DBT and Mindfulness Counseling
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
DBT’s goals are to help people learn how to live in the present moment in order to regulate emotions, develop healthy ways to cope with stress, and improve their relationships with others. DBT incorporates distress tolerance through learning distraction techniques and self soothing. It improves relationships by teaching assertiveness in a positive and healthy relationship. Mindfulness is also important part of DBT therapy.
WHAT IS MINDFULNESS?
Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present. At first, this concept seems straightforward and simple, however often we let our thoughts become preoccupied with the past or the future and those preoccupations can lead to anxiety. Mindfulness centers around the idea that we need to learn to fully experience our present actions, thoughts, and emotions free of self-judgement and on purpose. Through meditation and other training, we master the ability to live in the moment.
HISTORY OF MINDFULNESS
The practice of mindfulness dates back centuries as it was originally conceived and integrated in the Buddhist practice of meditation. The late 1970s introduction of mindfulness into United States for clinical use is credited to Jon Kabat-Zinn, a professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Since then mindfulness has become widely studied, grown to be a popular practice among counselors, and has been established as a highly effective therapeutic practice.
MINDFULNESS SESSIONS
Mindfulness can be practiced by any person at any moment. Through meditation and practice, an individual will cultivate the ability to be present. This can come in the form of guided meditation with a counselor or at home practice. A few of the ways that mindfulness can be practiced are:
- Seated Meditation
- Walking Meditation
- Standing Meditation
- Moving Meditation
- Breathing Exercises
- Yoga or Sports
BENEFITS OF MINDFULNESS
Because of the growing interest in mindfulness as a therapeutic practice, many studies have been done to prove its efficacy. A recent Harvard study observed that mindfulness meditation leads the brain’s hippocampus to create new grey matter – which is important for memory, the ability to learn, and processing emotions.
Mindfulness is a proven coping technique and can play a large role in improving an individual’s quality of life. While some of us are hardwired to avoid emotions and negativity, mindfulness teaches us how to fully experience and be aware of our self in a non-judgemental way.
POSSIBLE DRAWBACKS OF MINDFULNESS
Mindfulness is a journey and it is not a problem solving technique. Like with any difficult technique, it takes hard work, practice, and personal effort. In some cases, it can increase frustration if an individual is not able to let go of their self-judgement. The key to mindfulness is to understand that even the best meditators spent many years cultivating the ability to be present and that no one can be perfect 100% of the time.
MINDFULNESS COUNSELORS AT GIBSON COUNSELING

Rhonda Mack, LPC
Rhonda's Patient Portal / New Client RegistrationRead more about Rhonda
Location: In person Cedar Park and Video Therapy for residents in Texas
Insurances Accepted: Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Health Care (UMR, Oscar, Optum, Allsavers), Humana, Cigna/Evernorth (no EAP), Aetna (no EAP) , Multiplan/PHCS, Sendero, Triwest-VA, Self pay $150
Accepting New Clients: YES
(Video and in person)
Expertise: Adults , Couples and Adolescents ages 14 and up
- Military Veterans and/or family
- BIPOC communities (Black, Indigenous and People of Color)
- Military Sexual Trauma (MST)
- Self Esteem
- Anger
- Anxiety
- CBT
- Trauma
- Depression
- Life adjustment
- LGBTQ
- Solution Focused Therapy
- Mindfulness
- Marriage Counseling

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, United Health Care (UMR, Oscar, Optum, Allsavers), Triwest-VA, Self pay $150
Accepting New Clients: NO (Video only) Daytime availability only
Expertise: Kids (6 yr and up), Adults and Couples

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: Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Humana Sendero, United Health Care (UMR, Optum, Oscar, Allsavers), Multiplan/PHCS, Self pay $150
Accepting New Clients: No
Expertise: Kids (6 yrs and older), Adults, Couples

Sheila Moore-Bunch, LCSW
Sheila's Patient Portal / New Client Registration Read more about Sheila
Location: In person and virtual in Cedar Park for Texas residents
Insurances Accepted: Aetna, Cigna, Humana, United Health Care (UMR, Oscar, Optum, Allsavers), Self pay $150 COMING SOON: BCBS
Accepting New Clients: Yes
Expertise: Adults only, no couples and no kids
- Anxiety
- Addiction
- Anger
- ADHD
- Trauma
- CBT
- Depression
- Life adjustment
- DBT/Mindfulness
- Solution Focused Therapy
- Trauma
- Christian Counseling

Eleny Guerrero Pena, LPC, LCDC
Eleny's Patient Portal / New Client RegistrationRead more about Eleny
Location: In person Cedar Park and Video Therapy for residents in Texas
Insurances Accepted: Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Humana, Sendero, United Health Care (UMR, Oscar, Optum, Allsavers), Multiplan/PHCS, Self pay $150
Accepting New Clients: Yes (no children)
Video and In person : Daytime hours only at this time ( 9am-1pm)
Expertise: Adults , Couples
- Military Veterans and/or family
- BIPOC communities (Black, Indigenous and People of Color)
- Sexual Assault
- Self Esteem
- Addiction
- Anger
- Anxiety
- CBT
- Trauma-EMDR
- Depression
- Life adjustment
- LGBTQ
- Solution Focused Therapy
- Mindfulness
- Marriage Counseling-Gottman Trained

Paulina Pina, LPC
Paulina's Patient Portal / New Client Registration Read more about Paulina
Location: In person South 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

Ana "Rebeca" Ramirez, LPC
Rebeca's Patient Portal / New Client Registration Read more about Rebeca
Location: In person in Cedar Park 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: Yes- but adults only at this time. All evening and late afternoons are booked. Morning availability only.
Rebeca speaks both English and Spanish. Rebeca habla español.
Expertise: Adults and Children 7 and up

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

Sasha Sharp, LPC
Sasha's Patient Portal / New Client Registration Read more about Sasha
Location: In person and virtual in Cedar Park for Texas residents
Insurances Accepted: Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Humana, Sendero, United Health Care (UMR, Oscar, Optum, Allsavers), Multiplan/PHCS, Self pay $150
Accepting New Clients: Monday and Friday appointments Virtual only available. All in person days are booked. Please call 512-633-7839 if you can do virtual only Monday and Friday and we will send you a registration link.
Expertise: Adults and Children 7 and up
- Anxiety
- Addiction
- Anger
- ADHD
- Children 7 yrs and up
- CBT
- Depression
- Life adjustment
- Mindfulness
- Solution Focused Therapy
- Trauma
- Christian Counseling
- Marriage Counseling

Whitney Briggs, LPC-S
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: NO (Video Only) ADULTS, COUPLES & CHILDREN OVER 12
Expertise: Adults