Dr. Amy Acosta, PhD
Co-Owner/Psychologist
Specialties
Eating Disorders/Body Image
Anxiety/Depression
Changes in Mood/Adjustment
Transition to Adulthood
Bullying/Social Cruelty
Parenting Support/Family Concerns
Scroll down to read more about each of these specialty topics.
My Rates
Intake/Assessments: $250
A one-hour session: $200
A 45-minute session: $180
An Extended Family session: $250
A 30-minute consultation: $100
Prices are subject to change. Please discuss rates with me during your free consultation.
About Dr. Acosta
Dr. Acosta is a Licensed Psychologist and co-owner of WHCP. She has served adolescents, adults, and families in the greater Houston area for over 15 years.
Dr. Acosta received her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Houston in 2005, her master’s in Counseling Psychology in 2001, and her Bachelor’s from Southern Methodist University in English, Spanish, and Latin American Studies in 1999. She has worked in many team settings supporting adolescents, families, and adults, including universities, independent schools, community centers, and hospital settings.
She has worked and trained in Adolescent Medicine at Texas Children’s Hospital/Baylor College of Medicine. She also served as the Middle School Psychologist at The Kinkaid School and trained at Texas A&M Student Counseling Service.
Approach to Therapy
Dr. Acosta’s approach is client-centered, cooperative, interpersonal, and supportive, focusing on developing coping skills and solutions to manage challenges and achieve personalized therapeutic goals. She utilizes various therapeutic approaches, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)-informed skills to help clients understand their thoughts, feelings, and actions impact on their well-being and life course.
Her work is guided by a strength-based approach where we can identify each client’s interpersonal assets, individual traits, unique insight, and the personalized coping skills that will best help them achieve their goals.
Speaking Engagements
Dr. Acosta has given several talks, workshops, seminars, and presentations in the community throughout my career. She is passionate about fostering learning environments that minimize mental health stigma, increase understanding, and promote public health. Her academic interests and speaking experiences include eating disorders, adolescent development, strength-based psychology, bullying, parenting in the digital age, digital wellness, transition and mental health, cultural body image themes, self-care, compassion fatigue, and burnout in the workplace.
Dr. Acosta is ART (Accelerated Resolution Therapy) Trained
“The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.”
Carl Rogers
Specialties
Anxiety
Symptoms of anxiety can include overthinking, fear of social interactions, restlessness or insomnia, and physical symptoms such as headaches, stomach aches and muscle tension. Through therapy, I can help clients manage their life stressors, challenge negative thoughts and apply coping strategies to reduce generalized anxiety and excessive worry.
Depression
Depression is often defined simply as feeling sad, or feelings of overwhelming sadness. However, depression can be so much more complex. It can consist of general irritability, agitation and difficulties with concentration. Other signs of depression can include difficulties sleeping, fluctuations in appetite, feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness, low energy, isolation and abandonment of traditional hobbies and activities.
In more serious cases, depression can include thoughts of suicide or self harm (If you are experiencing these extreme symptoms, please get help immediately or call 911).
I work with clients to develop a collaborative treatment plan to assist in regaining energy, improving overall mood and to regaining their quality of life.
Eating Disorders/Body Image
I treat patients with eating disorders such as Anorexia, Bulimia, Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), general eating concerns and body issues. I will often work with a team of community specialists, such as dietitians and physicians, to ensure optimal care.
Relationships
Therapy is often utilized to improve upon difficult relationships, deepen the connection with loved ones, and learn how to articulate personal values and needs to others. As one is better able to understand their own values and needs, they can work toward improving relationships and achieve more balance and connectivity in their lives.
Transition to Adulthood
Navigating the space between early and middle adolescence into early adulthood poses many challenges. As clients gain skills in independence and autonomy, they are also connecting with support systems in new ways. For example, accessing support networks in college, evolving and maturing relationships with parents and families, and seeking opportunities for change, independence, and growth. New challenges of “Adulting” can be hard, but also very rewarding and empowering.
Parenting Support/Family Concerns
Family and parenting support is important. We offer family therapy to help each family member have a safe space to describe needs, concerns, and goals for themselves and for their family. In a nurturing space, our goal is to help each family member feel heard and understood so that the whole family system can function in the most optimal way possible.
We also provide parenting support and psychoeducational resources to parents. We know that parenting can pose many challenges, worries, and dilemmas. We are here to support you through the parenting journey with compassion and comfort.