Book a therapist or psychiatrist in Hutto, TX covered by Aetna

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker(LCSW) with over 10 years of experience in the mental health field. I have worked with individuals experiencing depression, anxiety, and grief, as well as those impacted by incarceration and major life transitions.I am especially passionate about helping clients build confidence, strengthen self-esteem, and develop coping skills that support long-term emotional wellness. I believe therapy should feel practical, affirming, and tailored to each individual's needs.

Do you feel stuck in treatment or unsure what to try next? As a Christian counselor, I have helped hundreds of people, from children to corporate leaders, improve their quality of life. I specialize in chronic pain and stress, and also support anxiety, depression, and relationship concerns, including parenting, marriage, and workplace challenges grounded in faith and practical care.

Clients describe me as someone who’s compassionate, but who will “tell it like it is.” I believe that most problems in our relationships and well-being come from unmet needs in childhood. I help my clients learn to heal through mindfulness, reparenting, and finding a sense of safety through Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) or somatic therapy. At the same time, we need to identify and challenge negative beliefs that we have about ourselves and the world. This is a process called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Through therapy, we can develop self-awareness, healthy boundaries, and assertive communication. These are skills we can all learn to help us feel better and work towards the life and healthy relationships we want.

I specialize in helping adults overcome addiction, including substance use and gaming addiction. I understand the challenges of rebuilding relationships, setting boundaries, and addressing the underlying causes of addictive behaviors. My approach is supportive, relatable, and focused on practical growth. I also work with individuals experiencing depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.

Katherine Castelo, LCSW is a licensed therapist and certified clinical supervisor in Virginia, Texas, Florida, West Virginia, Indiana, Maryland, and Colorado. With over 25 years of experience, she specializes in trauma, military and veteran mental health, first-responder wellness, grief, deployment-related stress, and major life transitions.

A former Marine Corps veteran spouse, Katherine brings lived experience and deep cultural understanding to her work. She has served across the DoD, VA, nonprofit, and civilian sectors, providing high-level clinical care, consultation, and program leadership.

She previously oversaw a Defense Health Agency program for transitioning service members and served as the U.S. Army Reserve Psychological Health Program Director, leading outreach for more than 200,000 soldiers and families and advising on post-suicide psychological autopsies as part of the USAR Fatality Review Board.

Katherine also worked as a civilian Employee Assistance Program (EAP) manager for the U.S. Navy and as a casualty assistance consultant for NCIS, developing programs focused on readiness, crisis response, and deployment-cycle support.

As founder of Awaken Wellness Center, her practice centers on trauma recovery, crisis intervention, and integrative therapies. She is trained in Brainspotting, IFS-informed work, and trauma-responsive care, and has provided trainings for service members, clinicians, and community providers on PTSD, MST, suicide prevention, and Brainspotting.

Today, Katherine consults with the SAFE Project’s SAFE Veterans initiative and teaches caregiver wellness classes with Semper Fi & America’s Fund, bringing compassionate, evidence-based, culturally grounded care to military members, veterans, first responders, caregivers, and their families.

I believe that every person has the capacity for growth, healing, and meaningful change. My goal is to provide a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental environment where clients feel comfortable exploring life’s challenges, processing difficult emotions, and gaining a deeper understanding of themselves. I know that starting therapy can feel vulnerable, so I work to create a space where you feel heard, respected, and supported from the very beginning. I’m especially passionate about helping individuals navigate concerns related to trauma, anxiety, stress, relationships, and family issues while building insight, resilience, and healthier ways of coping.

For those who value efficiency. My approach is direct, strategic, and results-driven.

You are driven, smart, and successful. Something is keeping you stuck. Let’s investigate and make real progress. I work a little differently. Direct feedback, thoughtful goals, and therapy that is intentional, not endless.