About Rollie
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I hold a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Houston Graduate School of Social Work, where I focused my studies in political and clinical social work. Before that, I earned a Bachelor’s degree with a double major in Psychology and Anthropology from the University of Houston. I maintain my studies in the field of mental health and have continued my development through books, peer reviewed research, participating in continuing education courses and workshops. It is by a combination of these tools that I ensure awareness of the latest evidence-based treatment theories and approaches.
Over the course of my training in graduate school, I successfully completed two direct practice field work assignments. The first of these assignments was a role as an outreach social worker and advocate for SEARCH Homeless Project. I followed that assignment with a role as an outpatient psychotherapist at Montrose Counseling Center where I practiced individual and group psychotherapy for presenting issues around anxiety, mood disorders, personality disorders, HIV survivors, relationship issues, and substance abuse relapse prevention. Across these two assignments, I worked with children, adolescents, adults and families.
After graduating and earning my LMSW, I worked as a psychotherapist in an acute care inpatient mental health facility (Cypress Creek Psychiatric Hospital) , which gave me additional experience in a fast-paced environment working with adults and adolescents that displayed a wide range of diagnoses. During my time working in inpatient care, I underwent direct clinical supervision, by my state board approved supervisor as I worked to earn my advanced clinical license. I also received additional direct clinical supervision with the director of clinical services at the facility. After earning my advanced clinical licenses (LCSW), I made the move to expand my array of experiences in mental healthcare by working in managed care outpatient case consultation and eventually moving into clinical quality analytics for both outpatient and inpatient mental health providers of all disciplines.
My approach insists on humility, humor, and genuine curiosity when working to partner with you. Our success comes from joining with you to realize your internal strengths because you may have forgotten them, or may have never realized you always possessed them. I have learned connection and collaboration are very important elements in assisting you to reveal an understanding of who you are as an individual, develop your own meaning and accept yourself. Life happens to everyone, and the best way to experience it is to explore it as it unfolds, define it, develop acceptance for what it is, and begin acting on your own terms.
I have treated a wide range of areas including depression, anxiety, relationships, LGBTQ issues, adolescent issues, grief, and trauma. My areas of specialty are grief and bereavement, anxiety, and early adulthood/middle adulthood. My work draws from many evidence-based treatment modalities and techniques that include but are not limited to Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Existential Therapy, Solution Focused Brief Therapy, Mindfulness and Reality Therapy (Choice Theory).
Choosing to work with a therapist as a wellness companion in an accepting, safe and reflective environment, a client can identify the potential they have always had regardless of their level of life confusion, pain, suffering and anguish. Every small candle you can light vanquishes a little more darkness to reveal the way.