Anxiety, Couples, Relational Trauma, and IFS Therapy
Specialized counseling for women and couples
in Corpus Christi and throughout Texas.
Online Therapy in Corpus Christi, Texas
If you’re here, there’s a good chance you’re carrying more than your share: emotionally, mentally, maybe even spiritually. You’ve been the steady one. The thoughtful one. The one who anticipates needs and smooths things over before anyone else notices.
But lately, it doesn’t work.
Your boundaries are constantly pushed. You second-guess yourself after years of being gaslit, minimized, or emotionally overrun. You can name the patterns, yet feel trapped inside them. Somewhere along the way, you started to feel like a stranger to yourself.
I see you, and I help women and couples like you find their way back to themselves.
Hi, I’m Shakira!
I specialize in anxiety, relationship concerns, and relational trauma because these wounds rarely stay contained. They ripple outward, shaping how you think, how you connect, and how safe your body feels moving through the world.
Many of my clients arrive already insightful. They understand their patterns. They’ve read the books. They’ve tried to cope.
What they want now is different.
They want to feel safe again. To trust their instincts. To stop questioning their own reality. To experience peace without having to earn it.
If that resonates, you’re in the right place.
What you can expect from therapy with me:
Authentic
I don’t sit above you with all the answers. I walk beside you. Healing is a shared process of discovery, and your story already holds wisdom worth listening to. You won’t be rushed or reduced to a checklist.
Intentional
Nothing in our work is accidental. Each question, reflection, and pause is offered with care and purpose. We move thoughtfully, allowing insight to unfold into meaningful change.
Direct
I hold space for honesty as much as compassion. When something wants to be named, I will gently bring it forward. Clarity creates movement, and growth begins there.
My approach is collaborative, compassionate, and deeply intuitive.
This isn’t therapy where you’re talked at, diagnosed, and sent on your way. We’ll explore the deeper patterns beneath the surface: what drives your anxiety, what fuels your burnout, and what parts of you have been working overtime just to keep you safe.
Our work may include:
Rebuilding trust in your own inner voice
Healing the emotional overfunctioning that leaves you drained
Navigating boundaries, people-pleasing, and guilt with more clarity
Understanding your nervous system and why “rest” feels hard
Naming and gently releasing survival roles that no longer serve you
We’ll move at your pace. We’ll hold space for both grief and growth. And yes, we’ll often laugh along the way too. Healing doesn’t have to be heavy all the time.
My work is especially aligned with:
Women and couples healing from high-conflict or emotionally imbalanced relationships
Neurodivergent individuals navigating anxiety, shame, or executive function challenges
People recovering from chronic self-doubt, hyper-independence, or feeling “too much”
More about my experience:
Credentials
Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas
(License No. 90432).
Masters of Arts in Psychology from Texas A&M University Corpus Christi.
Integrated Approaches
Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS)
Attachment-based Therapy
Person-Centered Therapy
Relational Therapy
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Professional Development
Seminars:
Comprehensive Internal Family Systems Therapy Course: A Step-by-Step Guide Through Clinical Applications of the IFS Model
Borderline, Narcissistic, Antisocial and Histrionic Personality Disorders: Effective Treatments for Challenging Clients
Telehealth for Mental Health Professionals: 2-Day Distance Therapy Training
Trainings:
IFS Consultation Groups (biweekly)
Integrative Somatic Parts Work Certificate
Dialectical Behavior Therapy Certification Training
What’s New With Me!
What’s New With Me!
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I am currently completing the IFS Level 1 training, an intensive six-month program that deepens a therapist’s ability to guide clients through parts work with care and precision.
This means I am being formally trained to help you explore your inner world safely and gently, so every part of you feels seen, understood, and respected.
IFS-informed vs. IFS-trained
IFS-informed therapists integrate parts-based concepts into their work.
IFS-trained therapists complete formal IFS Institute training and learn the full model, including how to navigate complex inner systems with depth and safety.Both can be supportive. IFS-trained work offers a deeper level of structure and skill for healing relational and developmental wounds.
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I presented on Recognizing and Combating Faculty Burnout in STEM Higher Education at the 2026 NAHKE Conference, where I shared evidence-based strategies for reducing burnout through supportive leadership and discussed how fostering faculty well-being enhances both institutional health and academic excellence.
Ready to explore what healing
could feel like?
You don’t have to have it all figured out. You just have to start.