Justina Yohannan
Kids, Teens, Adults 18+
Depression/Anxiety/Trauma
Chronic Pain/Illness
Discrimination/Prejudice
LGBTQ+
Working with Children, Adolescents, and Adults
I work with children, adolescents, and adults with depression, anxiety, traumatic stress, and chronic pain/chronic illness. I also specialize in identity-related issues, particularly in relation to race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability.
I’ve got a toolbox of different methods that science has proven to work, like talking with you and teaching you new ways to think and act.
Using Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, we can figure out how your thoughts (cognitions) can affect how you feel and what you do. CBT helps you by identifying unhelpful patterns and replacing them with more positive ones. For instance, if you often think, “I’m not good enough,” CBT helps you challenge that thought and replace it with something more positive like, “I have strengths and abilities.”
With parents, I can guide you to making changes in your expectations, rules, and how you respond to have a better response from your child.
I also use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help you explore your values and goals. We will focus on accepting your thoughts and feelings instead of fighting them. You will recognize that it’s okay to feel certain ways, but you don’t have to let those feelings control your actions. Together, we can commit to making changes aligned with your values, even when you might be scared or anxious. It’s like having a roadmap to guide you towards the life you want to live.
We will work together to reduce the stress, anxiety, and strong reactions related to your experiences using strategies individualized for your specific needs.
How I Got Here
I am a Licensed Psychologist and Nationally Certified School Psychologist. I started my training in school psychology because I knew that I had an interest in working with children and adolescents.
After working with children and adolescents in schools, I started working with juvenile probationers and completed my internship at Bexar County Juvenile Probation. I completed my postdoctoral fellowship at Turning Point Associates Inc, where I expanded my therapeutic skills by working with adults. I did assessment work with veterans and in the school system before coming back to doing therapeutic work, which has always been my passion.
Discrimination and Prejudice
Do you ever struggle to stay focused because of really tough things that have happened to you? Have you ever felt hurt by things like racism, homophobia, or other unfair systems? Do you want to understand yourself better and feel more confident in a world that often makes you feel weak?
Often children, adolescents, and adults who have experienced prejudice and discrimination can struggle with self-worth, confidence, anxiety, depression, and general coping. When working with me, you can develop skills and have someone walk alongside you on your path towards healing through a lens of social justice.
My own experiences of systemic oppression have equipped me to examine the impact systemic oppression has had on my mental well-being. I use this experience in both personal and professional settings.
I enjoy helping clients process through issues related to identity. In our work, we highlight your strengths so you can use them to a future that aligns with your values. When marginalized, we are often made to feel as though what we are experiencing is not real or that we are overthinking experiences of discrimination, prejudice, and microaggressions. Through our work, you will feel validated in your experiences while also developing skills in managing situations both in and outside your control.
Outside the Office
When I’m not working with clients I love reading. I lost the energy to read during graduate school but in recent years, I have been intentional in bringing it back into my life. I enjoy spending time with family, walking, and listening to music.
Evidence-based Treatments
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Psychodynamic Therapy
Training & Credentials
- Licensed Psychologist, Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists
- Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP)
- Health Service Psychologist (HSP)
- Master of Education in School Psychology from University of Massachusetts-Boston
- Doctor of Philosophy in School Psychology from Michigan State University