Liana works with clients through all stages of life: children/teens (10 and up), college students, young adults, moms of all ages, couples, empty nesters, those experiencing grief, and older adults. We live in a broken world and can be broken in the middle of it. This can happen at any stage of life. However, brokenness is not our only identity; we are all also made in the image of God and each of us has a story with chapters. Liana is interested in that story and helping you to discover it: lamenting the difficult and painful, discovering your pain cycle, emotionally regulating in a safe place, helping you take the next step with empathy and compassion, finding a peace cycle, and healing along the way. Areas of emphasis include depression, anxiety, grief, loss, and trauma as well as premarital couples, academic advising, and career counseling.

Education

• MA (Clinical Mental Health Counseling), Liberty University (in progress)

• MEd (Educational Psychology in Counseling), University of Houston

• BA (Elementary Education), University of Arizona

Credentials

• Student Counselor
  (Under the supervision of Erik Salwen, LPC-S)

• Restoration Therapy Level 1 Trained

• Texas Professional School Counselor Certificate (Grades PreK-12)

• Certified SYMBIS Assessment Facilitator (marriage counseling)

• Texas Provisional Teaching Certificate (Grades 1-8)

• Arizona Teaching Certificate (Grades 1-8)

• Gifted and Talented Awareness Certificate

• English as a Second Language (ESL) Certificate

Professional Affiliations

• American Counseling Association (ACA)

• American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC)

Liana hopes to help and partner with those walking through all levels of: 

• Depression and anxiety (adjustment, social anxiety, panic attacks)

• Trauma, self-harm, complicated grief (PTSD, acute stress, abuse, neglect, sexual abuse)

• Grief & loss; existential questions (death of a child, death of a parent, break-ups, life changes)

• Behavioral addiction (pornography, phone, media) 

• Academic mentoring; school struggles (failing grades, scheduling, school stress, bullying, ADHD)

• Career counseling & decision making

Liana leans towards attachment, narrative, and existential therapy (using Restoration Therapy), incorporating touches of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), solutions-focused therapy, person-centered therapy, and mindfulness. Emotional regulation, problem solving, decision-making skills, mindfulness techniques, coping skills, self-care, communication, conflict resolution, lament and hope, childhood trauma, and pornography are all areas of research and practice. She is well-equipped to walk through grief. 

Liana presents to parents, college students, young women and families, and other organizations on Anxiety, Mental Health & Media, Emotional Regulation & Coping Skills, Conflict Resolution, Lament & Hope, Grief & the Gospel, Mental Health & the Church, and ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences) at churches, public schools, and ministries. She has taught a Child Lures program (sexual abuse prevention), led a Peer Mediation program (conflict resolution), and led self-esteem, anger management groups, and autism groups. She is a member of Fairplay for Kids and serves as the Texas lead for Distraction Free Schools, both organizations advocate for children's online safety, and she has testified in Austin regarding this issue. 

Liana has been married to her very strong husband since 1997 and has two beautiful children on earth and one in heaven. She is a native plant gardener, loves historic neighborhoods, and likes to hike and exercise for stress relief.

One theme that she thinks about consistently is rebuilding: “Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called the Repairer of Broken Walls…” (Isaiah 58:12).