Rate Rhonda Gilchrist

My Name is Rhonda Gilchrist and I have dedicated my 30+ year career on improving the lives of young people, adults, and families. I believe in the power of healing and that better is always possible – that intervention at the right time, by the right person can absolutely change the trajectory and outcome for any person’s life.

I have a Master’s of Science in Juvenile Justice and a Master’s of Arts in Psychology. I have been a Licensed Professional Counselor for 17 years, and also Supervise Counseling Interns.

My Career arc started off in Juvenile Justice as a probation officer and eventually becoming the Juvenile Justice Area supervisor for Williamson County. I partnered with young people, their families, and the state of Texas to try and divert criminal behavior patterns in an attempt to encourage young people to become more productive members of society. Sometimes we were successful. Sometimes we were not. But the entire time I walked beside the young people on my caseloads, I never stopped believing that change and “better” was possible.

Even though it was was challenging working as a juvenile justice professional, I was determined return to graduate school and obtaining a second master’s degree, this time in Psychology. Thus my second career as a Licensed Professional Counselor began, and have done so for the past 17 years. Some of the titles I held were Shelter Director for the Williamson County Crisis Center, Director of Victim Services for Williamson County Sheriff’s Department, EAP/Victim’s Services Counselor for the Texas Department of Public Safety for Region B. Where many people might shy away from working with families who have been impacted by domestic violence, advocating and fighting for people who have less power has always been my driving force, my super power perhaps.

My professional counselor experience expanded from crime victims to working as a therapist for the Department of Social Services, family court attorneys, and family court judges. Most of those cases were to assist with family reunifications, improving the health and safety of dysfunctional family systems, court ordered co-parenting counseling, mediation, and Guardian Ad Litem work for children whose parents are involved in high conflict divorces.

My experience is not limited to family work. I have worked with individuals, both young people and adults, who have PTSD, depression, anxiety, substance disorder recovery, active duty military and law enforcement issues, and the impact their career often has on the families that support them.

When asked about my therapeutic approach, after 17 years in the counseling field, it is hard to pick one. It is more accurate to say that I utilize my years of training and experience in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, EMDR, and other Reality Therapies to partner with the individual’s situation and needs to formulate a plan of treatment.