Counseling Staff

Briana Taylor, M.S., LPC, SEP, CIMHP, C-PD

Hello there, I hope you are here because you believe in your inner capacity to reconnect to your true self. It is my sincere hope to join you on your healing path. I am a seasoned trauma therapist with 12 years of rich experience in the mental health field. I have a Master’s degree in Human Services and I have been supporting widely diverse individuals with a variety of mental health issues.

I am committed to providing a safe and non-judgmental space so you can thrive and reach your potential. I adopt an eclectic approach and draw from evidence-based approaches. I received specialized training in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing by an EMDRIA approved trainer. I had the pleasure of studying Cognitive Behavioral Therapy under the instruction of Dr. Leslie Sokol from the Beck Institute. I am also a certified Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP) and a Certified Integrative Mental Health Professional (CIMHP), which means I have had some additional training on the use of nutrition and supplements to support our health and well-being.

I provide my clients a range of integrative and regulative therapies, the aim of which is to bring healing to all levels of a client's being, including physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and energetic. I believe that each of my clients has the innate capacity to heal, and I see my client and myself as a team, both of us gently moving them towards an experience of both full resolution of symptoms and an expanded quality of life.

Specialties:

• Addiction
• Adults
• Adults abused as children
• Chronic Pain/Chronic Illness
• Complex PTSD
• Developmental Trauma
• Dissociative Disorders
• Grief and Loss
• LGBTQIA+
• Medical Procedure Trauma
• Motor Vehicle Collisions
• Native populations
• Prenatal/Birth Trauma
• Veterans
• Victims of Domestic Violence
• Victims of Sexual Abuse/Sexual Assault

Courtney Thomas

Hello and Welcome,

I have been in the field of helping people for many years. My first position in 2008, was a Crisis Worker/Qualified Mental Health Worker at a local mental health authority covering 3 counties in Texas. I worked with a wide range of clients, including individuals living with psychotic disorders, mood disorders, and those actively suicidal and/or homicidal. I also served clients in Jail Diversion, Continuity of Care, and Competency Restoration. I was faced with many obstacles, requiring the need for change. Staying true to my desire to help others, I am, honored to work in the University setting beginning August 2016.

I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, and a Master’s in Social Work. I also have numerous certificates including Victim’s Rights Advocate and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP). I perform administrative duties behind the scenes in counseling services. I also offer Crisis Services, Skills Training, Case Management, Somatic Experiencing therapy as well as Victims Advocacy services.

I find that the people who enter my office come with many strengths. My hope is to provide a safe, supportive environment to facilitate growth and wellness.

Areas of Expertise:

• Crisis Management
• Case Management
• Skills Training
• Somatic Experiencing
• Yoga
• True Colors personality typing
• Victims Advocacy

Samantha Burzynski

Hi! Welcome to the Counseling Center at TAMUT. I am excited to join you in your journey as you walk towards becoming the best version of yourself and reach your full potential. In therapy, we have a unique opportunity to allow another person access to the deepest corners of our hearts and minds, and I am honored to connect with you there. I have 3 years of experience in counseling and a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health that have provided me with a foundational understanding of therapeutic interventions and tools to help my clients learn to shift perspectives, recognize strengths, and confront patterns and habits that are keeping them “stuck”. I am committed to holding space for my clients in a way that facilitates trust and understanding in a non-judgmental environment in hopes that you feel safe enough to explore all areas of yourself and your life, past, present and future. I take an eclectic approach to counseling, drawing from evidence-based approaches like Person-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and others as appropriate.

As a Licensed Professional Counselor-Associate, I am under the supervision of Martha Jones, M.S., LPC-S.