rebecca essary, LPC

my story

without struggle, there is no progress

Like most of us, I have endured many hardships throughout my life. When we are young, it is hard to recognize the value & the lesson in difficult life experiences. As I got older, I realized how impactful our early life challenges can be on us as adults. Our experiences shape & mold us into who we are. Sometimes we go through things that harden us, make us fearful, & tear us down. I’ve become who I am because of what I have overcome in my life, the relationships I’ve endured, & the family I was born into. Experiencing a mindset shift where you realize that you are accountable for where you end up, that you can break unhealthy patterns & alter the course of your life has empowered me immensely & it is where my passion for helping others comes from.

I’ve always felt that I have a unique way of connecting with others on deeper levels of compassion & understanding. I firmly believe that we are all human, we all have bs we need to sort through & we are all out here trying to find our way. Whether you’ve felt put down by your family, your relationships, the world, or even yourself; we deserve to feel like we have a choice in our happiness — we all deserve a fighting chance at living a fulfilled & purposeful life. Working with others in the vulnerable, real capacity that I get to is what fills me up.

I am ready to feel with you, process with you, & assist you on your journey to finding yourself.

my guiding principles

genuineness

I bring my true self into our sessions. I want you to feel that I’m just as much of a human as you are. You get the whole package — my passion & friendliness, my laugher & of course my sarcasm. You will see expressions on my face, I will tell you like it is, & I strongly encourage & hope that my genuine self provides comfort & safety for your genuine self to be present as well.

transparency

What you see is what you get. I’m not going to be examining you behind a clipboard — if I recognize something in session, I’m going to say it out loud so that we can process it together. You & I will remain on the same page throughout your therapy journey; there won’t be something that I’m aware of that you won’t also be aware of.

understanding

I strive to ensure that you feel heard, validated & understood. We all have moments where we think “I must be crazy.” ME TOO! I get it & if I don’t get it, I’m going to ask questions until I do. I want you to leave every session thinking — if no one else in your life gets you, at least Rebecca does.

collaboration

We are walking this journey together. You are the expert on your life, not me. Whatever it is that you need during your therapy process is what I will strive to provide for you. You are not alone; we’re facing this together!

what it’s like working with me

I work from a therapeutic framework known as “person-centered therapy” — & all this really means is that what I value the most in my work is the relationship that I build with my client. My number one goal is that I am able to provide a space for you where you feel safe, comfortable & heard when we are in session together. I do this by bringing my authentic self into our sessions.

So often people shy away from therapy because the idea of talking to a stranger about their most intense life experiences is too uncomfortable; but the funny thing is — this is actually one of the best parts about therapy. It’s a blank slate, free from judgment or bias. I get to know you for you! You get to sit with me & feel your feelings, vent, curse, say whatever it is on your mind & then you get to go on about your day. There’s truly nothing like it — our unique relationship in itself has healing powers!

I’m here to be an advocate for you. While there may be some awkward moments, we can laugh at them together. Most importantly you will walk away with more “lightbulb” moments than anything — ones where you’ve connected the dots, the “I am the way I am because of this experience” moments. These are truly invaluable!

Other modalities I utilize include: cognitive behavioral therapy, relational therapy, interpersonal therapy, positive therapy & mindfulness techniques

trust the process

education & experience

  • licensed professional counselor, 79118

  • master of arts in clinical mental health counseling | UT Tyler | 2017

  • bachelor of science in psychology | Texas A&M University | 2015

  • children’s caseworker, 2017

  • non-profit | middle school youth advisor, 2018

  • group practice therapist, 2020