Office of the Permanent Diaconate,
welcome to your counseling page
Rejoice Counseling Apostolate is delighted to partner with the Office of the Permanent Diaconate to offer professional counseling services to inquirers, aspirants, candidates, and permanent deacons across the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Through individual, marriage or family counseling we can work with you in the human dimension, cultivating qualities with a view to diaconal ministry. A few examples include human virtues, becoming a bridge between people, affective maturity, and a training in freedom that leads to servant-leadership. We are also available to assist with common issues people want to work through in counseling, such as depression, burnout, anxiety and stress, grief or bereavement, marriage healing and enrichment, parenting, and more.
Placing our gifts of counsel at the service of men who are being formed into Christ the Servant is a beautiful way for us to support you, your families, and the local Church. We look forward to meeting you.
– Dr. Chris Stravitsch, DMin, LPC-S, LMFT-S, President
Counselors serving the Office of the Permanent Diaconate
Laura Aguirre, MA, LPC
Parish Counselor
Meet Laura
Laura Aguirre is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Sam Houston State University. She counsels individuals, couples, and families in both English and Spanish.
Laura es una Consejera Profesional con Licencia. Ella logro su bachillerato de ciencia de psicología y su maestría de arte en consejería clínico en salud mental de la universidad de Sam Houston State. Laura ofrece el servicio de consejería a individuos, parejas y familias en dos idiomas, Ingles y Español.
Locations / Localizada en:
Christ the Good Shepherd Catholic Church, Spring
St. Katharine Drexel Catholic Church, Hempstead
St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church, Humble
Sts. Simon & Jude Catholic Church, The Woodlands
Samantha Tavares; Supervised by Larry Freeney, PhD(cand), LPC
Parish Counselor Student Intern
Meet Samantha
Samantha is a graduate student in the Marriage, Couples, and Family Counseling program at Lamar University. She has over nine years of previous counseling experience in Brazil, her country of origin, where she earned an undergraduate degree in Psychology. She enjoys working with individuals, as well as families and couples, who are struggling with communication issues, addictions, behavioral problems, grief, and chronic pain. Read her bio here.
Locations
Christ the Redeemer, Houston
Melissa Abraham, LMSW; Supervised by Janet Sturtz, LCSW-S
Parish Counselor
Meet Melissa
Melissa Abraham is a Licensed Master Social Worker who graduated from Baylor University and receives counseling supervision from Janet Sturtz, MA, MSW, LCSW-S. She provides counseling and psychoeducation on topics such as grief, anxiety, addictions, depression, coping skills, women's issues, family relationships and more. She loves integrating Catholic faith with mental health. Read full bio.
Locations
Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Downtown Houston
Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Angleton
St. Joseph Catholic Church, Downtown Houston
Larry Freeney, Jr., PhD (cand.), LPC
Parish Counselor
Meet Larry
Larry is a Licensed Professional Counselor completing a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision at Sam Houston State University. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a Minor in Christianity (2014) and a Master of Arts in Counseling (2016) at Houston Baptist University. Read Larry’s full bio
Locations
St. Ignatius of Loyola, Spring
St. Theresa, Memorial Park, Houston
Liz Bencivengo, MS, LPC Associate, LMFT Associate; Supervised by Dr. Chris Stravitsch, DMin, LPC-S, LMFT-S
Parish Counselor
Meet Liz
Liz Bencivengo is an LPC Associate and LMFT Associate with an M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Houston-Victoria. Liz received her bachelor’s degree in Educational Development from Anahuac University in Mexico, and has a Master’s in Religious Sciences from Universidad Regina Apostolorum in Rome, Italy.
Liz Bencivengo es LPC Asociada y LMFT Associate y se graduó de la Universidad de Houston-Victoria con una Maestría en Consejería Clínica de Salud Mental. Liz cursó la carrera de Educación y Desarrollo en la Universidad Anáhuac en la ciudad de México y obtuvo una Maestría en Ciencias Religiosas en la Universidad Regina Apostolorum en Roma, Italia. Read full bio.
Locations / Localizada en:
St. Bartholomew the Apostle, Katy
St. John the Baptist, Alvin
Cindy Contreras, MS, LPC-A; Supervised by Dr. Chris Stravitsch, DMin, LPC-S, LMFT-S
Parish Counselor
Meet Cindy
Cindy is an LPC Associate with an M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of St. Thomas. She counsels adolescents, adults, couples and families.
Locations / Localizada en:
Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church, Cypress
St. Cyril of Alexandria Catholic Church, Houston
St. Theresa Catholic Church, Memorial Park, Houston
Michelle Miller, MS, LPC-A; Supervised by Dr. Chris Stravitsch, DMin, LPC-S, LMFT-S
Parish Counselor
Meet Michelle
Michelle is an LPC Associate with an M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of St. Thomas. She counsels adolescents, adults, couples and families.
Locations / Localizada en:
Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church, Cypress
St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Church, Spring
St. Jerome Catholic Church, Houston
Ashley Hernandez, MS, LMFT
Virtual Counselor
Meet Ashley
Ashley Frech Hernandez is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Clinical Trauma Specialist. She earned her M.S. in Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from Our Lady of the Lake University and a B.S. in Psychology from Texas A&M University. Ashley has experience working as a counselor in catholic schools and at crisis pregnancy centers. She has served both youth and adults in individual, couple, and family settings. She has walked with clients as they navigate through life’s most difficult challenges: physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, trauma, loss, anxiety, depression, relational discord, and more. Read full bio.
Janet Sturtz, MA, MSW, LCSW-S
Virtual Counselor
Meet Janet
Janet Sturtz is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Supervisor with over 20 years of experience as a therapist. She has a Masters in Spanish Literature from Kent State University (Ohio) and a Masters is Social Work from the University of South Florida (Tampa). She counsels individuals, couples, and families in both English and Spanish.
Janet Sturtz es una trabajadora social clínica licenciada u supervisora con más de 20 años de experiencia como terapeuta. Tiene una maestría en literatura española de Kent State University (Ohio) y una maestría en trabajo social de University of South Florida (Tampa). Janet ofrece el servicio de consejería a individuos, parejas y familias en dos idiomas, Ingles y Español.
Availability
Across our many locations, we have a variety of morning, afternoon, and evening availability Monday thru Friday. We also have a limited amount of Saturday availability in a few locations. Our Client Coordinator will discuss all the options to find a location, counselor, and time that works well for you.
Locations
As part of our partnership, you are able to meet with our Catholic counselors at any of our locations or via telehealth.
Contact us for scheduling
Please contact our Client Coordinator to schedule your first appointment. Our main line is (844) 295-3167. Be sure to inform us you are with the diaconate program.