Meet our Counselors

Meredith Byrd

LPC

Meredyth was lead to the counseling field 5 years ago when God put a desire in her heart to help children and their families. As a school teacher, she saw the negative effects that life circumstances have on children and their families. As a teacher, she felt that she was limited in her capacity to help children navigate these life obstacles, therefore leading her to obtain her counseling degree. Meredyth is a Licensed Professional Counselor, as well as an elementary school counselor. She has worked with children and adolescents for the past 10 years. She received her Masters in School Counseling in 2016 and received her LPC in 2017. As a school counselor, Meredyth works with individual students, group counseling, creates and implements behavior plans, leads social skills groups, and facilitates character building.

Amanda Cordova

MA, LPC-S

Amanda has provided counseling services to children, families, teens and adults since 2002. While working in the school setting for ten years, her responsibilities included providing counseling, developing and implementing behavioral and educational plans, leading social-skills groups, using play and art therapy techniques, providing suicide and homicide intervention, conducting in-home training and serving as the Certified Trainer for Nonviolent Crisis Intervention. Amanda was honored to receive the Gold Star award in 2015 from NISD for her outstanding work, dedication and attitude. Prior to her time in the schools, Amanda worked as the abuse counselor for the Crisis Center of Anderson and Cherokee Counties. Amanda received her Bachelor’s degree in Child Development and Family Living and Master’s degree in Community Counseling from Stephen F. Austin State University. During this time she completed internships with Heartbeat Pregnancy Center and SFASU Career and Counseling Center. Upon completion of her master’s degree, she obtained her professional counseling license and fulfilled the requirements to be a Supervisor for LPC interns.

 

Denise Fowler

LCSW

Denise joined Crossover in 2014 and looks forward to continuing her work with adults and seniors who have depression and anxiety disorders often associated with chronic illness or painful losses in their lives. She also has a great interest in helping others who are struggling with bipolar disorder, PTSD, or panic disorders (for which she is seeking specialized training). Denise’s varied training allows her to draw from a large repertoire in assisting others. One of her favorite approaches is using the strengths perspective which empowers individuals to draw from their God-given personal strengths to value themselves so they can set and accomplish goals and undergo therapeutic change. 

Virginia Gleghorn

LPC

Virginia has a passion for working with children and adolescents as well as their families. She works with clients who experience a variety of issues, including trauma, depression, anxiety, PTSD, behavior and relationships problems. Since she is bilingual, Virginia is able to provide services to members of our Hispanic community. 


Virginia tiene una pasion por ayudar a ninos, adolecentes y a sus familias . Ella trabaja con personas que tienen una variedad the problemas a incluir trauma, depresion, anciedad, problemas de conducta y problemas matrimonial. 

 

Jan Hensarling

LPC-S, LCDC

Jan is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor with more than 20 years of experience, having worked in a variety of settings with children, adolescents, and adults. She received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Education Degrees from Stephen F. Austin State University and also holds a Secondary Teaching Certificate in Family and Consumer Science. During her career, Jan has worked in both residential and outpatient substance abuse and mental health programs, in legal institutions, and in assisted living facilities. As a result of having lived with challenging life and family circumstances, as many of us have, Jan believes that grace, faith, and redemption prompted her to pursue a counseling career

Betty Hignite

LPC

Betty holds a Master’s degree in Home Economics Education and is certified as a Professional Home Economist. She received her license in 1996 from the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional counselors. In 2009, she completed her training as a Certified Anger Resolution Therapist (CART). Betty provides counseling for all ages, and has experience in many areas of practice, including eating disorders, marriage, parenting, depression, anxiety, anger and stress management, and career issues.

Leah Hoechten

MED, MA, LPC

Leah graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education, a Master of Education Degree, and a Master of Arts Degree in Counseling. She is a Texas Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified School Counselor, and Certified Educational Diagnostician. Leah, though not a registered play therapist, has received training and uses play therapy with children. She has also developed behavior intervention plans for children and worked with children and adults with special needs including those managing ADHD and Bipolar Disorder. Leah has a varied background that includes retirement from the public school system, teaching undergraduate college coursework, private counseling experience, as well as providing contract services with certain agencies. She is highly appreciative of the time she spent learning from a group of exceptional mental health specialists when she served as an educational liaison for the child/adolescent unit of a private psychiatric hospital. She is also very thankful to a special mentor and professor whom she regards as a Master Therapist who greatly contributed to her own personal “healing.”

Kallie Krawietz

LPC, Registered Play Therapist

Kallie graduated in 2007 from Stephen F. Austin State University with an undergraduate degree in Communication Disorders. She relocated to Corpus Christi, Texas where she worked as a speech therapist in a school setting. Through prayers and support from her family, she began working towards a Master of Science Degree at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. During her internship she gained knowledge and experience through the University’s Counseling Clinic and a local community center. She facilitated court-referred group counseling for adolescents and families, teen parents, and “at-risk” children. While working with youth and parents presented an array of challenges, she felt it was not work but a privilege to work with these individuals.

Judy Mayer

MED, LPC

Judy achieved a long-time dream when she received her counseling license in 2001. After obtaining her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education and Sociology from Baylor University in 1967, she went on to earn her M.Ed. in Professional Counseling at West Texas A & M University in 1998. Judy began her counseling career in Plainview, Texas, working with clients who had dual diagnoses - with both substance abuse and mental illness- and she continues to have an interest in that area. After moving to Nacogdoches in 1998, she has provided counseling services at the Women’s Shelter of East Texas, Burke Center, and in a part-time private practice. A hallmark of Judy’s Rogerian style of person- centered therapy is a strong belief in the client’s ability to work through personal issues when provided with a safe, supportive environment. She especially enjoys working with individuals who experience depression and low self-esteem, and considers it a privilege to walk with them on their journey toward wholeness. She has worked with clients in the areas of codependency/boundary issues, abuse, domestic violence and anxiety. 

Malena Rikard

LPC

Malena is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Baylor University in Waco, Texas, and her Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Counseling from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Malena’s approach to counseling emphasizes the importance of the therapeutic relationship as well as the importance of processing underlying hurt and behaviors that impede change. She works with clients of all ages but especially enjoys working with children through the process of play therapy. Often when children have major life changes in both environment and routine, there can be emotional and behavioral issues that arise. These issues can be addressed through the counseling process using play therapy. The purpose of counseling serves to provide an environment for children to process the changes in their life as well as the accompanying emotions that can be difficult for children to cope with and understand.

Ashley Smith

MA, LPC

Ashley was raised in Nacogdoches, Texas. After completing high school, Ashley studied Rhetorical Theory at Houston Baptist University, and went on to complete her Bachelor's degree in Interpersonal Communication at Stephen F. Austin State University.Ashley has always had a heart to help others, in whatever capacity that may be. She has openly struggled with major depression and anxiety, and believes God has called her to use her experiences and difficulties to guide and assist those going through similar troubles.  In 2017 she earned her Master's Degree in Professional Counseling from Amberton in University, and is now practicing as a licensed counselor at Crossover Counseling.

Laura Smith

MA, LPC-S

Laura and her husband, Bobby, have been married for over 30 years and live in Nacogdoches, Texas. They have three adult children, Joshua, Evan and Ashley. With the exception of her relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, whom she accepted as Savior at age 8, her relationship with her family is most important to her. After graduating from Baylor University with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, she earned her Master’s degree in Counseling through Liberty University in 1992. She became a Licensed Professional Counselor in June 1996 and started a private practice in August of 1996 in Nacogdoches, which marked the beginning of Crossover Counseling. Laura is also an LPC supervisor. She continues to enjoy working with children, teenagers, adults, couples, and families. She sees a great deal of strength in her clients, especially with their survival through some very difficult situations. She considers it a privilege to get to have a firsthand view of the changes and victories that can and do take place in their lives. She would also like to say an extra “thank you” to her husband for his continued understanding, love, and support

Joshua Wheaton

LPC

Joshua has lived in Nacogdoches for 30 plus years. He received his degree from Stephen F. Austin in 2004 in Criminal Justice and Sociology. is available for counseling in the areas of Relationship/Divorce, Spiritual, Life Purpose, Family/Parenting, Wellness, and College Prep/Adjustment. Joshua says, “I believe counseling is going to bridge the ever-present gap between people’s dreams and individuals seeing their dreams come true. As counselors we encourage, support, and push clients to discover and accomplish the goal(s) that they have set.” Joshua enjoys working with people and encouraging and watching them make improvements in their personal, family, social, and professional lives. 

Sarah Joy Wilson

LPC-S

Joy graduated with a bachelor of science in psychology from North Greenville University in South Carolina. She then attended and graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family counseling. Joy has lived in East Texas for three years. For the past three years, she has been counseling at Skyview with clients who have major mental illness and in many cases dual diagnoses. During her internship, Joy worked with several children and adolescents, working through issues related to divorce, anger management, ADHD and various other issues. She also had the opportunity to work with couples for premarital counseling and marriage issues (including financial issues, communication problems, intimacy issues, and parenting). Joy also worked with families to assist them in communication and becoming a stronger unit

Janae Wojasinski

LPC

Janae is a licensed professional counselor who moved to Texas in 2010 from her native Oklahoma. She graduated from Oklahoma Wesleyan University with her Bachelor of Science degree in Behavioral Sciences and from Oral Roberts University with her Master of Arts degree in Christian Counseling. Janae has been involved in the local churches she has attended, including singing in the choir, leading worship, teaching children’s Sunday School and creating and leading a women’s ministry program. Janae’s experience in counseling includes working with children, adolescents, adults, families and couples. She has also worked with people who have many different mental health and life issues including depression, anxiety, ADHD, divorce, infidelity, self-esteem, anger management and Bipolar disorder

Felicia Cox

Intern

Felicia is a California native who moved to Nacogdoches in 2014 when she married her husband, who is from Nacogdoches. She completed her bachelor’s degree in Health Science at Stephen F. Austin State University and is a Nationally Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES #027187). Currently, she is attending Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary to obtain her Master of Arts in Counseling. Felicia has worked in many settings that have allowed her to gain experience with a variety of ages and populations. She completed her bachelor’s degree internship with CASA of Deep East Texas, working with survivors of crime as a Victim Assistance Coordinator for the Nacogdoches County Attorney’s Office. Additionally, Felicia was a Case Manager for the Kansas City Rescue Mission where she worked with women overcoming drug and alcohol addiction


Office Staff

    Mary Wilcox

    Office Manager

    Gabriela Llanas

    Assistant Office Manager