Barbara Hunt, MS, LPC, LMFT

HELLO!  WELCOME TO MY WEBSITE!

     I’ve been in practice for 43 years as a counselor, coach, and trainer in Texas. I work with Anxiety, Depression, Women's Issues including pre and post Menopause, Family of Origin Effects, PTSD, Assertiveness, Couples' Communication, Adult ADHD, Relationship Conflict, Men's Issues, Life Changes/Stages, Aging, Physical/Emotional Responses to Stress & Illness to Reduce: Anxiety, Chronic Pain, Blood Pressure, Heart Rate. I’ve trained in using many types of therapy.

     Clients like that I'm straightforward, direct, teach them things, and have a dry sense of humor.  At my age, I've been through all the stages of a woman's life and have experienced and overcome almost everything my clients are going through.

     I use a HIPAA compliant platform and am able to work with any resident of Texas.  Here at my site you'll find information about my treatment philosophy, specialties, insurance information, my practice, and classes.

My Counseling Philosophy and How I Work

     In the past when clients entered my physical office, they would see a soft green frog holding a magic wand. The frog represents our wish that someone would touch us with a magic wand and fix our lives or change a problem person into a prince or princess.

     Although I no longer have a physical office, the little frog sits on my desk next to my computer serving as a reminder that the magic is actually inside us and has been all along.  Often all we need is to learn new skills that we didn't learn as children.  Things like how to manage our strong emotions, how to manage stresses and stressors, how to communicate clearly and kindly, how to make good decisions and how to problem solve to name a few.

     As we work together, we layer down to uncover the root causes of your problems. Using your current strengths, the new skills you'll learn, and your courage, you can resolve your difficulties.  Some of the methods I use may include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (thinking rationally), interpersonal therapy, The Gottman Method for relationships, Relational Life Therapy (RLT) for relationships, teaching assertiveness and communication skills, relaxation, mindfulness, and deep breathing techniques, Accelerated Resolution Therapy, and, when necessary, a referral for a medication consultation.

Specialties and Therapeutic Modalities:

     Anxiety, Depression, Grief

     Assertiveness and Communication Skills

     Coping Skills and Executive Functioning for Adult ADD/ADHD

     Cognitive Behavioral Therapy/Cognitive Therapy

     Cognitive Processing Therapy, Accelerated Resolution Therapy

     Family of Origin Wounds, Negative Influences and Effects

     Military Life, PTSD

     Relationship and Family Issues, Gottman Method and RLT

     Stresses of Aging, Pre and Post Menopause

     Women's Issues/Men's Issues

     Relaxation and Mindfulness for Chronic Pain Management,

     Medical Conditions, Stress, Anxiety, Muscle Tension, Reduction of

     Heart Rate, Blood Pressure, and Breathing Rate

     In working with people with medical illnesses and chronic pain I assist them to cope with these major life stressors using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), relaxation and mindfulness techniques to help them learn to reduce their pain levels, lower their heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate. These methods can also reduce panic, anxiety, depression, stress symptoms and improve symptoms of ADD/ADHD.

     From 2008 to 2012, I was honored to work on various military facilities counseling those returning from deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as their families.

     AN IMPORTANT NOTE: There are some situations that I don’t work with.  I don't work with substance abuse or other addictions.  I don't work with those who are vaping, using marijuana or excessive alcohol.  For you to benefit from my work, you need to be free from these and well into recovery first so that you have a clear mind and a recovered brain.  Other therapists who specialize in addictions can help with these.  I don't work with those who have safety and self harm issues.  I believe they should be seen in person.  I don't do Workman’s Compensation cases, FMLA paperwork, court work or custody cases.  There are many other therapists who are better suited to do this work.

Training and Classes:

     I've been a trainer and speaker for local organizations, businesses, and other therapists. Some of the courses I’ve developed and taught include Adults Abused As Children, Assertive Communication, Assertiveness for Women, Behavioral Medicine for Fibromyalgia, Conflict Resolution, Couples Communication, Funny Business: Humor in the Workplace, Communication Skills for Managers and Supervisors, Relaxation and Meditation, Stress Management, Team Building, Understanding Depression.  For a complete list, see the Training page.

Fees, Insurance Plans, Office Hours, Ages:

     FEES: If you're using your insurance, your copayment or co-insurance  will depend on the rate your particular mental health insurance plan sets. You will need to call your plan to determine this.  If you're not using insurance, my fees are $150 for 50 minute sessions and $200 for a 90 minute evaluation.  There are benefits to you when you don't use insurance:  you're not constrained by insurance mandated time limits and can schedule sessions longer than 50 minutes as you like.  You don't need a mental health diagnosis. Mental health expenses are deductible.

     INSURANCE PLANS: I'm a provider for Aetna, BCBSTX, GEHA, Optum, Original Medicare, Tricare, TriWest, United Healthcare.  I'm an out-of-network provider for all other plans.  

     APPOINTMENT HOURS AND DAYS: Being semi-retired, I work Monday through Thursday.  Appointments begin at 1:00 and the last appointment begins at 5:30.  

     AGES: I work with adults from ages 19 to 100+.

Licenses and Professional Affiliations

   Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, 1829, Texas - LMFT

    Licensed Professional Counselor, 4127, Texas - LPC

   Clinical Member, American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists

   Certified Telebehavioral Health Practitioner

Education and Other Training

   Bachelor of Science, University of North Texas

   Master of Science, Texas A & M, Commerce

Continuing professional, technical, post graduate education includes training with Terry Real - Relational Life Therapy, John and Julie Gottman, Harville Hendrix - Imago Therapy, Bessel van der Kolk - Trauma, David Burns, M.D. - Cognitive Therapy, Janina Fisher, Ph.D. - Trauma Informed Stabilization Treatment, Esther Perel - Relational Intelligence, Rochelle Calvert, Ph.D. - Healing with Nature, Mindfulness, and Somatic Experiencing, Frank Anderson, M.D. - Internal Family Systems.