Meet The Team at Colors of Austin

Colors of Austin Counseling is proud to be home to a diverse team of clinicians, interns, and leaders who bring different lived experiences, perspectives, and areas of expertise to our work.

Together, we are committed to creating a therapy experience that feels thoughtful, compassionate, and responsive from the moment you reach out.Seeking support can be a meaningful and vulnerable step.

Our goal is to meet that step with care, clarity, and respect, and to help you feel supported throughout the process.

Vanessa Flores Newton

Vanessa Flores Newton

CEO & Founder

LCSW-S, CDWF, EMDR-TRAINED, TCYM Certified

Vanessa is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has been in the field of Social Work for over 10 years now. In addition to providing therapy services, she is also the Owner and Founder of Colors of Austin Counseling, Brave and Well, a consulting business designed to empower mental health professionals with the tools and resources they need to build thriving private practices, and SocialNote, a web-based platform designed for school based mental health professionals to securely document their interactions with students and families.

Our therapists at Colors of Austin Counseling each have their own specialties
and populations they serve. Below, you can view their profiles, backgrounds
and primary specialities in order to learn who may be a good fit for you.

To read a therapist’s full biography, click “Read More” below their photo.

If you are not sure which therapist may be a good fit for you, you may
contact our Client Care Coordinator who can help determine which
therapist at Colors of Austin Counseling can best serve you.

Our Clinicians

Adriana Quintero-Celestino
Link to Team Member
LCSW

I consider it a deep honor to be able to connect, heal, and grow alongside the people I work with. This is a privilege that I never take lightly. I genuinely love the work I do because I understand the impact we can have on each other for the better.

Alexandra DeHoff
Link to Team Member
LCSW-S

I hold that change and healing are created through building healthy relationships and believing in our own self-worth. I have worked in mental health since 2008 with children, teens, families, and adults across outpatient, residential, and inpatient settings.

Alex Birch
Link to Team Member
LPC-Associate

I want to offer a space where you can safely and unapologetically discover and learn who you are: where you feel safe to discuss and process the weight (and grief) of navigating, surviving and adapting through our world.  

Alxis Turner
Link to Team Member
LMSW

My therapeutic approach is child-centered and collaborative, prioritizing the unique individuality and cultural background of each child and family.

Alyssa Ray
Link to Team Member
LCSW, TCYM Certified, DWTF

I firmly believe that all people have intrinsic worth & value and use that in and outside of my work to build safe and trustworthy relationships with others.

Chris Martinez
Link to Team Member
LCSW, EMDR

If I had to put one word to describe my approach, it would be “adaptable.” I put the therapeutic relationship first. Connection before intervention.

Claudia Hernandez Vargas
Link to Team Member
LCSW

I believe everyone deserves to take up space without fear, and therapy can be a powerful place to practice doing just that.

Erika Settles
Link to Team Member
LMSW

I see therapy as a collaborative and empowering space where your story is at the center and your voice leads, creating room to explore patterns, rewrite old narratives, and move toward greater freedom.

Frances Arredondo
Link to Team Member
LPC

I work from a collaborative, strength-based approach; assisting & supporting clients with tools and strategies that focus on increasing happiness and well-being.

Jené Gutierrez
Link to Team Member
LMFT-A

As a relationship therapist, I believe that our relationships are the crucible for our greatest transformations.

Kim Jenkins
Link to Team Member
LMSW

My work tends to be sensory-oriented, and I encourage my clients to consider how existing in their bodies feels or could feel in the future.

Lina Guerrero
Link to Team Member
MPA, LMSW, LCDC, C-DBT

My path to therapy was shaped by years in legal, nonprofit, restorative justice, violence intervention, and community health settings, deepening my commitment to supporting people who feel outside traditional boxes.

Maria Gregg
Link to Team Member
LCSW, Somatic Attachment-EMDR Certified

I support clients to be curious instead of judgmental of their internal experiences. In partnering together, we can identify what really matters to you, using your values as a map so that you can show up as your authentic self.

Marissa Lecaros
Link to Team Member
LMFT

My work centers on supporting individuals and couples through fertility, perinatal transitions, trauma, attachment, body image, and relationship challenges, with a warm, collaborative approach that honors culture, identity, and lived experience.

Roy Mong
Link to Team Member
LPC-Associate Supervised by: Marissa Rivera, MA, LPC-S

I strive to create a courageous space where we can make sense of your experiences through both personal and systemic lenses, release what was never yours to carry, and cultivate a gentler, more liberating relationship with yourself.

Colors of austin counseling intern program

Making therapy more accessible for all

Affordable therapy services with our dedicated interns

At Colors of Austin Counseling, we are passionate about making mental health services accessible to everyone. Our commitment to this mission has given life to our new affordable therapy initiative, welcoming two new interns who are ready to offer high-quality therapy services at lower costs.

WHY CHOOSE OUR INTERNS?

Our interns are dedicated to learning and growing as mental health professionals. Under the guidance of experienced supervisors, they bring fresh perspectives and a compassionate approach to therapy. By choosing our interns, you not only receive quality care but also contribute to our mission of making mental health services more affordable.

Breaking Down Financial Barriers

We understand that financial barriers can often hinder access to therapy. To address this, we are proud to offer lower-cost therapy services through our intern program at Colors of Austin Counseling. This program is part of our ongoing commitment to improving access to mental health care, especially for marginalized communities.

Affordable Rates

Our interns provide therapy services at reduced rates, making it more accessible for individuals and families.

Supervised Support

Rest assured, our interns work under the supervision of experienced and licensed professionals. This ensures that you receive quality care and support throughout your therapeutic journey.

Diverse Perspectives

Embracing diversity is at the core of what we do. Our interns bring unique perspectives that enrich the therapeutic experience.

Working With an Intern FAQs

What is the cost of working with an intern?

Working with an intern through the Colors of Austin Intern Program allows us to offer financial flexibility for therapy services. Insurance companies are not able to reimburse interns for services. This means that Colors of Austin Counseling interns are able to schedule clients at a much lower rate than other fully-licensed clinicians. The rates for a one-hour session typically start at $80 with the potential to adjust if necessary. Working with an intern is an excellent choice if your circumstances require low cost therapy services.

Colors of Austin Counseling believes that finances should never be a barrier to getting exceptional counseling services. Our Intern Program plays a huge role in being able to welcome clients to the practice who are uninsured or otherwise unable to budget for professional therapeutic support.

Why would I see an intern?

Aside from the reduced rate, there are many benefits of working with an intern through Colors of Austin Counseling, including:

  • Smaller caseload means more focus on your needs
  • A different kind of energy and enthusiasm than someone who’s been in the field for several years
  • They are actively studying the most recent developments in mental health, social work, and psychology
  • Interns work closely with a supervisor which means you essentially have two therapists for the “price” of one
Are Interns Qualified?

Absolutely. Interns participate in an interview process and those offered the internship position model and embrace creativity, courage, diversity, equity, access, and vulnerability, the values we live out as a team. Interns are in a Masters Social Work program and have completed coursework hours as well as previous practicum placements. They are now in the final stage of their program and are implementing and practicing their skills in this learning environment. COAC strives to provide quality mental health services to our community and our qualified interns are a vital piece to this effort.

Get Started Today

Take the first step toward improved mental health. Reach out to us to learn more about our affordable therapy services with our dedicated interns. We believe that everyone deserves access to quality mental health care, and our interns are here to help you on your path to healing.

Complete the online request form below to see if you qualify for lower-cost therapy services with our interns. Our Client Care Coordinator, Rebecca will connect with you to discuss next steps.

Our Internship Team

Evelyn Ooi
Link to Team Member
Supervised by Marissa Lecaros

Evelyn is a warm, empathetic, person-centered therapist whose background in counseling, mentorship, and leadership has shaped her passion for helping others navigate challenges, grow, and move toward their goals.

Rhiannon Woodward
Link to Team Member
Supervised by Alyssa Ray

As a therapist, my role is to be a steady collaborator, someone who walks alongside you with deep empathy, a warm heart, and the occasional bit of humor to keep us grounded.

Sara Safaie
Link to Team Member
Supervised by Alexandra DeHoff

Sara is a mental health counselor intern providing therapy for individuals navigating anxiety, depression, major life transitions, and cultural adjustment. Grounded in her prior work supporting individuals with mental health and substance use concerns, she is passionate about working with clients from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Thomas Kelly
Link to Team Member
Supervised by Chris Martinez

I help people explore identity, relationships, emotional patterns, and the parts of themselves they’re still getting to know through a narrative and depth-oriented approach grounded in curiosity, openness, and collaboration.

Tiffany Stevens
Link to Team Member
Supervised by Maria Gregg

Becoming a therapist felt like answering a call I’ve carried for years: to walk with people through these moments of awakening, to help them reconnect with their inner knowing, and to support the emergence of a self that feels grounded, honest, and ecstatically alive.

Our Leadership Team

The Colors of Austin Counseling team is grateful to be supported by a talented group of individuals who ensure the nuts and bolts of therapy – from booking to billing and everything in between – operate seamlessly and effectively. They’re here for you with any questions about payments, insurance or logistical concerns.
Clinical Internship Program Manager

I firmly believe that all people have intrinsic worth & value and use that in and outside of my work to build safe and trustworthy relationships with others.

Marketing Assistant

Ana is a recent social work graduate passionate about expanding access to meaningful mental health resources.

Client Care Coordinator

As the CCC, I help clients to connect them with the right therapist and work with both the client and clinician’s schedules to get the first appointment.

Clinical Director

My work centers on supporting individuals and couples through fertility, perinatal transitions, trauma, attachment, body image, and relationship challenges, with a warm, collaborative approach that honors culture, identity, and lived experience.

Marketing Assistant

At my core, I’m a deeply creative person, passionate about both the big ideas and the steps that bring them to life.