Counseling

Chris Neal - Counselor in Texas

Hi, I’m Chris

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor who sees adults and couples in Texas.

If you think we may be a good fit, please contact me to set up a free 15-minute consultation. I’d love to hear about you and discuss ways I can help you along your journey

Who I see

I work with adults and couples across Texas for a range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, codependency, relationship difficulties, and much more. Some have very specific concerns and goals, while others may need someone to work with them to understand what’s going on and chart a path forward.

Either way, I’m here.

I’ll meet you where you are in life. We’ll work together to find out what’s going on and seek ways to live into your values. When you lean into knowing your own worth, amazing personal and professional changes become possible.

While I see people for a variety of concerns, it seems that people find me most often for some of the following:

  • Codependency and difficulty maintaining boundaries with others
  • Healing from early-life trauma, especially in adult children of addicted and/or narcissistic parents
  • Big life changes, such as divorce or death of a loved one
  • Repairing relationships with parents or spouses/life partners
  • Anxiety and Depression
  • Athletes, Performing Artists, and Business Executives managing performance anxiety

This list is not all-inclusive. I encourage you to contact me if you think I may be able to help with any life concern.

How I work

I take an integrative approach to therapy, which means I use a variety of techniques based on the client’s personal concerns. I see all clients via secure video platform.

Here are my core values and beliefs:

  • It’s all connected: Mind, Body, Spirit, Relationships. When you make adjustments to one part of your life, the others are affected.
  • We are all products of our past. Our early-life relationships shaped our internal working models of the world. While we can’t change the past, we can change the way we understand it, and this can help us heal.
  • It’s important that you feel seen and heard in therapy. My priority is to understand your experience and hold space for you without judgment. We work together to reconcile where you are and where you want to be.
  • Self-compassion is really important. It is the Kryptonite of shame. Developing self-compassion can be a challenge, so we go gently as we work on this.
  • We carry anxiety and trauma in our bodies. Working to heighten our awareness and calm the mind-body system can help us heal.
  • You are unique. I don’t believe a one-size-fits-all approach is a reliable or respectful approach to helping you.

My therapeutic “home base” is a Relational Psychodynamic approach. This means that we explore how you got to your current situation, what understandings about the world you developed in your early-life experience, and how you relate to others in your life. This is typically where we begin as I get to know you and understand your reasons for coming to therapy, and then we adapt as needed from there.

It’s not uncommon for someone to come see me for very specific concerns, but then choose to continue in psychotherapy as they develop insight and become aware of longstanding patterns in their lives.

Click here to see my current rates.

My Background

I have a diverse background that includes professional psychotherapy, behavioral research, and teaching. I have a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Southern Nazarene University, and am a Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas. While the program at SNU is at a Christian university, my training there emphasized clinical counseling.

I am not a Christian-based therapist. If you feel your spiritual beliefs are relevant to your therapy journey, you are welcome to bring them up. If you seek a therapist who uses Christian beliefs as a foundation for therapy, I am happy to help you find resources to locate one.

I’ve given presentations on Mindfulness and stress management at several colleges and universities, including the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. I’ve also spoken to university music programs on managing performance anxiety in the performing arts, and have enjoyed working with musicians, business leaders, and athletes to achieve optimal performance levels. I also take joy in helping people of all walks of life feel better, improve their relationships, and live happier, healthier daily lives.

I have a prior career as a music teacher, and while I loved my time training young musicians, I am truly grateful for the opportunity to help adults and couples seek new possibilities in their interpersonal lives. I continue to explore creative activities in my personal time, and this gives me the energy and perspective to be my best for my counseling clients every day.

Let’s Talk to see

if we’re a good fit

After reading about my training and approach, do you suspect we might be a good fit for therapy?
If you’re curious to learn more, I encourage you to reach out to schedule a free 15-minute consultation.