Find a therapist in Texas — covered by insurance

Bowen Family Systems theory is what I use to guide me with my clients.

A broadened perspective, more objectivity, a clearer and stronger sense of self, personal responsibility and accountability

I have 20 years experience, person centered, trauma informed approach. EMDR Certified for trauma. Certified in CBT, MET, and COPSD. Masters Addiction Counselor. Combine Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and EMDR for holistic approach to trauma and negative core beliefs. Experienced PTSD therapist, including military.

I’ve been where you are. As someone in long-term recovery, I understand the challenges firsthand and bring both empathy and 11 years of professional counseling experience to support you in finding your own path and developing your strengths. I work with adolescents, people struggling with substance use, and those facing anxiety, depression, grief, or trauma.

I specialize in working with individuals in recovery and LGBTQ+ clients, helping you build resilience, explore your goals, and discover practical strategies that fit your life.

My approach is collaborative and empowering—you set the pace, and I walk alongside you with understanding, guidance, and support as you create meaningful change and uncover the strengths you already have within.

After more than four decades as a therapist, I've learned something important: most people don't come to therapy because they're weak. They come because they've been strong for far too long. Life has a way of asking us to carry more than we ever imagined, whether you're caring for aging parents, grieving a loss, adjusting to retirement, managing chronic stress, or simply feeling like you've lost yourself while taking care of everyone else.

For more than 43 years, I've helped adults navigate anxiety, depression, grief, caregiving, major life transitions, chronic health concerns, and the challenges that come with every stage of adulthood. I provide a warm, compassionate, and culturally responsive space where you can slow down, feel heard, and begin making sense of what you're experiencing. I offer therapy in both English and Spanish and welcome individuals from diverse backgrounds seeking practical support and lasting change.

I became a therapist because I lived the question my clients carry: Who am I underneath everything I've been told to be?

I know firsthand how deeply childhood experiences, adult trauma, and the messages we absorb from parents, partners, and systems can shape — and distort — how we see ourselves. Many of my clients arrive believing something is fundamentally broken in them. My job is to help you discover that's never been true.

What sets my work apart is that I treat the whole picture. I don't just address symptoms — I explore how your history, your nervous system, your neurobiology, and even your epigenetics created the patterns keeping you stuck. That's how change becomes permanent, not just temporary relief.

I also bring something most therapists can't offer: a commitment to never judge. Whether you're navigating a life others don't understand, a diagnosis that's felt like a label rather than a doorway, or relationships that don't fit a conventional mold — you are safe here.

And I believe this with everything I have: it is never too late to become who you were meant to be.

I’m Shelly Hughes, LCSW, a therapist and the owner of Wonder Works Counseling. I earned my Master of Social Work from the University of Oklahoma in 2022 and my Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Oklahoma City University. My approach to therapy is warm, practical, trauma-informed, and focused on helping clients understand themselves rather than simply trying to “fix” symptoms.

I work with children, adolescents, and adults experiencing anxiety, ADHD, trauma, PTSD, emotional dysregulation, life transitions, relationship difficulties, and challenges related to self-esteem and coping. I have specialized training in EMDR, Play Therapy, Sand Tray Therapy, Somatic Therapy, CBT, and DBT. With children, I often use play-based approaches to help them communicate and process experiences in ways that feel natural and developmentally appropriate. With adults, I integrate evidence-based approaches with trauma-focused and somatic techniques to help clients develop greater emotional awareness, regulation, and resilience.

I believe therapy should be a place where you can be honest without feeling judged. Many of the people I work with have spent years feeling misunderstood, overwhelmed, or like they are somehow “too much” or “not enough.” My goal is to create a space where you can slow down, understand what is happening beneath the surface, and develop tools that actually fit your life.

I especially enjoy working with clients who are navigating ADHD, trauma, anxiety, emotional regulation difficulties, and relationship or family stress. I also work with parents who are trying to better understand and support their children.

My goal is not to tell you who you should be. It is to help you understand yourself, heal from what you have experienced, and build a life that feels more manageable and authentic to you.