Memorial Location
Amy Atwood amy@juliascounseling.com
Fatma Yilmaz fatma@juliascounseling.com
Woodlands Location
Kyah Renee Johnson
kyah@juliascounseling.com
Abigaile McGowen
abigaile@juliascounseling.com
Sarah Barahona
Sarah Barahona is a MSW Advanced Clinical Graduate Student. As an Intern, Sarah will provide services to children and their families. She is looking forward to learning and growing during her time at Julia’s Counseling to become a reliable resource to her community.
Sarah worked in a school setting for five years providing crisis intervention to students aged 12 to 20. She has worked alongside several community organizations in the Houston area as she provided resources to the families she served. During her past internship, she assisted members of the community by enrolling them in benefit programs, providing citizenship classes, and conducting community assessments.
Sarah completed her Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology at the University of Houston – Downtown in 2012. She obtained her Master’s in Human Resource Development from the University of Texas – Tyler in 2019. She will earn her Master’s of Science in Social work from the University of Houston in 2023.
In her free time, Sarah enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She enjoys nature, thrifting, taking care of her dogs and cats, reading, trying out new recipes and traveling.
Education
2023, M.S. in Social Work, University of Houston
2019, M.S. in Human Resource Development, University of Texas-Tyler
2012, B.S. in Psychology, University of Houston-Downtown
Amy Atwood
Amy Atwood is an Advanced Level Clinical Graduate Student at the University of Houston. She has dedicated over twenty years of her life to working with children and their families. She believes in the goodness of every living being and is passionate about helping her clients access their intrinsic strengths and unique abilities.
Amy graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis in early childhood education. She was an elementary school teacher for ten years. Amy is also a registered yoga teacher (RTY) and uses yoga to help children and adults find the connection between mind, body, and spirit.
Amy provided psychoeducation, counseling, and interventions to middle school students during her internship at Lanier Middle School. She also helped start a lunchtime yoga program that gave students an outlet to help regulate their emotions.
Amy believes in creating a safe, nurturing, non-judgmental environment during therapy. She is passionate about the power of play and utilizes a combination of modalities to meet each client's unique needs best.
Amy enjoys spending time with her daughter and husband in her free time. She loves to cozy up with a good book, play games, and do yoga or other physical activities. She loves being outside in nature and going on long walks with her dog.
Additional Training
Bringing Parents into the playroom: Addressing developmental trauma with a TBRI approach
Parent Consultation and Involvement in the Play Therapy Process
Resetting the Nervous System
Fatma Yilmaz
About Me
Education
Additional Training
Kyah Renee Johnson
Kyah Renee is a Master of Social Work (MSW) Clinical Graduate Student. Her therapeutic approach is strengths-based, collaborative, holistic, non-judgmental, person-centered, and individually tailored. She is passionate about helping others heal, grow, and move forward at their own pace and in their own special and unique way. She incorporates her 13 years of yoga and mindfulness practice with evidence-based modalities, such as CBT, motivational interviewing, and play therapy. She is currently working towards becoming a Registered Play Therapist (RPT) and a C-IAYT certified Yoga Therapist.
Kyah graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Arts in Rhetoric and Writing and a minor in Nutritional Sciences. During her undergrad, she worked as a peer academic coach and with homeless individuals in faith organizations and nonprofits. She then spent seven years working with seniors in both direct and indirect care. During this time, she volunteered with a therapeutic horsemanship program for disabled children and a companionship service for individuals on hospice. She also has provided group therapy to individuals who committed domestic violence. She is dedicated to walking alongside others through challenges.
In her personal time, she enjoys being with her partner, learning about everything/anything, writing poetry, styling interiors, savoring plant-based dishes, and being in nature.
Education
2013, Bachelor of Arts in Rhetoric and Writing, University of Texas at Austin
2023, Master of Social Work, University of Houston (in progress)
Additional Training and Certifications
C-IAYT (in progress)
Professional Activities and Memberships
Member, National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
Abigaile McGowen
Abigaile McGowen is an Advanced Level Clinical Graduate Student at the University of Houston. Her passion has always been for helping children, teens, young adults, and families develop and function in healthier ways.
Abi received her bachelor’s degree in International Studies from Texas A&M University and then returned to Houston to pursue her master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of Houston. She discovered her passion for social work through her sociology minor field placement at a shelter in Bryan, Texas.
Through her previous field placement at a community-based mental health agency, Abi has worked with children, teens, young adults, and families in both the home and school settings. Her specialties include emotional regulation, depression, anxiety, oppositional defiant disorder, and ADHD.
Abi believes in taking a holistic, strength-based approach to providing care specifically designed to meet the individual needs of the client. She is interested in pursuing training in eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), complex trauma, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT).
In her free time, Abi enjoys spending time with her friends and family, hammocking in the sunshine, and a good book.
Education:
2019, Bachelor of Art in International Studies, Texas A&M University
Expected graduation – 2023, Master’s in Clinical Social Work, University of Houston
Additional Training/Memberships:
Mental Health Advanced Practice in Social work (MHAPS) Fellow
Resetting the Nervous System
Counseling on Access to Lethal Means
Psychological First Aid
CANS/ANSA Certified
CPR, First Aid, AED