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

If you are carrying grief, trauma, or navigating a major life transition, you may feel overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure how to move forward. Experiences such as loss, divorce, infertility, or other unexpected changes can deeply impact your sense of stability and alters your identity.

I bring over two decades of experience working in a variety of clinical settings. My background includes serving as a probation officer, directing three partial hospitalization programs, working in an inpatient psychiatric facility, and building a private practice. These experiences have given me a broad and practical understanding of how people struggle—and more importantly, how they heal.

I hold a Master of Education in Counseling and Guidance and have been a Licensed Professional Counselor since 2001. I specialize in trauma and grief, using EMDR as my primary modality, along with CBT and other evidence-based approaches. I also value and incorporate principles from 12-step recovery when working with clients or loved ones living with addiction.

I work with adults facing trauma, grief, and life transitions, including those who are high-functioning but internally struggling. Regardless of what brought you here, therapy can be a place to gain clarity, build resilience, and reconnect with yourself.

As your counselor, I will be a partner in developing appropriate treatment plans that accomplish established goals. I believe that human development is a lifelong process and personality and behavior changes are possible at any time. I also believe in the need for a flexible multicultural approach and that the counselor and client are equal partners.

I love working with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. I have worked with people from various backgrounds and cultures throughout my career and these experiences help me to easily connect with my clients. Additionally, I have worked with children and adults with anxiety disorders, provided pre-marital counseling, and addressed spiritual concerns for individuals, couples, and families. I have obtained specialized instruction in working with victims of human trafficking, and persons who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgender. Also, I have experience working with persons of varied ethnic, racial, sexual orientation, and religious backgrounds.

As a Counselor, I am always looking for opportunities to grow and develop my abilities to best serve my clients. I am a National Certified Counselor (NCC) by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC). I am an active member American Counseling Association (ACA) and Texas Counseling Association (TCA). I look forward to partnering with you on your journey to achieve and maintain wellness.

I am a passionate Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner dedicated to helping preteens, adolescents, and young adults who are grappling with the complexities of mental health disorders, such as anxiety and depression. My clients are overwhelmed by their emotions, struggling to manage daily responsibilities, relationships, and academic pressures. They may feel sad, hopeless, or experience intense anxiety that interferes with their ability to function and thrive. I aim to provide a safe and non-judgmental space for my clients to navigate their emotional challenges, learn effective coping strategies and improve overall wellbeing,

My career as a professional Counselor is new. I was forced to leave a 26 year career behind after a fall at work prevented me from being able to that job any longer. Forced to live on disability, I went back to school to earn a degree that led to where I am now.

I feel my life experiences afford me a no-judgement, above-average understanding of people, their experiences, and their behaviors.

Sometimes life shifts in ways we do not expect. You may notice yourself reacting differently in certain situations, feeling overwhelmed by emotions that seem to come out of nowhere, or getting stuck in thoughts you cannot quiet. You might find yourself wondering why you ruminate, why certain people or moments affect you so deeply, or why you act differently in relationships, even when you want things to be better.

These reactions are often linked to attachment experiences from childhood, unresolved past experiences, or even traumatic events later in life. The body and mind hold onto these experiences, and they can surface when we least expect them. Therapy is a space to slow down and understand what is happening, rather than feeling confused or frustrated by it.

I work with children, teens, and adults using an attachment-based and trauma-informed approach that helps clients understand the conflicts that happen inside themselves and within their relationships. Many people experience parts of themselves that want different things at the same time, such as closeness and distance, or feel strong emotions that do not seem to match the situation. Therapy helps make sense of these internal struggles with curiosity rather than judgment.

Welcome to This Space. I am a doctoral level clinician with a variety of mental health experience. I started out in community mental health agencies working with psychiatrists to treat depression, anxiety, ptsd, and schizophrenia in teens and adults. I have since transitioned to private practice where I help clients, mostly adults work through grief, depression, anxiety, life transitions, trauma, and stress management.

Armando has an easygoing nature and a dry sense of humor. His approach to counseling is to help his clients develop self-compassion. He is service-oriented and truly cherishes his time spent facilitating the healing process. Armando received his M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and his Ph.D. in Counselor’s Education and Supervision.