Video only (Children age 12 and up)
Expertise: Kids (5yr and up), Adults and Couples
- Addiction
- ADHD
- Anger
- Anxiety
- CBT
- Child and adolescent counseling (12 years and older)
- Depression
- Geriatric/Elderly concerns
- LGBTQIA
- Life adjustment
- Marriage Counseling
- Mindfulness
- Solution Focused Therapy
- Trauma
- Dissociative Disorder

Paulina Pina, LPC
Paulina's Patient Portal / New Client Registration Read more about Paulina
Location: In person North Round Rock and Video Therapy for residents in Texas
Insurances Accepted: Aetna (NO AETNA EAP), Beacon Options, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna/Evernorth (NO CIGNA EAP), Humana, Multiplan/PHCS, Sendero, Tricare, United Health Care (UMR, Optum, Oscar, Allsavers), Triwest-VA, Self pay $150
Accepting New Clients: No
Expertise:Kids (8 yrs and older), Adults and Couples

Ida MacDonald, LPC, CMHIMP
Ida's Patient Portal / New Client Registration Read more about Ida
Location: Video Only for Texas Residents
Evaluations Offered: Health Assessment
Insurances Accepted: Cigna/Evernorth, Tricare, United Health Care (UMR, Optum, Oscar, Allsavers), Optum EAP, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana, Multiplan/PHCS, Aetna (NO AETNA EAP), Sendero, Self pay $110
Accepting New Clients: Yes (Video only)
Expertise: Adults, Couples, Kids (16 year and up)
- ADHD (Adult Only)
- Child and adolescent counseling (16 and up)
- Integrative Holistic Counseling
- Anger
- Anxiety
- Christian Counseling
- CBT
- Depression
- Life adjustment
- Marriage Counseling / Couples
- Premarital

Robert Gallegos, LPC-S
Roberts's Patient Portal / New Client Registration Read more about Robert
Location: In person South Round Rock and Video Therapy for residents in Texas
Evaluations Offered:
Insurances Accepted: Aetna, (NO AETNA EAP), Cigna/Evernorth (NO CIGNA EAP), Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana, Multiplan/PHCS, Sendero, Tricare, United Health Care (UMR, Optum, Oscar, Allsavers) , Triwest-VA, Self pay $150
Accepting New Clients: NO (no Couples)
Expertise: Kids (15 yrs and older), Adults
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- ADHD
- Anger
- Anxiety
- Children over 15 yrs
- CBT
- Depression
- Grief/Loss
- Life adjustment
- Marriage Counseling
- Mindfulness
- Solution Focused Therapy
- Trauma
- Self Esteem

Kyle Dickerson, LMFT
Kyle's Patient Portal / New Client Registration Read more about Kyle
Location: In person South Round Rock and Video Therapy for residents in Texas
Insurances Accepted: Aetna, (NO AETNA EAP), Cigna/Evernorth (NO CIGNA EAP), Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana, Multiplan/PHCS, Sendero, Tricare, United Health Care (UMR, Optum, Oscar, Allsavers) , Triwest-VA, Self pay $150
Accepting New Clients: No (no children)
(Video and in office)
Expertise: Adults and Couples
- Marriage Counseling
- Anger
- Anxiety
- CBT
- Self Esteem
- Depression
- Life adjustment
- Mindfulness
- Men's Issues
- Trauma
- Anxiety and Panic attacks
- PTSD and Trauma
- Depression
- Behavioral Issues
- Schizophrenia and Psychosis
- Bipolar
- Eating Disorders
- Addiction (e.g. porn, internet, eating ,etc)