Mental health care in Houston, Texas

Ashley Cook is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker with a heartfelt dedication to supporting individuals through the complexities of pregnancy, postpartum, and parenthood. Known for her approachable and compassionate demeanor, Ashley believes in meeting people exactly where they are—offering a safe, supportive space to explore life’s challenges. Her practice is rooted in empowering people to find balance, resilience, and emotional well-being during one of life’s most transformative journeys.

Ashley holds a Master of Social Work degree from The University of Alabama in 2018. Her professional journey includes working with multidisciplinary teams in medical settings and providing counseling to individuals facing postpartum depression, grief, and anxiety. Ashley integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and person-centered care to craft personalized strategies that meet each client’s unique needs. Her warm, intuitive approach fosters trust and connection, ensuring that every client feels supported and equipped to thrive.

Iyesha is a native New Yorker and earned her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Lock Haven University and a Master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Nova Southeastern University. Iyesha has experience working with children and adults through family, individual, and couples therapy. Iyesha has participated in various training and workshops in Narrative therapy, Brief Strategic family therapy, motivational interviewing, crisis response, cognitive therapy, Emotional Focused Individual Therapy, and solution-focused brief therapy. 

Iyesha employs an integrative approach to therapy through the use of modalities such as narrative therapy, client-centered therapy, and emotionally focused couples therapy. Iyesha enjoys reading and practicing within the Narrative therapy modality as she believes that Narrative therapy encourages clients to view and reauthor themselves outside of what society tells them to be. 

 Since her transition to Texas in 2022, Iyesha’s work experience included working with a multitude of cultural backgrounds through settings such as the New York City public school system, child welfare system, outpatient clinics, and Samaritans suicide-crisis hotline.

Erica Wilkerson is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), certified in Perinatal Mental Health (PMH-C). Erica earned a Bachelors in Social Work from South Carolina State University, Masters in Social Work with a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of Georgia, and a Graduate Certificate in Human Lactation from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. She has federal and state government experience at the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Juvenile Justice, Family and Children Services, and in University Health Systems in partnerships with local Behavioral Health agencies. 

With a solid background in clinical practice and lactation support, Erica specializes in addressing the unique mental health challenges Black birthing people face, providing culturally competent care that emphasizes empowerment, emotional resilience, and the importance of community. Her approach integrates trauma-informed therapy, evidence-based interventions, and personalized lactation counseling to help mothers navigate both the emotional and physical aspects of the postpartum experience.

Erica possesses extensive experience working in diverse maternal health settings, where she has developed expertise in postpartum anxiety, depression, and other perinatal mood disorders. Her overall practice is rooted in a belief that the mental health of Black mothers is integral to the health of entire communities, and she works tirelessly to reduce barriers to care and create safe spaces for open dialogue and healing. Through establishing rapport, advocacy, therapy, and lactation support, Erica strives to make a lasting difference in the lives of all those she serves.

Sarah Padilla is a licensed clinical social worker with over ten years serving families in Texas. Receiving her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Our Lady of the Lake University, she has had the opportunity to work in various settings including schools, pediatric hospitals, behavioral health hospitals, and hospice. While in these roles, Sarah has worked with individuals and families in different stages of their lives, from childhood to late adulthood. 

Sarah has worked with clients facing a wide range of emotional and behavioral challenges including anxiety, depression, acute and complex grief, trauma, attachment, and parenthood. She is working to become certified in perinatal mental health by Postpartum Support International.

Sarah believes the therapeutic journey starts by meeting the client where they are and fostering a therapeutic relationship. Utilizing a holistic approach and a variety of interventions, she is dedicated to providing a safe and supportive place for all clients to meet their goals. 

Michelle Land is a Licensed Professional Counselor based in Texas. Michelle’s holistic approach considers the emotional, physical, and psychological factors that contribute to a person’s overall state. Michelle understands individuals' unique challenges and strives to offer empathetic and practical support.

Michelle received a Master’s Degree from the Houston Graduate School of Theology and has practiced for over 9 years. Michelle specializes in addressing anxiety, depression, grief, women’s health (paternal/postpartum), trauma, stress, and relationship challenges. Michelle is committed to positively impacting your life by providing the tools and support you need to thrive.

Michelle’s therapeutic approach uses evidence-based cognitive and behavioral techniques to explore how thoughts, feelings, and beliefs influence one’s actions and behaviors. Working together, you and Michelle will create a personalized plan that empowers you to overcome obstacles and achieve your goals. Michelle has extensive experience in a variety of treatment methods (CBT/Trauma-Focused CBT, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, DBT, ACT, Mindfulness, Motivational interviewing, etc.) that are best positioned to serve clients who are seeking guidance and support for their mental health and well-being.  

Yvonne Wachowicz is a Licensed Professional Counselor providing care to adults and couples in the greater Houston area since 2016. She specializes in clients with anxiety and mood disorders, in addition to those struggling with relational issues and difficult life adjustments. Yvonne utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients create new pathways in the brain, challenge patterns that keep clients stuck, and create new behaviors that foster healing and growth. She has advanced training in CBT to address trauma, addiction, and psychosis as it relates to client care, and employs only other evidenced-based modalities in counseling to increase the likelihood of positive outcomes for her clients. 

Yvonne’s approach in therapy is caring, informative, and solution-focused. Her commitment lies in arming you with the right coping strategies, a healthy support system, and a bit of information about what is happening in your body and its impact on your mental health, relationships, and general well-being so that you’ll be better prepared to care for yourself and others. 

Sarah Duran is a mental health counselor based in Houston, Texas who works with parents struggling to prioritize their mental health within the demanding balance of parenting, partnering, and career. 

Sarah graduated from the University of St. Thomas with a degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She has worked with parents and their young ones since 2021. Sarah has advanced training in Advanced Perinatal Mental Health Psychotherapy, Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders, and Reproductive Trauma. In addition to her clinical work, Sarah offers workshops to parents and their young children on attachment and co-regulation. 

Sheena Drummond is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist based in Houston, Texas, with over six years of experience working with teens and adults. She works with adult individuals and couples, bringing an authentic, honest, and welcoming approach to her practice. Sheena is committed to meeting clients where they are in their journey and working collaboratively to foster healing and change.

Sheena is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and primarily works from a strengths-based and solution-focused approach. She tailors her methods to meet the individual needs of her clients, recognizing that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Her areas of concentration include perinatal/postpartum concerns and trauma, where she offers specialized support to help clients navigate these challenging experiences.

Sheena believes it is okay to accept support and emphasizes that no one has to go through their struggles alone. She is happy to discuss what seems scary, confusing, or makes clients feel unheard. Her goal is to make the process of finding a therapist as easy as possible, creating a safe and supportive environment for clients to explore their thoughts, feelings, and actions.

Sheena looks forward to establishing a collaborative relationship with her clients to foster an environment where they can feel nourished wholly—mind, body, and spirit. She is dedicated to helping clients identify and address their concerns, providing compassionate and effective therapy to support their mental health and well-being. "It's okay to accept support; you don't have to do it alone. I am happy to discuss what seems scary, confusing, or the things that make you feel unheard. There’s no one-size-fits-all, and my areas of concentration include perinatal/postpartum concerns and trauma."

Peace Popoola is a certified perinatal mental health specialist and a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate based in Houston, Texas. With a compassionate and collaborative approach, she is able to combine proven techniques and is tailored to specific needs, whether as an individual, couple or family. As a certified perinatal mental health specialist, she can also address mental health care needs during pregnancy and postpartum periods. Her goal is to create a safe and supportive space where clients can feel truly heard and work towards nurturing their well-being.

Peace holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Clinical Counseling and Marriage & Family Therapy from Hardin-Simmons University. Over the past decade, she has gained extensive experience working with youth in various capacities. While completing her degree, she worked at the University Counseling Center as well as a behavioral hospital. Peace is a National Certified Counselor, Licensed Professional Counselor Associate, and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy Associate. She specializes in a wide range of issues, including premarital, couples, and family relationship challenges, perinatal mental health, trauma, mood, and anxiety disorders.

In her practice, Peace combines proven techniques with a holistic, tailored approach to meet each patients unique needs. She employs a variety of interventions and research-supported methods to help clients achieve their goals, gain insight, and develop coping skills. Whether addressing mental health care needs during pregnancy and postpartum or navigating relationship issues, Peace is dedicated to fostering resilience and personal growth within a safe therapeutic relationship. Her commitment to her clients' well-being inspires them to prioritize their mental health and take courageous steps toward a healthier future.