Our counselors offer counseling for teens in Pearland, TX

Dr. Peta-gay Ledbetter is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor (LPC-S) who has 16 years of experience as a psychotherapist providing care to adolescents, teens, and adults. Dr. Peta is most passionate about women’s issues including postpartum depression (dissertation) and treating survivors of sexual assault, sex trafficking, and domestic violence. Trauma, complicated grief, LGBTQIA, codependency, self-harm, infidelity, abortion recovery, and foster care are some of the uncommon topics that she has addressed in therapy.

Dr. Peta completed Doctor of Philosophy degrees (PhDs) in Educational Psychology and Individual Differences at the University of Houston. She has been an Adjunct Professor since 2008 and a Counseling Supervisor since 2013. Dr. Peta has also been a Registered Nurse (RN) since 1991 and has Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) and medical training background. She completed post-doctoral studies in 2019 for Global Mental Health and Trauma at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Peta is experienced in treating a diverse population as well as issues in a culturally competent manner.

Dr. Peta seeks to establish a warm and caring therapeutic relationship with all clients, building on their own individual strengths and adding to coping skills, improving communication, and working collaboratively to meet the clients’ goals for therapy. She has a person-centered approach that is both trauma-informed and solution-focused. Dr. Peta holds certifications and training in multiple therapy interventions such as dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), cognitive processing therapy (CPT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), trust-based relationship intervention (TBRI), marriage and family, and sand tray. Interventions are tailored to the needs of the individual client, couple, or family. 

Chinwe Nzerue-Obi is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) who has 4 years of experience in the mental health field. Chinwe has worked with and helped people of all ages overcome anger, anxiety, depression, grief, substance use/abuse, parenting and relationship issues, and much more. She has been privileged to help near school drop-outs get back into school, stay in school, and graduate. Chinwe is a Certified Christian Counselor for the benefit of clients who draw strength from their faith. She also holds a Multicultural Counseling Certification, enhancing her ability to work across ages, cultures, and countries.

Chinwe completed her Master of Education (MEd) in Counseling at the University of Houston. Prior to this, she was a practicing attorney from Nigeria, having graduated from the Counsel of Legal Education, Victoria Island, Lagos, with a law degree from the University of Jos. For Interventions, Chinwe's theoretical approach is solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) because she believes that when people “need help, help cannot wait.” She also uses cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help keep the mind and body whole.

No matter what the issue is, you too can be helped. When it is beyond us, rest assured that an adequate referral will be made. Chinwe believes that with determination and the will for a better life, you can work together to help you BE THE BEST YOU ARE CREATED TO BE.

I am Jonathan Serrano, a Licensed Professional Counselor with four years of experience. Born and raised in Houston, I am proud of my Mexican heritage and the values instilled in me through my culture and upbringing. I am passionate about guiding individuals who have taken the important first step of seeking therapy. I specialize in helping clients navigate challenges that may feel overwhelming by creating a safe, supportive, and understanding space. My goal is to walk alongside clients as they rediscover strength, hope, and motivation to move forward.

I hold a Master’s in Counseling from the University of Houston. My approach integrates evidence-based practices tailored to each person’s unique experiences. I believe therapy should feel collaborative and empowering, helping clients uncover resilience and build tools for lasting growth.

Whatever obstacles you face, there is always a way forward. Hope may sometimes feel out of reach, but together we can find it again. I invite you to take this journey with me so we can work toward building a life filled with purpose, balance, and renewed strength.

Safyah Alam is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with 8 years of experiencing working with adolescents and adults to address anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, relationship conflicts, and personality disorders. She is passionate about social justice, redefining cultural and gender roles, and being true to self without sacrificing personal integrity and core values. Safyah is kind, patient, and understanding with all of her clients regardless of cultural, religious, and racial identities. Her open demeanor helps people lower the walls they have built to protect themselves and share their stories in a non-judgmental space.

Safyah received her Master’s in Clinical Psychology from Univeristy of Houston Clear Lake. She draws on elements from humanistic therapy, culturally-sensitive therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and compassion-focused therapy to create a customized treatment plan for her clients.

Safyah can help you become a healthier version of yourself and is committed to providing you a warm and welcoming environment in your healing journey. She is eager to learn more about you, what makes you who you are, and how best to guide you through the struggles you are experiencing. Please reach out today and see if she is a good fit for your needs.

Stephanie Kopecky is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Texas who has 16 years of experience helping individuals with emotional regulation, positive thinking, and insight into life’s issues. 

Stephanie completed her Bachelor of Arts (BA) in General Studies in Psychology, Music, and Behavioral Science at Texas Tech University and her Master of Education (MEd) in both Community and School Counseling at the University of Texas-El Paso. Stephanie utilizes cognitive behavioral, mindfulness-based, solution-focused, and emotionally-focused approaches to therapy to help her clients find healing, direction, and emotional relief.

Stephanie’s goal as a counselor is to help clients live their best life possible, to be authentic and to live a meaningful life. Her reputation as a counselor is that she is accepting, understanding and experienced, genuine, caring, and encouraging. Stephanie truly wants what is best for her clients and their loved ones.

Julie Burnett is a counselor with 11 years of experience. Her focus is working with clients ages 11 and older — individuals, couples, and/or families. Julie believes that all people deserve to be treated with respect and, therefore, respect is a foundational part of her counseling sessions. Julie specializes in general mental health, relationships, grief and loss, domestic abuse, and parenting. She believes that clients are the experts on their own lives, so they are the ones to choose the topics for each session while Julie brings various techniques that can help. Together they create healthy life goals and decide what techniques they want to try. Julie believes that she is here simply to be a helping hand, a listening ear, and a friendly guide as the client navigates through difficult times. In order to help clients find their way to healing on the other side of pain, Julie provides new insights, teaches new skills, introduces new knowledge, helps to broaden the client’s focus, and encourages clients to practice new skills. While Julie will never preach to the client or try to change their beliefs about faith, as a Christian, she views the world through a biblical lens.

Since she was young, Julie has wanted to help people work through their problems so they can have happier, healthier lives. She often found herself being the one her friends went to for help with their problems. She saw counseling as a way to help others. During her studies she was excited to learn that the best helping skill is listening non-judgmentally, the one skill she had been practicing since she was young. She also learned many other counseling techniques and skills that she integrates into sessions with clients. Since earning her counseling degree in 2011, she has served in a variety of settings. She has worked with victims of domestic violence and sexual assault survivors, with active and recently retired military personnel, and with high school students. She has also kept a private practice where she has been able to work with all ages and a variety of issues. As she has worked with clients throughout the years, she has found that, regardless of age, healthy relationships and boundary setting are typically common goals for clients as we all strive to live a healthy, productive life. Julie allows the client to lead the session while she helps keep it focused on the path toward healing and healthy life goals. Some of the therapies Julie uses include person-centered, Adlerian, cognitive behavioral, and mindfulness.

Julie understands that reaching out for counseling can be a scary time for clients. But she would like you to know that you have nothing to fear from her. Counseling with Julie is a safe space where all emotions are welcome, she will not judge you for your thoughts, actions, or emotions! Julie has been told that she is a very down-to-earth counselor, and she is excited to meet you and help you begin your journey on the path to a healthier and more joyful life.