2026 SAN ANTONIO'S TOP MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
BY CLAIRE WINESETT
Mental health influences every aspect of our lives how we think, feel, connect withothersandnavigatedailychallenges.
During Mental Health Awareness Month
this May, San Antonians are recognizing that mental health is not only vital to our personal well-being, but it’s also fundamental to the strength and health of our community as a whole.
Everyone struggles sometimes. hether it’s managing stress, processing grief, overcoming addiction, working through family dynamics or practicing self-care in a world where everything competes for our attention, the path to mental wellness looks different for each person.
Thismonth,we’rehighlighting124localexperts counselors, psychologists and social workers looking to walk this path alongside individuals ready for support. These dedicated professionals offer specialized care across a spectrumofneeds,ensuringthatwhateveryoursituation,there’s someone qualified to help.
Holding space for conversations about mental health is the first step toward healing. By sharing these resources, we hope to create a community where mental health is discussed openly and support is always within reach.
ADDICTION
DAVIDCORTEZ
Licensed Professional Counselor
TaoProsperityCounseling PLLC
1210 Hunt Lane
830-255-7465
BRIANNAGONZALEZ
Licensed Professional Counselor
GonzalezCounselingPC
29710U.S.Hwy 281 N, Suites 205/206, Bulverde 830-253-3211
CHRISTINAA.HASKELL
Marriage andFamily Therapist RenewedHopeMarriage andFamilyTherapy LLC
12274Bandera Road, Suite214,Helotes 210-255-1712
TIFFANYJUAREZ
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Battling Minds 909NEInterstate410 Loop,Suite 634 210-325-5809
MELISA MANNINEN
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) E-Motion Wellness TherapyCenter 431IsomRoad, Suite204 210-600-4005
DANIELLE SALINAS
Licensed Professional Counselor
In BloomTherapy,PLLC 15321San PedroAve., Suite101 726-232-5593
BEHAVIORAL COGNITIVE
ELIZABETHBERROCAL
Licensed Professional Counselor
TheBerrocalMethod 210-777-2713
ERICACRUZ
Licensed Professional Counselor
InnergyEvolution PLLC 84 NE Interstate 410 Loop.Office 2162 726-238-7959
KRISTINEISENHAUER
Licensed Psychologist RiverNorth Anxiety 1429th St 210-216-0015
WILLIAMB.ELDER
Licensed Psychologist
SugarValleyTherapy 13510AbleCreek Drive 210-361-2531
MICHAELFANNING
Licensed Psychologist
SanAntonio Counseling & Behavioral Center 1350 N. Loop 1604 East Suite104 210-614-4990
MARCELLA HAYES
Licensed Professional Counselor
ResilientHearts Counseling andConsulting 8918 Tesoro Drive, Suite203 210-549-8475
ADRIANACERVANTES HENLEY
Licensed Professional Counselor
KM Counseling Services PLLC
603MainSt.,Schertz 210-314-1606
ARIANNAMARTINEZ
Licensed Professional Counselor
Advanced Counseling Services 4318 Woodcock Drive, Suite120 210-571-4471
KELLYMEYERING
Licensed Psychologist TheOffice of Dr.Kelly Meyering 8DominionDrive,Suite 102 210-316-1552
NICOLE T. PATRICK
Licensed Professional Counselor 830-251-2303
CANDACEOLIVAREZ
PIROG
Licensed Professional Counselor
KM Counseling Services PLLC
603MainSt.,Schertz 210-314-1606
KATEYPOLANSKY
Licensed Professional Counselor
In BloomTherapy,PLLC 15321San PedroAve Suite101 210-879-1771
CHRISTOPHER RODRIGUEZ
Licensed Professional Counselor
ThriveworksCounseling &PsychiatrySan Antonio 7979 Broadway St., Suite100 855-209-3255
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VERONICA RODRIGUEZ
Licensed Professional Counselor
StellarCounselingPLLC
6502 BanderaRoad, Suite101
210-769-3811
CECILIASEGURA-PAZ
Licensed Professional Counselor
SeedsofResiliencePLLC
3522 Paesanos Parkway, Suite300 210-570-7154
ALYSSA VERA
Licensed Professional Counselor
FireheartMindful Healing
210-874-2644
GEETANJALLYYADAV
Licensed Professional Counselor
HIPHealthy Innovative Processes
P.O. Box29735 210-271-3630
CHILDADOLESCENT
LUDIVINA ACEVEDO
Marriage andFamily Therapist
Heal &Bloom Family TherapyPLLC
524ExchangeAve., Schertz 210-245-7217
BRITTANY CHRISTIANSEN
Licensed Professional Counselor
TheVineWellnessGroup LLC
14802Jones Maltsberger Road,Suite 1101 &1202 210-490-4419
KAYLADAVIS
Licensed Professional Counselor
Cozy CottageCounseling 1528 W. ContourDrive, Suite102 210-370-7409
JENIFERDEWEESEMENZEL
Licensed Professional Counselor
Little Hearts Therapy PLLC
401AustinHighway, Suite209 210-868-5103
HEATHERDONNELLA
Licensed Professional Counselor
RadiusPsychotherapy PLLC 111Camargo St 210-664-3896
KAELIN DUBBELS
Licensed Professional Counselor
HealingHouse Counseling PLLC 708W.SummitAve 210-201-5108
JOSHUA D. ESSERY
Licensed Psychologist Alliance Psychology 23119W.Interstate10 Frontage Road,Bldg. 10 210-926-5777
SARA RUTH FAVORITE
Licensed Psychologist 5625 Broadway St 210-526-0425
JEFFREYGRIMES
Licensed Psychologist
JeffreyGrimes. PhD 4940 Broadway St., Suite104 210-621-3462
CELESTEINMAN
Licensed Professional Counselor
CelesteInman LLC 210-602-2203
STEPHANIE A. JASSO
Licensed Professional Counselor
19141Stone OakParkway, Suite603 210-794-7606
ALENAKRAWCZYNSKI
Licensed Professional Counselor
WildflowerCounseling& Play TherapyPLLC 8622 CrownhillBlvd., Suite201 210-201-5712
PHI-LONG LE
Licensed Professional Counselor
Into TheRoots Therapy 8000 West Ave.,Suite 2 210-580-4149
TRACY MAZLOUM
Licensed Professional Counselor
TracyMazloum PLLC
3308 Broadway St., Suite304 832-304-0013
PRISCILLA PEREZ
Licensed Professional Counselor
Grit &Grace Counseling 11653GalmRoad, Bldg.2 210-446-6454
YADIMPUENTE
Licensed Professional Counselor
Artvango Therapeutic Services
3201 Cherry RidgeSt., Bldg.B-202 210-387-2218
BASHER SALEM
Licensed Professional Counselor
AlamoAreaCounseling Behavioral Associates PC 4242 E. PiedrasDrive, Suite114 210-312-3212
ADAM A. SAUCEDA
Licensed Professional Counselor
SynchronicityCounseling PLLC 12030Bandera Road, Suite108 –J,Helotes 210-853-0503
CARRIE SIMONDS
Licensed Professional Counselor
Artvango Therapeutic Services 3201 Cherry RidgeSt., Bldg.B-202 210-387-2218
CRYSTALSPERBER
Licensed Professional Counselor
Aloe Vera Counseling 10401WInterstate10 210-901-8055
DANIEL TORRES
Licensed Professional Counselor
Courageous Counseling &ConsultingPLLC 18830Stone Oak Parkway, Suite109 210-446-0120
CARMEN AVENDANO ULLOA
Licensed Professional Counselor
KM Counseling Services PLLC
603MainSt.,Schertz 210-314-1606
VANESSAVASQUEZ
Licensed Professional Counselor
KM Counseling Services PLLC
603MainSt.,Schertz 210-314-1606
KELLEYWALKER
Marriage andFamily TherapistAssociate Seedlings &Sprouts Family Therapy 216E.BlancoRoad, Boerne 830-484-4028
ASHLEYWRIGHT
Licensed Professional Counselor
Wright Path Counseling andWellness 2161 NW Military Highway, Suite202 210-257-0370
CLINICAL
TRISTYNARIYAN
Licensed Professional Counselor
Luna TherapySolutions LLC 8603 CrownhillBlvd., Suite25 210-960-7744
ESMERALDABARRAZA
Licensed Professional Counselor
EncantoBehavioral& Mental Health 2318 SanPedro Ave. Suite6 210-955-3077
ALYSSA CEDILLO
Licensed Professional Counselor Tree of Life Counseling Center 1214 SantaMonicaSt. 210-570-8898
PATRICIA VISCAINO
Licensed Professional Counselor LiveOak 210-504-5974
COUNSELING
BECCAALLEN
Licensed Professional Counselor BeccaAllen Counseling 4940 Broadway St., Suite223 210-436-6555
ADAM AVILA
Licensed Professional Counselor
Radius Psychotherapy PLLC 111Camargo St 210-664-3896
HOLLEE BECERRA
Licensed Professional Counselor
Kaleidoscope Mental Health Collective 830-521-8635
DEBORAHBERGMAN
Licensed Professional Counselor
CollaborativeCounseling of SanAntonioBergmann Counseling PLLC
4940 Broadway St., Suite302 210-596-9142
ALYSSA BOOTH
Licensed Professional Counselor
TheNourished Mind Counselingand Wellness 210-816-1366
LINDASTRANOBURTON
Licensed Professional Counselor
LindaStranoBurton PLLC
16607BlancoRoad, Bldg 10,Suite 1002 210-920-4199
CALLIE M. DAVIS-CARR
Licensed Professional Counselor CounselingWith Encouragement 281-940-3692
CARMEN E. DIAZ
Licensed Professional Counselor
Evolve Wellness Center LLC
4081 De Zavala Road Suite201 210-971-4380
LAURADURAN
Licensed Professional Counselor
L&DCounselingPLLC 830-216-6915
KATRINAFLORES
Licensed Professional Counselor
TheVerve Counseling &Wellness 8647 Wurzbach Road 210-347-7189
BECCAM.GARZA
Licensed Professional Counselor
Be Still&Know CounselingServicesPLLC 12274Bandera Road, Helotes
210-576-6407
TIFFANEY GIBBONS
Licensed Professional Counselor
Blossoming Butterfly CounselingCenter 4100 E. PiedrasDrive, Suite285 210-573-7658
JANE GODELIA
Licensed Professional Counselor
Jane GodeliaCounseling PLLC
210-460-0985
ANASTASIAGONZALES
Licensed Professional Counselor
Deep Eddy Psychotherapy 17806Interstate10, Suites 312&314 972-348-0140
SWAPOMTHI
GOVINDARAJU
Licensed Professional Counselor
LotusCounselingand Wellness PLLC 7300 Blanco Road Suite503 210-851-9563
ANASTACIA GRANADO
Licensed Professional Counselor
Bloom&ThriveTherapy 7300 Blanco Road Suite502 210-504-8016
SAMGRIMALDO
Licensed Professional Counselor
Grimaldo Counseling 8217 Fredericksburg Road 210-570-0518
KATE HALINSKI
Licensed Professional Counselor
Kate Halinski PhD 138Old SanAntonio Road,Suite 503, Boerne 210-387-0558
ROSEMARY HERNANDEZ
Licensed Professional Counselor
Dr.Hernandez & Associates PLLC 12274Bandera Road Suite122,Helotes 210-530-1180
KIMBERLY WATTS
HOGGATT
Licensed Professional Counselor
Divergence Counseling LLC 11107WurzbachRoad, Suite403 210-386-2547
SEAN HUCKLEBERRY
Licensed Professional Counselor 210MentalHealth 14800San PedroAve Suite110 210-490-9850
AMYHUTCHINSON
Licensed Professional Counselor
OliveBranchCounseling andTraining
34910Interstate10West, Suite501,Boerne 210-396-7609
DIANAJAMES
Licensed Professional Counselor
StarlightPathCounseling 7300 Blanco Road,Suite 502 210-201-2038
LAUREN JEFFERIES
Licensed Professional Counselor
In BloomTherapy,PLLC 15321San PedroAve Suite101 210-985-9022
NORMAN KLAUNIG
Licensed Professional Counselor
Norman Klaunig Psychotherapist 830-443-4343
JAKE LEDESMA
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) FitTherapy of TexasLLC 19141Stone OakParkway, Suite603 210-495-3131
CASSANDRAJ.LEDEZMA
Licensed Professional Counselor
Eleven Eleven Counseling andWellness 4081 De Zavala Road, Suite201 210-943-9394
C. ALEXIS LOPEZ
Licensed Professional Counselor
BalanceCounseling 17890BlancoRoad, Suite307 210-314-2026
MYLENE MACKEY
Licensed Professional Counselor
Balanced Counseling of SanAntonio 7272 Wurzbach Road, Suite203 210-980-6002
ASHLEE MARTINEZ
Licensed Psychologist AnimaMundi Consultation & PsychologicalServices 210-593-8729
LUKE MAYEUX
Licensed Professional Counselor
Integratus Counseling PLLC 210-943-6408
KRISTA MICKELSEN
Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
NortheastCounseling CenterPLLC 12915Jones Maltsberger Road,Suite 201&202 210-404-4317
JOCELYNMORALES
Licensed Professional Counselor
FloreciendoHolistic Therapy
4081 De Zavala Road, Suite201,Shavano Park 210-245-7576
KIMBERLYNGUYEN
Licensed Professional Counselor
Nguyen ArtTherapy 732IsomRoad, SuiteC 469-563-2890
KEATON SCARFF
Licensed Professional Counselor
Grit &Grace Counseling 11653GalmRoad, Bldg.2 210-446-6454
TEDTHAO
Licensed Professional Counselor
Internal Insights Therapy 4242 Woodcock Drive, Suite258 512-798-3712
VERONICA SENDEJO
Licensed Professional Counselor TheFamilyCareCenter AlamoHeights 430W.SunsetRoad, Suite305 512-877-4454
NORELY SORRELL
Licensed Professional Counselor
Norely SorrellMSLPC Boerne 830-488-7572
GENESIUS WEAVER
Licensed Professional CounselorAssociate StarlightPathCounseling 7300 Blanco Road Suite502 210-816-1261
REGINA VANBURG
Licensed Psychologist AnimaMundi Consultation & PsychologicalServices 210-593-8729
LETICIAR.VILLAREAL
Licensed Professional Counselor BetweenHeart &Mind Counseling 1528 W. ContourDrive Suite101 210-920-7834
VICTORIA A. WESTBROOK
Licensed Professional Counselor
Cimarron Holistic CounselingPLLC 7461 CallaghanRoad, Suite501 210-201-2492
MARRIAGE COUPLE FAMILY
BEATRICE BALLARD
Marriage andFamily Therapist
Soulutions Counseling &Wellness 18830Stone Oak Parkway, Suite103 210-385-8121
SARAHBENNETT
Licensed Professional CounselorAssociate Advanced Counseling Services 4318 Woodcock Drive, Suite120 210-571-4471
LINDSEYBEST
Licensed ClinicalSocial Worker (LCSW) B&LPsychotherapy and Consulting LLC 855-257-7924
TRINABOLDEN
Licensed Professional Counselor
Emboldened Holistic TherapyPLLC 4081 De Zavala Road, Suite1,Shavano Park 210-405-6911
DEBORAHM.DAILY
Licensed Professional Counselor
DeborahM.Daily,M.Ed., LPC
1850 Lockhill Selma, Suite101 A 210-741-8521
KIMBERLEEDAUGHTRY
Licensed Professional Counselor Breath of Hope Professional Counseling 4081 DeZavala Road, Suite101,Shavano Park 210-255-3668
HANNAHDIXON
Licensed Professional Counselor
Hannah Dixon PsychotherapyPLLC 8217 Fredericksburg Road 361-701-4311
CHARITYGEGENHEIMER
Marriage andFamily TherapistAssociate Revivist Counseling 19115FM2252, Suite15 210-201-3287
STEPHANIE HATAWAY
Licensed Professional Counselor Breath of Hope Professional Counseling 4081 DeZavala Road Suite101,Shavano Park 210-255-3668
DE'JAHURTE
Licensed Professional Counselor Deeper Counseling 210-901-9173
LILIANAJERNIGAN
Licensed Professional Counselor
LJ TherapyGroup 3522 Paesanos Parkway, Suite300 210-201-2145
LIZKEATOR
Licensed Professional Counselor
LizKeatorCounseling
138Old SanAntonio Road,Suite 503, Boerne 806-535-6639
AMYKIPP
Marriage andFamily Therapist
EvergreenCounseling
SA PLLC 11467Huebner Road, Suite251 210-376-1314
ANALOPEZ
Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
López, Newman & Associates PLLC
17721RogersRanch Parkway, Suite140 210-468-1734
DESIREE MEDINA
Licensed Professional Counselor
RekindlingHopeTherapy
7300 Blanco Road,Suite 502 210-834-1662
KATHRYNMILLER
Licensed ClinicalSocial Worker (LCSW)
KathrynMillerTherapy 210-592-8307
JASONNORTHRUP
Licensed Psychologist
Institutefor Couple and FamilyEnhancement
21015MarketRidge 210-833-4011
PRISCILLARODRIGUEZ
Marriage andFamily Therapist
Modern Wellness Counseling 210-706-0392
BRIANSHARP
Licensed Professional Counselor
Brian SharpCounseling LLC 830-294-8900
ANNIEVIERS
Licensed Professional Counselor
TheVineWellnessGroup 14802Jones Maltsberger Road,Suites1101& 1202 210-490-4419
DESIRAEYSASI
Licensed Professional Counselor YsasiCounseling 325-266-0741
SCHOOL
STACEY REYNOSA
Licensed Professional Counselor
NorthsideIndependent School District 5900 EversRoad 210-397-8500
SOCIAL WORK
DAWN FEYHEDGEPETH
Licensed ClinicalSocial Worker (LCSW)
Dawn FeyHedgepeth LCSW
1852 Lock Hill Selma, Suite105 210-695-0508
YVONNE LARRALDE
Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
NorthsideIndependent School District
5900 EversRoad 210-397-8500
RACHEL MAUPIN
Licensed ClinicalSocial Worker (LCSW) 210-490-2442
VALERIASALAZAR
Licensed ClinicalSocial Worker (LCSW)
Mind Your Self 210-564-9116
LEANNAR.TALIAFERRO
Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
Midway Counseling and Consulting 1850 Lockhill Selma, Suite104 210-446-9089
JASONTURNER
Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) E-Motion Wellness TherapyCenter 431IsomRoad, Suite204 210-600-4005
MICHELLE GUILMETTE VAUGHN
Licensed ClinicalSocial Worker (LCSW) TheCalminThe Chaos PLLC 5170 Broadway St Suite7 210-504-1305
CAROLY.WILLIAMS
Licensed ClinicalSocial Worker (LCSW)
HOW THELIST IS MADE
Usinganonlinesurvey, SanAntonio Magazine solicited peer nominationsfrom licensed mental health professionalsinthe greaterSan Antonioarea, asking them to nominate up to threementalhealthprofessionalstheywould trustwiththeir family’s or theirown mental health
To ensure thenominationprocess is verified andpeer-based,fullcontact informationwas requestedand professionals were askedtolimit theirnominations to professionalswithwhomthey’ve worked or witnessedinpractice.
SanAntonio Magazine andour verifieddatapartnersthentalliedthe nominations andfinalized ourlistof124 mental health professionals, ensuring that all nominators andnominees have an active license. Thelistwas then reviewed by third-partyfact-checkers
Extended Family Services
Texas Seguin 830-469-3326
Mental health professionalsdonot and cannotpay to be apartofthe list, as it is editorialcontent.Werecognize that many amazingprofessionals arenot included on this listand this is only asamplingofthe arrayoftalentedprofessionalsinour city
We encourageall consumerstodotheir ownresearchbeforeselecting apractitioner.
Allrightsreserved. No commercialuse of theinformation in this list maybe made withoutwrittenpermission from SanAntonio Magazine.Ifyou seeanerror in theinformation listed,pleasecontact editor@sanantoniomag.com
Mental Health professionals: Congratulations!Ifyou’d liketodisplay this accomplishmentwitha plaque,pleasevisit ourofficial store: sanantoniomag.com/ plaques.
CanASingleTherapy SessionMakeADifference?
Expertssayyes,withtherightmindset
BY ALBERT STUMM ASSOCIATED PRESS
Justbeforethe holidays in 2025,Julie Hart felt stuck. Anagging problemshe hadstruggled with foryears left her ruminating allday andquestioning nearly everything shehad ever said,doneorcould do
Shewas consideringtraditional therapy butdecided insteadtotry single-session counseling. Rather than committing to weekly therapysessions, shewould getonly 60 minutestotacklethe problem. It worked
“Ithelpedmeget unstuck, is howI would describe it,ina very positive,meaningfuland effectiveway,” said Hart,ofSpringfield,Va.
Hart joined what expertssay is an increasing number of people who, at leastfor now, have decidedtoforgo theweeks, months or even yearsthattraditional therapy impliesinfavor of amoretargetedapproach
Thetherapy is what it sounds like: one session,typically an hour,where acounselor helpsthe client identify concrete steps toward relieving aspecificproblem.The intentionisnot to completely solvea problem, butrathertohelpclientswalkaway with atoolboxofstrategiesonhow to approach it
“Those strategies made allkinds of sense, ” Hart said.“Butyou can’tidentifythemwhen you’re in it.”
Evolution of single-session therapy
It’s notnew.Sigmund Freudnotably offered it
Butithas become increasingly common as away to fill gaps in access to mental health care,and theneed is greaterthan ever,saidJessica Schleider, aNorthwestern University psychology professorand the founding director of theLab forScalable Mental Health
Thecostoftraditional therapyhas risen to severalhundred dollars amonth,and even thosewho canafford it or have insurance encounterlongwaiting lists
“Evenifwedoubled miraculously the number of trainedmentalhealthprofessionalsovernight,westill wouldn’t come anywhereclose to meetingthe need formental health support,” Schleidersaid.
That doesn’tfactorinother barriers, such as people whocan’t take time offworkto attend weekly sessions.
Besides, data show that themostcommonnumberofsessionspeopleare likelyto
receiveisjustone becausemanypeoplestart anddon’t come back,Schleider said
“It’sa really elegantsolutiontoget people support they need at themomentthatneed arises,” shesaid.
Howitdiffers fromtraditional therapy
Sharon Thomas,a psychologist anddirector of signal-session therapyatthe Ross Center in Washington,D.C., said both counselor andclient enterthe session with expectations: “Thatthe client will be able to have meaningful change in theirlife, andthat we’llsee an improvementinboththeir self-efficacy anda declineintheir symptoms in just onevisit.”
Rather than do afullassessmentofthe client’s past andcurrent circumstances, the counselortargets aspecificproblem.Bythe endofthe session,the client walksawaywith awrittenplanofsteps toward alleviatingit.
“Not everyone wantstodiscuss childhood trauma,” Thomas said.“It’s very much focusedonwhatthe client wantstofocus on in that moment.”
Whoit’s for
Most people canbenefit from single-session therapy, whethertheyare strugglingwitha difficult circumstance likea work problem or somethingmorepersistent, such as anxiety, said Arnold Slive, apsychologyprofessor at OurLadyofthe Lake University,who helped pioneer walk-insingle-session thera-
pyclinicsinCanadainthe1990s.
Slivesaidcounselorsstill have an obligation to screen forriskofself-harm,and many people with chronicmentalhealth issues couldstill benefitfromtraditional therapyormedication.
“It’snot meanttoreplace allthose other things that mental health professionalsdo, butitcan help people feel better,”Slivesaid.
Anotherexpectation is that everyclient alreadywalks in with strengthsthatwill help them addresstheir issue. Singlesessionsalso oftenattracta different type of client,suchas someonewho mightbeskeptical about whethertraditional therapyisright forthem.
“It’slikeputting atoe in thewater,” Slive said
Experts point to research that it works
Schleidersaidresearchonsingle-session intervention has“blossomedinthe past five or10 yearstowhere this hasbecomea more well-establishedformofmentalhealth support.”
Herlab conducteda meta-analysisof415 clinical trials andfound that in most cases, single-session approaches reducedmental health difficultiesacrossvarious problems, includingdepression andanxiety,for both youthand adults,she said
ForHart, shehas continuedtofeel better months later, andshe said shefeltmore confidentbecause sheknewshe couldcome back
“I left feelingsooptimistic,”Hartsaid. ★
THE EMOTIONAL SIDEOF COLLEGE PREP
Helping teens navigate life after high school
BY MELISSA RENTERIA
Planning forlifeafter high school canbe stressful forteens.
“Itcan be hard once youget to those last fewmonthsofhighschool,” says Kennedy High School senior Icis Davila.“Youhaveto decide what youwanttodo.”
Davila,who planstoattend Palo Alto College whereshe’llstudy criminal justice, said the emotionaland mental challenges forteens applying to college andtryingtofigureout posthigh school life“candefinitelybea littlescary.”
Forstudentsgraduatinghighschool and preparingfor college,the stressful experience canbemoreeasily navigatedwiththe right preparation, says Jessica Sandoval,MD, clinical associateprofessor in theDepartmentofPsychiatryand Behavioral Sciences at UT Health San Antonio, theacademichealthcenterofthe University of TexasatSan Antonio(UT SanAntonio)
“Communication,planning andpreparation —those arekey,” shesays. “These arethingswe know teensare notgreat at.”
Parentscan help college-bound teens be betterpreparedfor thechanges ahead, expertssay
As parentslook aheadtotheir teens embarkingona newchapter,weasked mental health professionalsfor theiradvice on guidingteensfor post-highschool life
Have aplan
It’s recommended that parentsstart teachingtheir teensabout schedulingappointmentsand keepingtrack of important datesbyallowing them to take more control of theirschedules andresponsibilities during theirfinal year of high school
This will getthemaccustomedtonot having constant remindersfroma parent whoistrackingsuchthings. Of course, parentscan keep trackthemselvesand offer“gentle reminders” andnudgesinthe rightdirection so that importantthings aren’t missed.
“Havea calendar wheretheycan keep trackofapplicationdeadlines andimportant dates— when it’s time to register for classes, what arethe move-indates forthe dorms. Do that while they’reapplying to collegestoshowthe importance of planning andsetting reminders,”Sandovalsays.
Talkingabout thekindofresponsibilities your teen will face in college should
startbeforesenioryear, when discussions aboutwhere to applyand what to study usually begin. That will allowfor aslower build-uptoincreasingresponsibilities, such as taking charge of aschedule.
“Ifyou’reusedtoyourparents kind of managing allthatfor youand then allofa sudden, you’re thrust into that,itcan be very overwhelming,” says Jessica Knudsen, CEOand presidentofClarity Child Guidance Center,a SanAntonio-based nonprofit mental health treatmentcenter.
Keep communication open
Agreetohavea regularcheck-inbysetting atimeevery week to talk by phoneor FaceTime
“Yourimpulse will be to checkinall the time,” Sandoval says.“Youhavetotrust that you’ve givenyourchild theskills to succeed.”
Regularcheck-ins will help provide structure, allowing forongoing communication while maintainingsomedistance. They also canhelpsignalany potential problems your teen is having,mental health expertssay
Regularchats by phoneorvideo will providebettercommunication than textingoremailingbecause you’ll be able to hear or seeyourchild andmorelikelyto spot anything concerning
DesireeMedina, MS,LPC
“I thinkkeepinganeye outfor significantchanges —weightloss, weight gain,if they’rereporting notsleepingwell. If you’ve hada high-achieving studentand they’re really strugglingacademically,I thinkthat’s somethingtohaveanearly conversation about,” Knudsensaid.
Know your resources
Help is availablefor students whohave difficultykeepingupwiththeir classes, managing stress or adjustingtotheir new surroundings.
It’s appropriatetoask aboutstudent assistance programs,including counseling andmentalhealthservices, while on a college campus tour,saysKnudsen
It’s importantfor newcollege students to know if thereishelpavailabletothem, whetherit’stutoringservices, food assistance, health andwellnessprogramsor counselingservices.
Making sure teensunderstandwhat help is availabletothem, if they need it, puts theresponsibilityonthem, allowing them to make thedecisionabout seeking help
“Ratherthantryingtofix everything for them.Guide them andprepare them,” says Nicholas Garcia,a health programspecialistwiththe city of SanAntonio’s health andhuman services department
Embrace the changes
Newcollege students face changesinvolvingtimemanagement, academic responsibilitiesand meal planning,while coping with losing an establishedsocial circle,managingmoney andadaptingto newsurroundings.
Garcia,who workswithteensinthe city’s ProjectWorth program, says it’s importantthatteensunderstandcollege will be different than high school
“Someparents mighttellthemand advise them,but many don’tthink about it,” he says
Even students notmovingawayto attend college face many of thesamechallenges as students goingawaytoschool
“I wouldsay it’s theresponsibilitiesthat everyone is so scared about,” says Davila, whohas been involved with ProjectWorth forthe past year.“Noteveryonewants to grow up.”
Though parentsand theirteenswantto approach starting college with aserious attitude,theyshouldn’t lose sightofthe excitement it brings,mentalhealthprofessionalssay
“Thisisa time of change foreveryone involved,” says Knudsen. “Italsocan be exciting andfun.” ★
