Trevor Gates-Crandall, LCSW

Erin Ellis is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in New York. Erin has over 5 years of experience working with adults seeking help with anxiety, depression, other mood disorders, stress, life transitions, LGBTQ+ issues, and trauma. Erin received her Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from Nazareth College in Rochester, NY followed by a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from Medaille College in Buffalo, NY. Erin has prior experience working for a local hospital in the comprehensive psychiatric emergency program (CPEP) where she provided crisis intervention services.  Erin also has prior experience working in substance abuse in providing mental health counseling treatment on an inpatient unit. Additionally, Erin has worked in community mental work with a variety of different populations. Erin’s therapeutic approach is eclectic in nature, and client centered. Erin collaborates with her clients, meeting them where they are and helping them find personalized solutions to achieve their goals and become their best selves.  Erin utilizes a combination of approaches including mindfulness techniques, cognitive/dialectical behavioral skills (CBT, DBT), as well as compassion and strength-based approaches. Your first session is a chance for us to get to know each other and discuss what brings you to therapy. It’s normal to feel nervous; therapy is a process we’ll build together over time. We’ll move at your pace, one step at a time, and I’ll be here to guide you throughout.

Christina Kunisch is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with experience in outpatient, community mental-health, and integrated care settings. She has supported individuals across the lifespan with a focus on trauma-informed care, anxiety, depression, and life transitions. Christina holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from East Tennessee State University and has advanced training in CBT, ACT, trauma-informed modalities, and mindfulness-based therapies. She also has experience collaborating within multidisciplinary teams to provide holistic, person-centered care.

Christina creates a warm, grounded, and non-judgmental therapeutic space where clients feel safe, heard, and supported. She values open communication and collaborative goal-setting, ensuring clients remain empowered throughout their therapeutic journey. Patients can expect a thoughtful balance of emotional support and gentle challenge to foster meaningful, sustainable growth.

Christina begins by taking time to genuinely understand each patient’s story, needs, and goals during the initial session. She uses an integrative, evidence-based approach tailored to each individual’s strengths, preferences, and pace. Therapy with her is a collaborative and evolving process that includes regular check-ins, ongoing adjustment of strategies, and a shared commitment to supportive, aligned care.

Joanne is a Latinx, first generation, biliterate licensed mental health counselor- LMHC-D. Joanne enjoys working with individuals from diverse populations facing grief/loss, relational difficulties as well as anxiety/depression stemming from life and identity transitions through a trauma-focused and culturally responsive lens.

Joanne's previous experience includes supporting clients across a variety of outpatient settings that includes private practice and community based mental health organizations. She has experience working with clients across the lifespan with concerns ranging from anxiety and depression to serious and persistent mental health issues via individual therapy, group counseling and family therapy. Joanne's therapeutic approach is highly empathetic, client-centered, and strengths-based, which aims to empower individuals to tap into their inherent potential. As a direct clinician, a client can expect a mix of humor and curiosity as they work collaboratively to explore their mental health needs, co-create resilience, and cultivate the best version of themselves.

Joanne combines a mix of evidence-based practices such as Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as well as Internal Family Systems. Additionally, Joanne is also certified in Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD. Clients can expect an individualized therapeutic experience that aims to help them walk away from their sessions feeling supported, empowered and energized to work on their personal growth.

Robert Trujillo is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas, practicing since 2020. He brings diverse experience from working in jails, behavioral health hospitals, and private clinics, which allows him to understand and support clients from many different backgrounds. Trained in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and other evidence-based approaches, Robert tailors' treatment to meet the unique needs of each individual.

Robert creates a supportive and conversational environment where clients feel heard and respected. He strongly advocates for each client’s well-being and works to empower them to take control of their symptoms. Open communication is central to his approach, and he believes therapy is most effective when clients and counselor collaborate to set clear, achievable goals together.

In the first session, Robert introduces coping skills rooted in CBT to provide immediate support. He partners with clients to identify their concerns and build individualized treatment plans that fit their lives. Throughout therapy, he guides clients in restructuring unhelpful thoughts, balancing emotions with rationality, and practicing new skills. His ultimate goal is to equip clients with tools they can confidently use long after therapy ends.

Katherine Strasburger, LCSW, grew up in Colorado and moved to Waco in 2013 to attend Baylor University, where she later earned her MSW. She has extensive experience supporting children and adolescents ages 4–19, as well as their caregivers, across juvenile detention, PK–12 schools, and homeless outreach. She is completing full EMDR training and holds ADHD certification. Kat enjoys integrating nutrition-focused psychoeducation and creative expression through play and art-based strategies. She is also training her dog, Odin, for Therapy Dog certification.

Kat recognizes the stigma surrounding mental health and views seeking therapy as an act of resilience. She creates a safe, comfortable, and nonjudgmental space where clients can be themselves. She values autonomy, supports increased self-awareness, and genuinely celebrates each client’s progress and healing.

Kat begins by building rapport and gaining a thorough understanding of each client’s history, concerns, and goals. She collaborates with clients to create individualized treatment plans that reflect their needs and priorities. She feels honored to walk alongside clients as they grow, heal, and build skills for lasting well-being.

Penny Clark is a Licensed Professional Counselor, who earned her Master of Arts degree in Counseling Psychology at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, New Jersey in 2004. Penny also completed a one-year training to become a Certified Health Coach through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York in 2017. Penny has more than 20 years of counseling experience and has worked with individuals, couples and families, beginning by working with 9/11 displaced workers and recovery workers, including police, firemen and EMTs, and then Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy families, after which she worked with bereaved military families, homeless veterans, and other homeless men. Penny has done individual, couples, career and relationship counseling. Penny has worked in various levels of care including inpatient, outpatient, intensive outpatient and partial care programs. Penny has answered the National Suicide Prevention Hotline 800-273-TALK, has worked in a psychiatrist’s office, and in her own private practice. Penny also worked at a drug and alcohol detox and rehabilitation program.  Penny has worked with individuals with Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, health and medical challenges, substance abuse, and the specific challenges that seniors face.

Penny provides a safe, therapeutic environment in which clients can share and process their thoughts and feelings, gain insight, and set and reach realistic and achievable goals. Penny’s primary goal is to develop a trusting relationship with her clients and helping them to improve their lives.

Penny uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, (CBT,) Positive Psychology, Psychodynamic Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Psychoeducation while working with clients. Penny enjoys assisting clients in determining where they are and where they would like to be, the steps they need to take to get there, and in identifying and overcoming any obstacles that may be in their way.

‍