• Are you stuck in "survival mode?"  Is it taking everything you've got just to make it through the day?  

• Do you struggle with issues from the past that are interefering with your ability to function in the present?  

• Are you worried about an "out of control" teen, or has your child been diagnosed with a mental health or developmental disorder? 

• Are you looking for counseling in a setting that doesn't feel like going to the doctor's office?
  

There are lots of reasons people venture out in search of a counselor, but just by seeking help for you or your family, you've already taken an important first step in finding a solution.  I believe we have each been given a unique set of strengths and gifts, but many of us haven't discovered them yet. My goal as a therapist is to help clients and families find and utilize their unique set of strengths and resources to bring about change, restore peace and harmony to their lives, to grow, and to thrive. We might not be able to change the past, but we can certainly work in the present to overcome it and move toward a bright future.

"Life is not the way it's supposed to be. It's the way it is.
 The way you cope with it is what makes the difference." -- Virginia Satir

It's true that we can't always control what happens to us, and we certainly can't change others, but we do have the ultimate say in how we respond to situations in our lives that are challenging or painful. Facing hardship and pain is a normal part of being human, and we all need help from time to time.  It's how we approach life's uncertainties and challenges that often makes the difference between surviving and thriving.

 

 

Christi Kersten, MA LPC

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor providing therapy for individuals, youth and families in and around the Mexia area. My professional experience includes over ten years working directly with behaviorally-challenging youth and their families, as well children with a broad spectrum of mental health diagnoses.  I am a trained Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy provider for children and adolescents who have experienced sexual or physical abuse or other psychological trauma.  In addition, I have extensive experience working with adoptive and foster parents and children in state custody, as well as families with special needs children.

As a parent of a behaviorally-challenging child on the autism spectrum, I can empathize personally with the often severe daily stresses placed upon parents, siblings, and family life as well as the emotional challenges that all too often come with raising a special child. As a result, I am particularly passionate about helping families negotiate these obstacles successfully and find hope and healing. My permanent office location, currently under construction and provided by Creekside Christian Retreat (a retreat for families living with autism) is uniquely designed to meet the safety, sensory, learning, and therapeutic recreational needs of all children, but especially children on the spectrum.  

A graduate of Lindenwood University with a Master's degree in Professional Counseling, I serve residents of Limestone, Freestone, McLennan and Navarro Counties as a therapist and parenting consultant, providing in-home, office, and distance-based services to individuals and families.