The Center for Hope and Healing

Sue Watkins, M.A. Founder

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, E.M.D.R. Certified, T.B.R.I. Practitioner

I have been licensed as a therapist for 36 years. During which time I have had a private practice, left that to work in the non-profit sector and then came back to private practice. Through it all what has energized me is people’s stories and watching them change and grow.

With traditional talk therapy, my orientation is Family Systems - understanding how we became to be who we are as well as how we can change those patterns in our lives and learn new skills to have more successful lives.

For treating trauma, I utilize E.M.D.R. E.M.D.R is not traditional talk therapy, it is an exciting approach which taps into the brain’s own ability to heal itself. I am excited and passionate about what E.M.D.R. can accomplish.

For adoptive/foster families, I find T.B.R.I.., a proven caregiver model for adoptive and foster children and teens, is particularly helpful.

In order to be effective though my first goal is to establish a safe and trusting environment. I want all my clients to feel very comfortable in their session.

My education comes by way of the Santa Clara University (B.S) and from Fuller Theological Seminary (M.A.)

I have been married for 42 years, have 3 sons, 2 daughter-in-laws, 5 grandsons and friends all of whom I love dearly. I take relationships seriously because it is relationships that give color to our lives. It is in the giving and receiving of love that we find out who we truly are.

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and currently in the process of becoming a registered play therapist. I received my Master’s in Clinical Mental Health from Sam Houston State University. I also have training in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). I began counseling by specializing in working with children, adolescents and adult individuals, especially those who have experienced trauma and grief, acute and chronic medical conditions, anxiety, self-esteem, and challenges with life transitions. Now in private practice I not only enjoy working with individuals but with couples and marriage counseling.

I worked as a certified child life specialist (CCLS) for 8 years and throughout that time developed extensive knowledge and experience to aid families going through medical trauma, grief and the challenges of chronic and acute medical conditions. Through this experience, I identified a lack of support and counseling services that were offered and available to these patients and families. This is what led me to want to become a counselor and work with trauma, crisis, and grief. I am passionate about being an advocate for those without a voice in the medical community and helping those that have experienced trauma to find their own voice. Through my counseling practice I have become passionate about helping couples work on their marriage. Relationships take a lot of work and I enjoy being able to help couples work to resolve conflict, reconnect and grow together.

I believe each client is unique and different. I use a holistic and integrative style of counseling to provide appropriate treatment based on individual needs that is as unique as they are. I truly enjoy working with each client and integrating important life aspects such as values, morals, religion, culture and support systems. Sometimes clients struggle to identify their most valued aspects and I look forward to helping those clients find it. I strive to provide an open, honest, real, unbiased, confidential and comfortable environment for each client that I see.

When I am not providing counseling services, I am spending time with my husband and two children. I enjoy being active and outside as much as possible. I enjoy sports, fantasy football, fishing, picnics and celebrating each holiday to the fullest.