Christy McDonald, Ed.D., M.S., LPC-S

• Ed.D., Educational Leadership, Tarleton State University
• M.S., Counseling Psychology, Tarleton State University
• B.S.W., Social Work, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor

• Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor, Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors, No. 63746

As a licensed counselor, I am passionate about guiding college students to achieve personal and professional success. I aim to help students discover their true potential by cultivating the resilience and intrinsic worth necessary to make informed decisions aligning with their values and belief systems. My person-centered counseling approach allows students to express concerns, feelings, and thoughts openly without judgment. My 17 years of experience in the mental health field have taught me that confidentiality and developed trust are critical for students to be vulnerable and self-reflective during counseling. College is often transformational for many students, resulting in various difficulties and concerns. Students present to counseling with different lived experiences and problems such as stress, anxiety, and uncertainty, wherein my approach to therapy is multifaceted. Using a holistic framework, I often incorporate mind-body techniques with a cognitive behavioral model of care to help students meet their clinical goals. My areas of clinical interest include depression, anxiety, neurodiversity, and trauma.

My mission is to provide a counseling experience where all students are accepted, valued, and encouraged to be themselves by embracing their cultural backgrounds, values, and beliefs. I have had the privilege to engage with individuals from various cultures and lifestyles personally and professionally. Meaningful relationships with peers, coworkers, clients, and students have helped me to realize that our differences should be celebrated rather than misunderstood or feared. I value empathy and understand the need for continuous self-reflection regarding my implicit biases and continued education surrounding social justice and systemic discrimination. I recognize that cultural humility is paramount in understanding and affirming students with diverse backgrounds, wherein I am committed to learning how to serve students better and engage thoughtfully with my peers