Katrina Ciesielczyk, MS, LPC

MY APPROACH

My approach to therapy is person-centered, meaning I view you as the capable, resourceful expert of your life, and our sessions are tailored to your individual needs and goals. I use an integrative practice and draw from several evidenced-based interventions including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), psychodynamic therapy, and mindfulness techniques. Your experience is also viewed through the lens of the feminist framework, and I honor the strengths you possess and the unique challenges you face as a woman.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AND BACKGROUND

I received my Bachelor of Arts from Purdue University with a major in psychology and a minor in sociology in 2004. I went on to complete my Master of Science in clinical mental health counseling at Walden University in 2013. Along with a rigorous academic program and internship that required 3000 clinical hours, I’ve completed specialized training in CBT, motivational interviewing, trauma-informed care, and ACT, among others. I was a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) in Maryland from 2013-2022 and became a licensed professional counselor (LPC) in the state of Texas in 2020. My Texas LPC license is current and in good standing.

I’ve worked in a variety of settings including community mental health centers, substance abuse treatment centers, elementary and alternative school settings, and private practice. I have experience leading an intensive outpatient program (IOP) for individuals with both substance use and mental health diagnoses as well as various anger management and anxiety management groups. While I’ve provided individual and family therapy to individuals struggling with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression and mood disorders, relationship struggles, parenting issues, life transitions, and grief, I’ve found serving and supporting women and moms to be most fulfilling at this stage of my career.

PERSONAL LIFE

I’m a wife and mom to two wonderful little girls who have brought more joy (and chaos) to our lives than we ever thought possible! We also have one very sweet cat named Darci. I grew up in the Midwest in the state of Indiana and always had a keen interest in psychology. I learned a lot about mental health challenges growing up as several members of my family suffered from these conditions. I attended Purdue University where I studied psychology and sociology- and after graduation, I went on to spend 4 years living overseas in Melbourne, Australia. While living in Melbourne, passion in women’s mental health grew and I volunteered and supported women suffering from mental health issues including trauma as well as abuse and domestic violence. Living abroad was a wonderful, enriching experience, and I’m so grateful for the life and professional experience I gained. I worked on my masters while living abroad and then relocated back to the US and lived in the midatlantic, in Maryland, for 7 years with my Aussie turned US citizen husband. We welcomed our first daughter there, and that part of the country will always have a special place in my heart. We relocated to Houston, TX in 2020, welcomed our second daughter, and have been enduring the heat and humidity ever since! In my free time I enjoy cooking, making and drinking coffee, traveling, reading, connecting and spending time with friends and family, and of course scrolling social media more than I should. As a licensed and experienced therapist, I fully support the power of meme therapy! I like to think of myself as a down to earth, relatable, midwesterner with a good sense of humor. While therapy and what we discuss in our sessions is often serious, I believe humor and perspective can be so healing. I can be found chasing my (often naked) toddler down the street, laughing until I cry at this messy, chaotic, beautiful sweet life.