Our therapists specialize in providing an alternative method of counseling that is more conversational and collaborative to the families, couples & individuals that come to HGI for assistance. HGI’s therapy staff includes Clinical Faculty, Supervised Clinical Associates, and doctoral- and master-level students who work under the direct supervision of the Clinical Faculty.
Our therapists usually hold master degrees or are completing their coursework in marriage & family therapy, psychology, clinical social work or other mental health disciplines. Typically, they are experienced in working with a wide range of clients in a variety of settings, such as mental health agencies, psychiatric hospitals, community agencies, crisis centers & Child Protective Services before entering their training with HGI.
Often, our clients have the benefit of working with a team of two or more therapists, supervised by our accomplished faculty. This team approach brings a broad range of ideas to each client’s circumstances, exponentially increasing the creativity & possibilities generated in each session.
Michael Pontello, M.A., LMFT-Supervisor
Associate Director
I began my training and professional experience with HGI as an intern and it has been life changing. Through the years I have had the privilege of being invited into a variety of communities through the numerous clinical programs HGI has to offer. The bulk of my therapeutic experiences have involved work in public schools though I have also enjoyed working with many clients through our open community program. While involved in these programs I have also gotten to work with HGI’s new learners at various stages of their careers as a co-therapist, reflecting team member, and faculty supervisor. I have been amazed at the HGI community and journeys that each person has gone on as they achieve their goals.
As the Clinical and Training Director for HGI, my own goals are to continue to see our various programs thrive while fostering a collaborative space with learners at every stage of their career so that we can all continue to grow and serve various communities and their needs. I will also continue to practice therapy through our open community program at our Houston and Fort Bend offices. My hope is to remove any barriers to mental health care. I have a wide experience of working with many topics and conversations and I always come from a space of openness and curiosity to how I can best support clients and whatever journey they may be on. If you have any questions or would like to know more, please feel free to reach out.
(346)352-2198 or mpontello@talkhgi.org
Our Managers
Erin Jacobs, M.A., LMFT, Licensed Psychotherapist
Elementary School Program Coordinator
Fort Bend Office
(832)471-6538 ejacobs@talkhgi.org
Samantha E. Coy-Pham, MS, LPC, NCC, Licensed Psychotherapist
Junior High & High School Programs Coordinator
(346)352- 2194 scoy@talkhgi.org
Anousha Lakhani, M.A., LMFT-Associate, LPC-Associate
Program Coordinator
Supervised by Catherine King, Ph.D., LMFT-S, LPC-S and Elizabeth Cobb, M.A., LMFT-S, LPC-S
Houston Office & Teletherapy
(346)352-1416 alakhani@talkhgi.org
Linda Brannan
Office Manager
Fort Bend Office
(832)471 6538 hgifortbend@talkhgi.org
Kewona N. Mitchner
Grant and Development Manager
(713)526-8390 kmitchner@talkhgi.org
Our Supervisors
Adriana Gil-Wilkerson, Ph.D., LMFT-Supervisor
Houston Office & Teletherapy
(346) 352 2199 agil-wilkerson@talkhgi.org
Nkem Chinwah, LMFT, LPC, Life Coach, and AAMFT Supervisor Candidate
Fort Bend Office & Teletherapy
(346) 352-2206 nchinwah@talkhgi.org
Our Therapists (Supervised Clinical Associates)
Aishah Crosley, M.Ed., LPC-Associate
Supervised by Catherine King, Ph.D, LPC-S, LMFT-S
School Program: Navarro M.S. & Frost E.S.
Houston Office & Teletherapy
346-352-2203 acrosley@talkhgi.org
Alexa Gomez, M.S., LMFT-A
Supervisor: Adriana Gil-Wilkerson, Ph.D, LMFT-S
School Program: George Ranch H.S., Adolphus E.S., and Velasquez E.S.
Houston Office & Teletherapy
(832)390-0186 agomez@talkhgi.org
Ashley Johnson, MEd LPC-I
School Program: Williams E.S.
(713)526-8390 ajohnson@talkhgi.org
Amy Sanseverino, LMFT, LPC
School Program: Lindsey & Tamarron E.S.
(832)974-0398 asanseverino@talkhgi.org
Antoinette McCardell, M.S., LMFT-Associate
Supervised by Adriana Gil-Wilkerson, PhD., LMFT-S
Fort Bend Office & Teletherapy
School Program ALC
(346)298-3202 amccardell@talkhgi.org
Brittany Aikman, M.A., LPC-Associate
Supervised by Catalina Prebisch, LPC-Supervisor
School Program: Wright Junior H.S. Randle H.S.
Fort Bend Office & Teletherapy
(713)526-8390 baikman@talkhgi.org
Carmen Simon, LMFT-A
Houston Office & Teletherapy
Destiny Bourgeois, M.Ed., Licensed Professional Counselor-Associate
Supervised by Peta-Gay Ledbetter, LPC-Supervisor
Fort Bend Office & Teletherapy
(832)471-6538 dbourgeois@talkhgi.org
Emily Garza, LPC-A
Supervised by: Susan B. Levin PhD, LMFT-S and LPC-S
Houston Office & Teletherapy
(346) 800-2261 egarza@talkhgi.org
Fatima Mohiuddin, LCSW
Fort Bend Office & Teletherapy
School Program George Ranch High School
(832)471-6538 fmohiuddin@talkhgi.org
Florence Bhatia, MS, LPC-Associate
Supervised by Susan B. Levin, Ph. D., LPC-Supervisor, LMFT-Supervisor
Houston Office & Teletherapy
(346)352-2192 fbhatia@talkhgi.org
Jacqueline Smith, M.A, LCDC, LPC-Associate, LMFT-Associate
Supervised by Catherine King, Ph.D., LPC-S, LMFT-S
School Program: Reading J.H.
Houston Office & Teletherapy
(346)352-2191 jsmith@talkhgi.org
Jasmine A. Chevannes, M. Ed., LPC-Associate
Supervised by Catherine King, Ph.D., LMFT-S, LPC-S
School Program: McNeil E.S. and Joe E. Hubenak E.S.
Houston Office & Teletherapy
(346)352-1440 jchevannes@talkhgi.org
Jaylyn Woods, LPC-A
School Program: Terry H.S. & Wessendorff M.S.
Houston Office & Teletherapy
(713)526-8390 jwoods@talkhgi.org
Juni Shrestha, LPC-A
Houston Office & Teletherapy
(713)526-8390 jshrestha@talkhgi.org
Kathryn Molsberry, M.Ed., LPC-Associate
Supervised by Catherine King, Ph.D., LMFT-S, LPC-S
School Program: George J.H.
(713)526-8390 kmolsberry@talkhgi.org
Kayla Gaddy, M.Ed., LPC Associate
Supervised by Sylvia Rapini, LPC-S and Jill Ahrens Tucker, LPC-S
School Program: Bentley E.S., Huggins E.S. & Morgan E.S.
(832)598-6313 kgaddy@talkhgi.org
Kristal L. Jackson, M.S.,LPC
School Program: Roberts M.S.
(281)764-9816 kjackson@talkhgi.org
Mary Kidd, LPC-Associate
Supervised by Daniel Garces, LPC-S
School Program: Campbell ES
(832)223-1365 mkidd@talkhgi.org
Melissa Perez Jones, MS, LMFT-Associate
School Program: Campbell E.S., Hutchinson E.S., & Pink E.S.
Fort Bend and Teletherapy
(346)352-2193 mjones@talkhgi.org
Molly Neyland, M.S., LPC
School Program: Jane Long E.S. & Lamar J.H.
(409)239-7517 mneyland@talkhgi.org
Monique D. Johnson, LPC-A, ATR-P
Houston Office & Teletherapy
(713)526-8390 mjohnson@talkhgi.org
Nawshaba Zaman, M.A.,LPC
Fort Bend Office & Teletherapy
(832)471-6538 Nzaman@talkhgi.org
Nelliana Acuna, LMFT-A
Houston Office & Teletherapy
(713)526-8390 nacuna@talkhgi.org
Nida Pirani, LPC
School Program: Briscoe Junior High
Houston Office & Teletherapy
(713)526-8390 npirani@talkhgi.org
Romana Zaman, M.S., LMFT-Associate LPC-Intern
Supervised by Susan B. Levin, PhD., LPC-S, LMFT-S
(713)526-8390 rzaman@talkhg.org
Shelly Zorn, M.S., LMFT
School Program: Dickinson E.S.
Houston Office & Teletherapy
(281)915-9661 szorn@talkhgi.org
Sofia Hernandez, LPC-Associate
Supervised by Sylvia Rapini LPC-Supervisor
(346)352-2205 shernandez@talkhgi.org
Taylor A. Faraldo, M.A., LPC-associate
Supervised by Sylvia Rapini, LPC-Supervisor & Rick Ertell, Ph.D, LPC-Supervisor
School Program: Polly Ryon M.S., Williams E.S., and George Ranch H.S.
(713)526-8390 tfaraldo@talkhgi.org
Vanessa Degollado, M. Ed., LPC-Associate
Supervised by Danielle Tschirhart, M.Ed., LPC-S, RPT-S & Daniel Garces, MS, LPC-S, LMFT-S
School Program: Lamar Consolidated H.S.
(832)223-3048 vdegollado@talkhgi.org
Our Interns/Learners
Brianne Morales, Graduate Level Therapist from University of Houston Clear Lake
Brittney Brooks, B.S., M.S., Master’s Level Therapist from Our Lady of the Lake University
Supervised by Nkem Kelly, M.S., LMFT, LPC, Life Coach
Houston Office & Teletherapy
(346) 352-1414 bbrooks@talkhgi.org
Catherine Hadnot, Master’s Level Therapist from Our Lady of the Lake University
Supervised by Adriana Gil- Wilkerson
Houston Office & Teletherapy
(713)526 8390 chadnot@talkhgi.org
Darling Membreno, LPC – Intern
Devon Baker, B.A., M.S. Master’s Level Therapist from Our Lady of the Lake University
Ellen Van Wart, Master’s Level Therapist
Kristyn Crowder, B.A., Master’s Level Therapist
Supervised by Adriana Gil- Wilkerson
Houston Office & Teletherapy
(713)909-0309 kcrowder@talkhgi.org
Sara Hozri, Master’s Level Therapist
Sarah Richardson, Master’s Level Therapist
Houston Office & Teletherapy
(346)352-2204 srichardson@talkhgi.org
HGI Counseling 