Meredith Kriz, LPC-S
Owner and Clinical Director

Meredith Kriz is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Supervisor with almost two decades of experience. As the founder and clinical director of Foundations Counseling, Meredith supports the clinicians and staff to create a supportive and non-judgmental atmosphere where people can heal and reach their full potential.

Meredith created Foundations Counseling to provide a nurturing therapeutic environment where clinicians can develop their clinical skills, collaborate with other exceptional clinicians and provide the best possible care to clients.

As a clinician, Meredith works with individuals and couples who struggle with depression, anxiety, grief/loss, life transitions, trauma, and spiritual issues. She typically works within the frameworks of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT).

Education:

    • BA, Texas Christian University
    • MDiv, Lexington Theological Seminary
    • MA, Christian Theological Seminary
    • DBT Certification, DBTNCAA

Laurie Blott, LPC
Staff Therapist

Laurie Blott is a seasoned Licensed Professional Counselor with experience in various settings, including outpatient mental health, inpatient hospitals, crisis centers, and schools.

Laurie enjoys working with adults and older adolescents (16+) on issues around depression, anxiety, trauma, life transitions, work stress, and mood disorders. Laurie is trained in EMDR, and also draws on Person Centered and Solution Focused strategies. Laurie works with each client to ensure the goals they have are being addressed in meaningful ways.

Laurie’s goal is to create a safe, non-judgemental, and open environment where the client can let their guard down and embrace their authentic selves. What if, instead of focusing on being the “best” version of yourself, you spent time finding out what your “favorite” self might look like?

Education:

    • BA Psychology, Texas Tech University
    • MA Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Mary-Hardin Baylor

Katrina Brown, LMFT-S
Staff Therapist and Director of Telehealth Services

Katrina Brown is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Supervisor with almost 20 years of experience. Katrina’s previous work experience includes working with children who had severe emotional disturbance and behavior problems, working with adults with developmental disabilities, and working with the state as an investigator. However, her passion has always been in counseling. Katrina’s specialties include working with individuals, couples and families dealing with divorce/separation, blended families, and absent parents. She has also worked with a variety of individuals, including those diagnosed with depression and anxiety, autism spectrum disorders, and families dealing with substance abuse/alcoholism.

Katrina utilizes a variety of techniques, but focuses on Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and Systems Theory as an approach to therapy. She likes to point out roles, rules, and dynamics that often play out in families in order to facilitate change. Katrina is not afraid of conflict and helps couples and families learn to interact differently.

In addition to seeing clients, Katrina is also the Director of Telehealth Services at Foundations Counseling. In this role, Katrina leads and manages the clinical telehealth operations of the practice. She oversees the development, implementation, and maintenance of the telehealth program, ensuring the delivery of high quality, client-centered care through telehealth.

Education:

  • BA Psychology, University of Texas at Austin
  • MS in Clinical Social Work, University of Texas at Austin

Kara English, LPC, LCDC
Staff Therapist

Kara English is a seasoned Licensed Professional and Chemical Dependency Counselor with over 30 years of combined experience in Counseling, Coaching, Training, and Administration.

Kara is familiar with helping people work through the struggles of drug and alcohol addictions. She has served as an advisor for programs and groups building specialized women’s counseling services.  Kara worked exclusively with women suffering from depression, anxiety, addictions, trauma, and life transitions for ten years of her career. Kara’s addictions work was recognized by Denver Health and Hospitals Star Award.  She has coached and counseled professionals seeking tangible change for the folks that they serve.

Kara has provided mental health and addiction services in the Criminal Justice, Hospital, State, and not for profit systems.  Her work ultimately, reduced crisis, recidivism, and stabilized individuals.

Kara applies a combination of evidenced based theories – Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral, Brief Solution Focused, and Rational Emotive to identify realistic next steps, and skills needed to move forward.  Commitment to the process is completely and totally in your hands. She is a proponent of medication assisted treatment to support recovery and reduce relapse.

Kara is a mom, wife, dog lover, and a Change Agent.

Motivational Interviewing OPTIMISM – Offer hope.  Explain what can be done and how it may help. 

Present a positive and honest picture of changes that others have made and of the efficacy of the

services offered.

William and Stephen Rollnick, 2013

Education:

  • BA Psychology, Livingston College
  • ME Counseling, Cleveland State University

Paul Fowler, LMSW

Supervised by Sarah Glenney, LCSW-S

Paul Fowler has thirty years combined experience as an educator, social worker, art teacher and artist. His professional career spans from New Orleans to Texas, with time spent in Haiti working with children after the earthquake.

As a social worker, Paul has worked in hospital settings, with the homeless, in a substance abuse halfway house, in crisis intervention, and outpatient psychotherapy.

At his core, Paul’s deepest heart’s desire was always to help others with their own lives.  For him, this means creating a safe, inclusive space for clients to feel comfortable and express themselves, build self-confidence, and find their own path. Paul is warm, welcoming, non-judgmental, hopeful, and caring. His intuition and insight helps clients find healing and wholeness.

In his free time, Paul enjoys spending time in nature, meditation, yoga, walking, reading, music, gardening, and making art.

Education:

    • BA, Literature, Southern Methodist University
    • Master of Social Work, Tulane University

Sharaya Gallozzi, LMFT
Staff Therapist

Sharaya Gallozzi has multiple years of experience as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and has a passion working with older adolescents, adults, and couples to reach their full potential, no matter the difficult circumstances they may face in their lives. She focuses on providing every client with a non judgmental and safe therapeutic environment where they can exercise their right to always be their authentic selves.

Sharaya’s clinical focus is to assist those struggling with issues such as depression, anxiety, daily life stressors, difficulty adjusting to new stages of life, and relationship issues. She practices integrative therapy, which combines elements from different therapeutic modalities, and personalizes the treatment according to the needs of each client since every person is unique. We all need someone to talk to without fear of ridicule or judgment, so why not start today!

Education:

    • BA Psychology, University of Massachusetts Amherst
    • MA Clinical Psychology, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

Sarah Glenney, LCSW-S
Staff Therapist

Sarah is a Licensed Clinical Social worker and has been in the field both educationally and professionally over the last 20 years. Her experience includes residential treatment for adolescents, inpatient, partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programming for adults, and individual outpatient therapy with adolescents and adults.
Sarah has a passion for and extensive experience in helping clients learn how to better manage stress, depression, grief and loss, anxiety, panic, and life adjustments or changes. She enjoys working with individuals from young adults into adulthood seeking to better understand themselves, build skills, and make changes for a balanced life.
Sarah provides a safe and supportive environment and practices from a place of compassion, empathy, connection, and understanding. To ensure the treatment is focused on what the client would like to address, she utilizes a variety of therapeutic techniques such as: CBT, DBT, ACT, trauma informed care, mindfulness, solution focused, person-centered, and narrative therapy.

Education:

  • BA Psychology, University of Texas at Austin
  • MS Clinical Social Work, University of Texas at Austin

Carly Johnson, LMSW
Staff Therapist

Supervised by Sarah Glenney, LCSW-S

Carly Johnson is a Licensed Master Social Worker who has had the opportunity to work with people of all ages in different settings throughout her career. Her experience includes working at an adult psychiatric hospital, a drug abuse residential treatment facility, an elementary school supporting students and their families through relationship struggles, grief, and adversity, and at a pediatric eating disorder inpatient and partial hospitalization treatment programs.

As a therapist, Carly has a passion for helping children, adolescents, young adults, and women learn how to better navigate anxiety, depression, body image and self-esteem issues, grief, family conflict, and life adjustments. Therapeutic models utilized with clients include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy(CBT), Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and Strengths-based Therapy.

Carly seeks to provide a nonjudgmental therapeutic environment that allows individuals to identify what is and isn’t working in their lives and encourages healing and growth.

You are imperfect, you are wired for struggle, but you are worthy of love and belonging.

— Brené Brown

Education:

    • BS Sociology, California Baptist University
    • MS Social Work, California Baptist University

Elina Kharmats, LPC
Staff Therapist

Elina Kharmats has over a decade of experience as a Licensed Professional Counselor working with individuals, couples, families, and groups. Elina understands that your perception is your reality. She practices integrative therapy, which combines elements from different therapeutic modalities, and personalizes the treatment according to the needs of each client. Some of these approaches include person centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, family systems therapy, and gestalt therapy, among others.

Elina aims to see your current situation from your perspective, meet you where you are emotionally, and walk with you at your emotional pace, towards the goal of wellness, happiness, and fulfillment. Everyone deserves an opportunity to improve their quality of life, why not start the process now?

Education:

    • BA, Psychology, UNT
    • MA, Professional Counseling, Amberton University

Samantha (Sam) Klassen, PhD, LPC-S
Staff Therapist

Samantha (Sam) Klassen is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Supervisor who works with children, adolescents, and adults. 

Sam is passionate about working with clients who have endured trauma, and she is trained in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). Sam focuses on how attachment and intergenerational trauma can impact the client. She also specializes in depression, anxiety, disordered eating and body image concerns, challenges with executive functioning, relationship struggles, and other life changes. Sam utilizes TF-CBT, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) with her clients.

In Sam’s work with adults, her goal is to help clients recognize how past experiences shape the struggles they are presently experiencing. Once the origins of the struggles are identified, clients are better equipped to make lasting changes for the future. With children and adolescents, Sam focuses on fostering a secure, empathic connection and helps clients feel safe to express themselves. She also works closely with parents to educate and equip them in supporting their children’s therapeutic journey.

Besides being an amazing clinician, Sam is also passionate about clinician education and supervision. Sam has a background in higher education and loves working with LPC-Associates as they begin their journey as a counselor.

Education:

    • BS Psychology, Angelo State University
    • MS Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Texas A&M Corpus Christi
    • PhD Counselor Education and Supervision, Texas A&M Corpus Christi

Kassi Lightfoot, LCSW
Staff Therapist

Kassi is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has spent her career working with people of all ages who have experienced trauma, child abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, and grief. She has also worked with those who experience anxiety and depression, as well as those who are neurodivergent. Kassi seeks to provide a creative environment for clients to explore emotions, reduce anxiety, and increase self-esteem.

As a therapist, Kassi values a mutual relationship and genuine connection with her clients. Therapeutic models utilized in session include cognitive behavioral therapy, trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, and person-centered therapy. Kassi is also an LGBTQIA+ ally who values the dignity and worth of all her clients.

“What we don’t need in the midst of struggle is shame for being human.” – Brene Brown

Education:

    • BA, Sociology, Southeastern Oklahoma State University
    • MA, Social Work (Children and Families), University of Texas Arlington

Kendra McRae, LCSW

Staff Therapist

 

Kendra McRae is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a decade of experience in the mental health field. Kendra offers individual counseling to adults experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma symptoms, phase of life issues, maladaptive coping, transitional life changes, perinatal/postpartum mental health issues, and emotional distress.

Kendra has a special interest in providing therapeutic support to BIPOC clients, young adults, and those struggling with perinatal/postpartum mental health issues. Kendra is a trauma informed therapist who utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). She practices from a person-centered framework and also utilizes attachment theory in her work. She is passionate about meeting clients where they are, and making mental health more readily received in the BIPOC community.

Kendra grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas and moved to North Texas in 2021. In her spare time, Kendra enjoys reading, exploring new restaurants, and shopping. However, nothing compares to Kendra’s love of spending time with her husband and daughter.

Education:

    • BA, Psychology, University of Arkansas
    • MA, Social Work, University of Arkansas

Sarah Oliva, LPC
Staff Therapist

Sarah Oliva is a Licensed Professional Counselor with 6 years of clinical experience providing counseling to children, adolescents, adults, and their families. Sarah hopes to be someone you can seek support from, but who can also help to guide you to feel more in control, more grounded, and better able to face everyday stressors that pop up along the way. She believes we all have the power to grow from challenges; we just need the right guidance and space to do so.
 
Sarah‘s experience as a therapist is diverse and includes work in a crisis contact center environment, mobile crisis intervention and stabilization, university counseling center, and outpatient therapy settings. She utilizes approaches including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and motivational interviewing. 
 
Her clinical focus is to assist those struggling with issues such as anxiety, depression, ADHD and impulse control, daily life stressors, self harm, trauma, children affected by parental conflict or divorce, behavioral outbursts and anger management issues, and youth transitioning to young adulthood. Sarah offers a safe, non-judgemental environment for you to figure out what is working in your life, what is not, and how to move forward.

Education:

  • M.S. in Mental Health Counseling, The College of New Rochelle  
  • B.A. in Psychology, B.S. Criminal Justice, University of New Haven

Chris Olson, LPC
Staff Therapist

“It’s okay if you fall apart sometimes. Tacos fall apart and we still love them.”

Chris Olson is a Licensed Professional Counselor working with teens, adults, couples, and families. Using Choice Theory and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Chris’ goal is to take the stuffiness out of therapy. Sessions are similar to a conversation with a friend; he will challenge you to be the best version of yourself using compassion, empathy, and humor. At any given point, we are all doing the best we can to survive using what we know. Let Chris help expand your perspectives, challenge your current strategies, and develop new skills to help conquer life.

Chris’ experience includes specializing in trauma work. He began working with survivors of domestic violence (men, women, and children), focusing on rebuilding identity, trust, and working though various forms of abuse in order to empower his clients. Most recently, he spent two years working with teens in crisis as an inpatient therapist helping clients navigate depression, anxiety, aggression, and suicidal ideation. As an inpatient therapist, he was able to guide clients in increasing communication, self-awareness, and self-esteem while helping families to reconnect and work in unison.

Education:

  • BA Sociology, University of Washington
  • MS Counseling, University of North Texas

Jessica Pirzadeh, LPC-S
Staff Therapist and Director of Client Experience

“Just because you aren’t making progress as fast as you think you should doesn’t mean you aren’t making progress.” -Unknown

Jessica Pirzadeh is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor with a passion for offering support to individuals of all ages. She believes that our past experiences shape how we think about things as adults and if we heal old wounds, we improve our chances to feel more successful in all areas of life. Jessica regards the ability to learn as a necessary tool for all individuals to maintain throughout life; whether you are a student in school or the CEO of a global corporation, it is essential to continue learning about yourself. When we have a solid understanding of why we think, act, and feel the way we do, then we set ourselves up to improve our relationships, especially the one with ourselves.

Jessica’s extensive career history includes working with children, adolescents, individual, couples, families, and group therapy. She also has served as the clinical manager for a behavioral health partial hospitalization program that treats adults with depression, anxiety, bipolar episodes, psychosis, post-traumatic stress, and chemical dependency. Working in the hospital setting has helped shape Jessica’s skills as a professional counselor to be what they are today. She describes her therapeutic style as genuine and supportive while also being direct in facilitating change and growth within each individual’s life. Some of her preferred techniques derive from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, and self-compassion.

Jessica hopes to help her clients achieve true self-awareness so they can feel happy and whole while maximizing their full potential.

In addition to seeing clients, Jessica is also the Director of Client Experience at Foundations Counseling. In this role, Jessica is responsible for developing and implementing strategies, programs, and initiatives to ensure that our clients receive the highest level of care and satisfaction throughout their treatment at Foundations Counseling. Jessica works closely with the clinical team and administrative staff to ensure that the client experience is exceptional, from the moment of initial client contact through treatment completion and beyond.

Education:

  • BS Psychology, The University of Texas at Dallas
  • BA Child Learning and Development, The University of Texas at Dallas
  • MS Counseling and Development, Texas Woman’s University

DeeDee Shoubaki, LPC
Staff Therapist

“The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction, not a destination.” –Carl Rogers

DeeDee is a Licensed Professional Counselor who has spent her career working with adolescents, adults, couples, and families. She enjoys working with those who struggle with anger, anxiety, self-esteem, and trauma. DeeDee’s goal is to help others in creating their own sense of healthy emotional expression, improve communication skills, strengthen conflict management and to empower clients to create the best version of themselves and build the life they want. DeeDee utilizes a holistic approach but focuses on Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT), humanistic therapy, and psychodynamic therapy. 

DeeDee’s experience includes working in a hospital setting, residential treatment centers, and in private practice helping clients during moments of crisis, resolving conflict, and fostering healthier relationships. She encourages clients to show compassion, empathy, and patience not only to others, but to themselves, as well. DeeDee believes that with the right support and guidance, everyone has the potential to find meaning and purpose and to create a life of authenticity and fulfillment.

 

 

Education:

  • BS Psychology, University of Central Florida
  • MA Forensic Psychology, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

Rachel Hendrix, COC, CPB, CPPM
Practice Manager

Rachel Hendrix is the Practice Manager of Foundations Counseling. Rachel is a Certified Professional Biller, Certified Outpatient Coder, and Certified Physician Practice Manager who received her education and training through the American Academy of Professional Coders. She has also completed her Bachelors in Applied Studies at Amberton University and currently works toward her Masters in Professional Counseling. 

Rachel believes in educating and empowering patients with the knowledge and understanding on how to utilize and get the most out of their health insurance benefits! She aims to remain the friendly face/voice to calm any concerns regarding your care, treatment, and overall happiness here with us at Foundations! Whether you are looking to schedule an appointment for the first time, or just want to learn more about therapy and how it could be helpful for you or your loved ones, she loves nothing more than to hear from the community we so passionately serve!

If you ever have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact her. She may be reached via email at rachel@yournewfoundation.com.

Doug Kriz, Executive Director

Doug Kriz serves as Executive Director of Foundations Counseling. He manages the business operations and marketing, and oversees the administration, programs, and strategic planning. Doug has more than two decades of experience in communications, marketing, fundraising, and community outreach and development. He enjoys working with the Foundations Counseling team and exploring creative ways to build an amazing environment for our clinicians and a great experience for clients.