Michelle Mateus, LPC- Adult & Teen Therapy | Trauma-Informed, CBT, Bilingual

About Michelle

Helping Children, Teens & Adults Thrive | In-Person in Rockwall, Texas & Online Across Texas

I’m Michelle Mateus, a Licensed Professional Counselor providing therapy in Rockwall and virtually throughout Texas. With a strong ability to connect and empower, I offer a safe, inclusive space to explore what’s holding you back and help you develop tools to feel grounded, confident, and ready to move forward.

Life can feel heavy when old patterns, stress, or past experiences keep showing up. Maybe anxiety, trauma, parenting challenges, or relationship struggles are making daily life harder than it should be. You don’t just need someone to listen—you need guidance, practical strategies, and support that truly helps.

Why Choose Me?

I work with adults and teens who are ready to be truly seen, heard, and understood. My approach is grounded in empathy, collaboration, and practical guidance—because meaningful change doesn’t just happen in conversation; it happens through connection, insight, and action.

I bring years of experience working across private practice, intensive and standard outpatient programs (IOP/SOP), community-based programs, clinical mental health, and trauma and crisis intervention. I utilize CBT and trauma-informed interventions and am certified in Sand Tray Therapy, allowing me to tailor strategies to meet each client’s unique needs. I also have specialized experience supporting women, young adults, and individuals navigating disordered eating or eating disorders, as well as work-related stress, career transitions, self-esteem and body image challenges, loneliness, parenting stress, single parenting, life balance, relationship and intimacy concerns, cultural and identity-related issues, and navigating life transitions and adjustment difficulties. Together, we identify what’s holding you back and take practical steps toward meaningful, lasting change.

My approach is collaborative and goal-oriented. We focus on building practical skills, strengthening emotional resilience, improving communication, and navigating career, relational, and life transitions with confidence. Whether you’re managing trauma, anxiety, depression, family conflict, disordered eating, self-image challenges, or feeling stuck, I meet you where you are and walk alongside you—helping you move forward with clarity, insight, and confidence.

Common Issues I Help With

• Anxiety & Stress Management

  • Generalized anxiety, panic attacks, social anxiety, chronic worry

  • Emotional regulation, frustration tolerance, emotional reactivity

  • Perfectionism, burnout, fear of failure, stress management

  Mood, Depression & Grief

  • Depression, low mood, hopelessness

  • Grief, loss, and adjustment to major life transitions

  • Mood disorders and emotional dysregulation

  Trauma & Adverse Experiences

  • Trauma, PTSD, complex PTSD (C-PTSD)

  • Childhood trauma, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), emotional neglect

  • Domestic violence, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, narcissistic abuse and manipulation

  Self-Esteem, Identity & Women’s Issues

  • Self-esteem, self-worth struggles, body image concerns

  • Identity development, cultural identity, acculturation stress

  • Women’s issues, societal pressures, balancing multiple roles

  Relationships & Communication

  • Relationship challenges, unhealthy patterns, intimacy difficulties

  • Family conflict, high-conflict co-parenting, parenting stress

  • Communication struggles, boundary-setting, social skills

  • Friendship breakdowns, peer rejection, toxic relationships

  Young Adult & College-Age Challenges (18–28)

  • College mental health, academic pressure, performance anxiety

  • Life transitions: moving out, independence, career decisions

  • Peer relationships, social adjustment, identity exploration

  • Dating, intimacy, and relationship challenges

  Teen & Adolescent Challenges (13–17)

  • Oppositional defiance, behavioral challenges, anger management

  • School struggles, motivation, ADHD, executive functioning, academic challenges

  • Peer relationships, bullying, social skills difficulties

  • Identity exploration, self-esteem, belonging

  • Family conflict and parental stressors

  Behavioral & Neurodiverse Challenges

  • ADHD, executive functioning difficulties, focus challenges

  • High-functioning ASD, late-diagnosed ASD, social understanding differences

  • Behavioral challenges in school, work, or home settings

  Eating & Body-Related Concerns

  • Disordered eating, eating disorders, body image challenges

  • Compulsive behaviors, OCD, impulse control difficulties

  Work, Caregiving & Life Stressors

  • Work-related stress, career transitions, high-performance stress

  • Caregiver stress, compassion fatigue, emotional exhaustion

  Men’s Issues

  • Self-esteem, identity, stress management, relationship challenges

  Divorce, Separation & Co-Parenting

  • Managing family dynamics, parenting challenges, legal stressors

How I Work

With experience in private practice, residential treatment, intensive outpatient programs, and outpatient therapy, I understand how overwhelming life can feel—especially for kids and families. I am certified in Sand Tray Therapy blend evidence-based approaches like:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

• Trauma-Informed Interventions

• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

• Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)

• SandTray Therapy (Level 2 Certified)

• Mindfulness-Based & Strength-Based Practices

I also offer bilingual counseling in English and Spanish, with flexible options for in-person appointments in Rockwall, TX, or video sessions anywhere in Texas.

Let's Connect

You don’t have to navigate this alone. If you are ready to take a step towards change, I’m here to help and would be honored to walk that path with you. Reach out today for a free consultation or schedule your first session. Therapy can be the first step toward clarity, connection, and lasting change.