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Meet Rachael...

LPC, EMDR I/II
DFW Child Mom Approved Provider 3X

Teens, Young Adults, Parenting, Relationships, Self-Esteem, Depression, Self-Harm, Life Transitions, Anxiety, Adoption

Welcome to TrueSelf! Glad you are here!

Rachael Hackler is the owner and lead therapist at TrueSelf Counseling and Coaching. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Texas and has been practicing therapy in a variety of settings for more than 12 years. 

 

Rachael obtained a master’s degree in Community Counseling from Texas Woman's University and also a bachelor’s degree in Family Studies/Child Development from the University of Central Oklahoma. 

 

Early in her career, Mrs. Hackler spent years working with individuals throughout the process of adoption by providing specific services to birthparents as well as assisting adoptive parents. Rachael later began serving as an in-home therapist for a local agency providing trauma informed therapy with children ages 0-17 while also providing therapeutic services through Tarrant County Early Childhood Intervention. During this time, Rachael was trained in TF-CBT (Trauma Focused- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), TBRI (Trust Based Relational Intervention), and Child-Parent Interaction Therapy. Most recently, Rachael has cared for adolescents and adults seeking emergency mental health evaluations and care through a local behavioral health hospital.  

Rachael is also a wife, a mother, a born and raised Okie *Oklahoma*, and a lover of the outdoors. She has been married to her husband for more than10 years and together they have almost 8 year old twins. Needless to say, there isn't much time for "extra" stuff, but when she has a moment, she enjoys camping in the family's RV, hiking, anything and everything Christmas, OU Sooner football, and going on family adventures. 

Check out this great article featuring Rachael Hackler! 

Are Your Kids Ready for Sleepaway Camp? Are You? - DFWChild

Check Rachael Hackler out on CBS News!

Talking to your children about the Uvalde shooting - CBS DFW (cbsnews.com)

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Now accepting clients in our new Willow Park Office

Rachael Hackler LPC

Meet Jennifer....

LPC-Associate Supervised by Gracie Moncibaiz LPC-S

Young Adults, New Moms, Family Therapy, Teens, Life Transitions, Relationships, Depression, Self-Esteem, Post-Partum, Parenting

Jennifer Van Kesteren holds a Masters in Counseling from Texas Wesleyan University as well as a Bachelors in Psychology. She is currently a Licensed Professional Counselor-Associate working towards full licensure. 

Jennifer has worked in the helping field for more than 8 years now. During her undergrad studies she worked as a counseling intern at the Excel Center-Fort Worth. There she worked directly with children and adolescents  struggling with emotional and behavioral needs. Jennifer has also spent time working as the communications liaison for MHMR and JPS hospital. While at MHMR, she served to bridge the gap between the two mental health organizations.

 

Jennifer has found her joy for working with adolescents as they navigate growing up and figuring out who they are. She believes a key component to working with teens is guiding and improving connection and communicate within their family system. Jennifer also has a passion for working with adults who find themselves struggling through transitions, anxiety, depression, trauma, relationships, and complex emotions. She works hard to create a space for self reflection and growth as clients discover new things about themselves.

Therapy with Jennifer: 

At our core, we all just want to feel someone understands us for who we are. I provide a space for clients to feel unconditionally seen, heard, and cared about. It is my hope to help my clients see themselves as separate from whatever problem brings them in. I strive to help clients begin identifying, owning, and building from their own strengths. I believe we are all capable of living lives that we can be proud of. With determination and a supportive hand, I believe all my clients can create the change they wish to see in their lives. The process of therapy is a beautiful one and I look forward to taking the journey alongside you!

Jennifer VanKesteren LPC Associate  counselor in Fort Worth, Texas

Meet Lulu....

LPC-Associate Supervised by Meredith Ivey LPC-S, RPT-S

Play Therapy (ages 3-10), Academic, Social, Behavioral Issues in School, Anxiety, ADHD, Life Transitions, Substance Use

Lara "Lulu" Schmid graduated with a Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Texas Christian University, holds a School Counseling certification from the State of Texas, and is a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor-Intern (LCDC-I). She is currently a Licensed Professional Counselor-Associate working towards full licensure in Texas.

 

Lulu has over a decade of experience working with children and their families as an educator in Fort Worth ISD and Arlington ISD. During her graduate studies, she spent a year working with diverse populations at FWISD’s Family Resource Center. There she received supervision and direct experience utilizing play therapy to assist children experiencing social, emotional, relational, and behavioral issues. She also had additional training in Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) through TCU’s graduate program. Lulu also spent time assisting young adults at TCU’s Substance Use and Recovery Services center. While there, she used her foundational Solution-Focused approach and aspects of Motivational Interviewing to help clients envision and implement change. Additionally, she spent a year working with the counseling staff at Stripling Middle School here in Fort Worth, helping children and their families adapt as they returned to school, post-Covid.

 

Lulu is passionate about working with children through play. Her empathy allows her to connect, and she finds immense joy in establishing trusting relationships that facilitate growth and healing. She approaches all clients with 100% acceptance and creates an environment where children can use play to express and process the challenges they are facing. She believes parents/guardians are a crucial part in the therapeutic support system and utilizes acquired skills from counseling and her twelve years of teaching to facilitate communication and positive interactions between family members. Whether working with children, adolescents, or adults - Lulu is dedicated to building judgment-free, positive relationships and strives to meet her clients where they are, because she believes that her clients are the experts in their lives. 

 

A note from Lulu:

Hello! As a parent of two grown boys (ages 19 and 27), I recall the times I needed counseling support. Whether it was for myself or for the challenges my children faced, collaboration with an authentic and empathetic counselor has tremendous healing power. When I’m not pursuing my passion for helping, I thrive by connecting to nature and love to garden. My husband and I visit our oldest son in Boulder, CO as often as we can to go hiking and camping (he is an avid outdoorsman and adventurer). We also love visiting our younger kiddo in Oregon where he is a first-year college student and enjoys skateboarding and exploring the Pacific Northwest. I count myself so lucky to have been a part of their journeys into adulthood and would celebrate the opportunity to work with you and/or your child!

Lara Schmid LPC Associate Counselor in Fort Worth, Texas

Meet Sam...
LPC Associate and EMDR I/II-Supervised by Jordyn Lawson, LPC-S 

Teens, Young Adults, Trauma, PTSD, Anxiety, Depression, Self-Esteem, Intimate Partner Violence, Domestic Violence

Samantha Flores earned a Masters in Professional Counseling and Bachelors in Psychology from Texas Wesleyan University. She is currently a Licensed Professional Counselor-Associate working towards full licensure in Texas.

 

Samantha has more than 8 years of experience working with children and their families in the DFW metroplex as an educator and counseling intern. During her undergraduate studies, she spent time working as a counseling intern in KISD’s DAEP. While being supervised, she received direct experience counseling children ages 5-18 who were experiencing social, emotional, and behavioral difficulties. As a graduate intern, Samantha worked closely with adolescents struggling with anxiety, depression, and life transitions at Texas Wesleyan Community Counseling Center. As an LPC-Associate, Samantha has gained experience working with teens and adult women who have experienced intimate partner violence. She has also gained experience working with children ages 5-18 who have experienced domestic violence. Samantha has received additional training for Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT).

 

Samantha is passionate about working with children, teens, and adults who have experienced or are experiencing trauma. Her compassion and quick wit allow her to form a positive therapeutic connection with clients. She takes a trauma-informed approach with complete acceptance with all clients. She believes that through support, healthy coping skills, and appropriate processing healing is possible. Samantha hopes to create a positive therapeutic relationship while making you feel heard and understood.

 

A note from Samantha:

I am originally from Corpus Christi and was raised spending most of my time with family by the water or camping (which hasn’t changed as an adult). I played collegiate softball so I do enjoy watching sports as often as I can. I am a mom to a spirited two-year-old and have a Bernese Mountain Dog who are both constantly on the move. I believe self-care is necessary to promote healing, one way I “fill my cup” is by spending quality time with my daughter and family. If you think we would be a good fit, I would love the opportunity to work with you and/or your child.

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TrueSelf Counseling

Counseling and Coaching for the Children, Adolescents, Adults and Families of Fort Worth, Weatherford, Aledo, Burleson, Keller, Lake Worth, Arlington, and surrounding areas

What We Treat:

Depression

Parent-Child Conflict

Anxiety 

Infant/Toddler Mental Health

Life Transitions

Behavioral Concerns 

Emotional Regulation

Relationship Issues 

Adoption Triad

Trauma

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