Holistic Jungian therapist specializing in trauma and relationships
My name is Leah Alviar and I would like to share a little bit about myself with you.
Degrees, Certifications, and Professional Experience:
Ph.D. in Education with an emphasis in Organizational Leadership from the University of the Incarnate Word
M.A. in Counseling from the University of Texas at San Antonio
B.S. in Generic Special Education from Our Lady of the Lake University.
I am both a Licensed Professional Counselor and certified professional school counselor with over 22 years of counseling experience. I have held leadership roles in local, regional, and state counseling organizations, am a published author, present at local, state, and national conferences and served as editor for Ph.D. student dissertations.
Currently I am a Senior Director at the University of the Incarnate Word and teach graduate counseling courses as well as undergraduate prep courses at various universities. I previously
served as the Director of the Center for Teaching Excellence, an instructional designer, adjunct professor for the M.A. in Counseling program, Director of Field Experience, and assistant professor of education at OLLU, as well as professional school counselor in various ISDs in San Antonio. I have over 15 years’ experience teaching university students in both the online and face-to-face environments and have authored courses and taught classes at the undergraduate and graduate level for over 17 years.
Theoretical Perspective:
Over the course of my counseling career, I have worked with people who were anxious, depressed, stressed, and simply burned out; I have helped adolescents and couples who have struggled with communication issues and relationship barriers; I have worked with families regarding parenting, abuse, grief, and death; and I have helped individuals with career planning, self-esteem building, goal setting, and wellness strategies to cope with major life changes. Throughout my work, I have used many techniques and applied multiple theories, as each person is as unique as the theories and techniques. I am solution-focused and client-centered. I feel the counselor serves as the guide and facilitator for the clients as they move through their journey. I use a humanistic approach to counseling, but also integrate cognitive behavior therapy techniques as deemed appropriate. I adapt my counseling strategies to meet the needs of the client.
A Little About Me:
I have been happily married to my high school sweetheart for almost 25 years and together we have three amazing sons. We enjoy fishing, being outdoors, reading, traveling, and catching the latest movie together as a family. When practicing self-care, I enjoy ultrarunning, reading, skydiving and quilting.
Licensed · Professional · Cancel Anytime
Leah Alviar is a licensed professional counselor and a certified professional school counselor in Texas with more than 22 years of experience in the counseling field. She holds a Ph.D. in Education with an emphasis in Organizational Leadership from the University of the Incarnate Word, a master of arts in Counseling from the University of Texas at San Antonio, and a bachelor of science in Generic Special Education from Our Lady of the Lake University.
Throughout her career she has held leadership roles in counseling organizations at the local, regional, and state levels, served as an editor for Ph.D. student dissertations, published professionally, and presented at conferences across local, state, and national venues. Those activities reflect a long-standing commitment to the profession and to advancing counseling practice.
In her current work she serves as a Senior Director at the University of the Incarnate Word and teaches graduate counseling courses as well as undergraduate preparatory courses at multiple universities. Her prior roles include Director of the Center for Teaching Excellence, instructional designer, adjunct professor in an M.A. in Counseling program, Director of Field Experience, assistant professor of education at Our Lady of the Lake University, and professional school counselor in several San Antonio independent school districts.
Leah has more than 15 years of experience teaching university students in both online and face-to-face settings, and she has authored and taught courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels for over 17 years. She adapts her instructional and clinical approaches to meet the needs of students and clients alike.
Clinically, Leah is solution-focused and client-centered, using a humanistic foundation while integrating cognitive behavioral therapy techniques when appropriate. Her practice has included work with people experiencing anxiety, depression, stress, and burnout; adolescents and couples facing communication and relationship challenges; families dealing with parenting, abuse, grief, and loss; and individuals seeking career planning, self-esteem building, goal setting, and wellness strategies to manage major life changes.
On a personal note, Leah has been married to her high school sweetheart for almost 25 years and they are raising three sons. The family enjoys fishing, spending time outdoors, reading, traveling, and catching movies together. For self-care she pursues ultrarunning, reads frequently, goes skydiving, and quilts.
Research and practice indicate that for many common concerns – including stress, anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, and life changes – therapy delivered online can be just as effective as traditional in-person sessions. For individuals seeking support with these kinds of issues, remote counseling is a practical option that can yield meaningful progress.
One of the main benefits of online therapy is its flexibility. Clients can connect in the format that suits them best – video sessions, phone conversations, live chat, or in-app messaging – which makes it easier to incorporate therapy into a busy schedule or to access support from a preferred location.
All therapists providing online care are licensed professionals, and clients have the option to change therapists if they feel a different fit would be helpful. For many people, online therapy offers an accessible, effective route to addressing everyday mental health and relationship challenges.
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