Licensed Professional Counselor Triflections 830-431-2290
Kimberly W. Hoggatt
JD,MA, LPC-S, LMHC
DivergenceCounseling.com
“WhereWeary Weirdos and Anti-Heroes Find Healing”
HowThe List Is Made
Using an onlinesurvey, SanAntonioMagazinesolicited peer nominationsfromlicensed mental health professionalsinthe greaterSan Antonioarea, asking them to nominate up to threementalhealth professionalstheywould trustwith theirfamily’s or theirown mental health
To ensure thenominationprocess is verified andpeer-based,fullcontact informationwas requestedand professionalswereasked to limit theirnominations to professionalswithwhom they’veworkedorwitnessedinpractice.
SanAntonio Magazine andour verified data partners then talliedthe nominationsand finalized ourlistof63 mental health professionals, ensuring that allnominatorsand nominees have an active license.The listwas then reviewed by third-partyfact-checkers
Kimberly WattsHoggatt, JD,MA, LPC-S, LMHC is aNeuro-Spicy, Gifted counselor,serving clients in-person in San Antonio and virtually throughout Texas. She wearsmanyhatsasa counselor, educator, supervisor,speaker,entrepreneur, and soon to be author of Weary Weirdos: AGifted Gals’Guide to Authentic Living. She lovesworking with high-achieving, nerdy,wonderfullyweird folx struggling with burnout,identity, andexistentialangst.Her practice, DivergenceCounseling, is neurodivergentand LGBTQ+ affirming. If youhavefound previous therapyboring, ineffective, or constricting, let’sco-createspacefor youatDivergence.
Mental health professionalsdonot andcannotpay to be apartofthe list, as it is editorialcontent.Werecognize that many amazingprofessionals arenot included on this listand this is only a samplingofthe arrayoftalentedprofessionalsinour city
We encourageall consumerstodo theirown research before selectinga practitioner
Allrightsreserved. No commercial useofthe informationinthislistmay be made withoutwrittenpermission from SanAntonio Magazine.Ifyou see an errorinthe informationlisted, please contacteditor@sanantonio mag.com.
MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS: Congratulations! If you’dliketo displaythisaccomplishmentwitha plaque,pleasevisit ourofficial store: sanantoniomag.com/plaques.
Anastacia Granado is adedicated mentalhealth counselor passionateabout helping individuals discover their inner strength. As the founder of Bloom &ThriveTherapy, she specializes in treating anxiety disorders, particularly OCD,using evidence-based approaches likeExposureResponse Prevention and CognitiveBehavioral Therapy. While Anastacia workswith clients ages 10 and up,she focuses on supporting preteens,teens, and young adults, as well as women of all ages, as theynavigate anxiety,and all of life’smanychallenges. Herapproach is rooted in building resilienceand equipping clients with the tools they need to overcome obstacles, grow,and findlasting peace.
Prioritizing Mental Health
Whytaking abreak couldbeyour bestcareer move
BY CATHYBUSSEWITZ ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK —Her firstpanic attack came at acompanywide meeting, rightbeforeher scheduledpresentation.CarolinaLasso hadgiven many similar talksabout hermarketing team’s accomplishments. When hernamewas calledthistime, shecouldn’tspeak.
“I felt aknotinmythroat,” Lassosaid. “My head,itfeltlikeitwas inside abubble. I couldn’t hear,I couldn’t see, anditfeltlikean eternity.Itwas just afew seconds, butitwas so profound and, in away,earth-shattering.”
Lasso wasstrugglingafter across-country move followedbya divorce. Herbosssuggested amentalhealthleave,a possibilityshe didn’t know existed. Sheworried whether taking time offwould affect howher team viewed herorcosther apromotion,but in the endshe did.
“I’m thankful forthatopportunitytotake
thetimetoheal,”Lasso,43, said.“Many peoplefeel guilty when they take aleave of absencewhenit’smentalhealth-related. Thereissomeextra weight that we carry on ourshoulders,asifithad been ourfault.”
Despitea fear of repercussions, more adults arerecognizing that stepping back from work to deal with emotionalburdens or psychologicalconditionsthatget in theway of theirlives is anecessary choice,one that a growingnumberofemployers recognize.
ComPsych Corp., aproviderofemployee mental health programs andabsence managementservices, encourages itsbusiness clientsto make thewell-beingofworkers a priority before individualsget to abreaking pointand to have processesfor thosewho requireleavesofabsence
“Since thestart of theCOVID-19pandemic, collectivelywe’ve just been in this constant stateofturmoil,”JenniferBirdsall, thesenior clinical director at ComPysch,said. “Wejust have hadthisbarrage of change andun-
certainty.”
Depression,anxiety andadjustmentdisorder, whichinvolvesexcessive reactionsto stress, were thetop threediagnoses of employees whotook mental health leaves the past twoyears amongclientsofAlight,a Chicago-basedtechnologycompany that administersleavesand benefits foremployers
Structuring aleave
Amentalhealthleave canlastweeksor months.Insomecases,workers getapproval to work areduced schedule or to take short periodsoftimeoff when needed,using an approach called“intermittent leave.”
At most U.S. organizationswith50or more employees,peoplecan requestleaves throughthe Family andMedical LeaveAct
Thefederal lawentitlesworkers with serious health conditions to paid or unpaid leaves of up to12 weeks, dependingonstate andlocal laws.Someemployers requirepeopletouse sick days or vacation days to continue receivinga paycheck.For longer leaves,workers can access short-term disabilityplans if their employer offers one.
Lasso’s leavelastedsix months,and included therapyand travel to Indiafor additional treatment. Shereturnedtoher jobbut decidedafter ayeartoleave forgood.She later
launched abusinesstotrain people on fosteringa more humane work culture.
Amentalhealthleave is “not only OK,but it canreally unlock newpossibilitiesoncewe have thetimetodothe work —therapy, medication,whateveritis— andhaveenough distance from work to be able to reconnect with ourselves,”Lasso said
Talking openly aboutstruggles
Asocialstigmaaroundmentalhealthchallenges causes many people to avoidseeking treatmentorrequestinga leaveofabsence
Newton Cheng, director of health andperformanceatGoogle,hopes to change that by sharinghis ownstruggles
Hisfirst self-disclosurehappenedduring thepandemic, when aseniormanager invited employees to sharehow they were doing. When it washis turn,Cheng startedcrying. He explainedhewas strugglingtoliveup to hisexpectationsofhimself as afatherand didn’t know howtoturnthingsaround.
“Itwas just totally horrifyingtomebecause, one, Ihad just criedinfront of my co-workers andI wasdefinitelytaughtasa professional —and as aman —you do notdo that,” Chengrecalled. “And then,two,I had neverreally articulatedand said outloud thosewords.I hadn’t even allowedmyselfto thinkthat. Butnow they’reout thereand I hadtofacethem.”
Colleaguesresponded by relaying their ownstruggles,but Cheng’sdifficultiescontinued. By February 2021,hecouldn’tget outof bedbecause he felt paralyzedbydread,he said.A therapistsaidhewas showingsymptoms of majordepression andanxiety
“I just realized,‘I’mstrugglinga lotand this goes pretty deep.I don’tthink Ican keep just putting duct tape on this.I probably need to take some leave,’” Chengrecalled. He announcedto200 people at aconference that he plannedtotakementalhealth leave.
“Itwas likea fireworksshow,”Cheng said “They’re like, ‘Wow,I can’tbelieve he didthat.’ Then they forgot aboutme. Butthe tone was set. It waslike‘Oh,thisiswhatwe’re doing. Let me talk aboutwhat’sgoing on with me,too.’”
Take the time you need
While balancingclassesand afull-time job during herlastyearofcollege,Rosalie Mae beganstrugglingtoget outofbed andcrying uncontrollably. Yetshe felt likeshe had“to keep it together”toavoid burdeningher colleaguesatthe University of Utah bookstore, whereMae worked as an accounting clerk. Then shefound herselfcallinga suicide hotline. “Onceitreached that point, Iknew, especially at theurgingofmyhusband,we need to do somethingmore,”Mae,24, said In hercase, that meanttakinga five-week
work leavetoput herhealthand well-being first. Sherecommendsthe same forothers.
“Takinga mental health leaveisnot necessarily acure-all, butitisimportant to give yourself abreak andallowyourselftoregroup, make aplanofhow to proceed andtakethe stepstoworktowards feelingbetter,”Mae said
Telling managers andcolleagues
Before broachingthe subjectofa mental health leavewitha manager, consider the workplaceculture andthe strength of your professional relationships, Chengsaid. He recalls saying,“Formyhealthand well-being, andthe sake of my family andwhat’sbestfor thebusiness, theleast riskything formetodo is to go on leavesoon.”
Individualswho suspectanunsympathetic receptioncan simply say, “I need to go on medicalleave.I need time to recover,”he advised.
There’salsonolegal or ethicalrequirement to tell everyone youworkwiththe nature of your leave.
“Yourco-workersdon’t need to know why,”saidSethTurner, co-founder of AbsenceSoft, aleave andaccommodation managementsolutions provider.“They just need to know,‘I’mgoing to be here at this time,and I’mgoing to be gone at this time,and I’ll be back.’ ”
Certified in Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy
