Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Schutz.
Hi Elizabeth, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My passion for mental health began for me in Jr. High as I watched my mom advocate for her patients as a Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. At the time I had no idea it would lead me into my own healing journey and career as a Licensed Professional Counselor. After working with survivors of trafficking in a residential context, I felt the invitation to launch my own private practice. Whether I am working with a survivor of trafficking or someone who is struggling with anxiety and depression, I firmly believe that each person can get unstuck from problematic patterns and limiting beliefs. And I wanted to build a team of clinicians who not just believed that but were also passionate about utilizing the tools that help people deeply heal.
When I launched in 2024, I brought on a master’s level intern and began coaching her in the phase model of trauma healing first developed by Judith Herrman. Kelli is now an LPC-Associate and trained in EMDR and IFS informed working with clients to reach their goals. This January 2026, ES Counseling and Consulting grew by adding a new intern to our team, Jackson Wells. We believe that this model provides builds a team that makes accessible high quality mental health care to all individuals. The dream is to one day have our own building and offer greater access to experiential and creative forms of therapy.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Launching my own practice was never something I had envisioned. It came after an unexpected layoff from a nonprofit, and within two days I had my business name and a office space. I have a high value for relationships and collaboration, so ES Counseling grew while partnering with Hope Women’s Center in that first year. Many of the women coming in had experienced trauma but little resources to afford counseling. So we provided free counseling for up to 1 year for each woman referred to us.
In 2025 we moved into our own office in the Caddo Office in Allen, allowing us to also offer walk and talk therapy to clients. We partner with several anti-trafficking nonprofits in the area to make high quality trauma therapy accessible. One of the challenges of a newer business has been in a saturated market is getting the word out. It is by growing our full paying client base that we can continued to expand our ability to increase access to free and low-cost therapy through our practice.
As you know, we’re big fans of ES Counseling and Consulting. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We are a therapy practice focused on helping each client step into the abundance they were created for. Each clinician works from that Phase Model but their own unique personality and creativity gets to shine through. At ES Counseling and Consulting we are focused on gaining an ever deeper understanding of developmental trauma and how that limits capacity. Our LPC’s and Associates are trained in EMDR and integrate a parts framework.
I don’t think it is one specific thing that sets us apart, but it is these elements together along with a commitment to see each client with dignity, value and worth. And to collaborate with them in increasing their voice, choice and autonomy. What I am most proud of is that our clients see growth and healing. Many of our clients come in because of some type of crisis, but continue on because they have discovered the value of this deeper, relational approach to therapy.
We don’t take insurance because of our value of providing client centered therapy, without the constraints of insurance. Therapy is expensive and we work to address this barrier by offering a limited number of sliding scale spots, along with master’s level clinicians with a much lower rate and pro-bono spots available.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I think the changes in technology and our growing understanding the brain and nervous system have been profoundly changing the therapy landscape. We will only continue to see the growth in this being included in counseling training programs. I still encounter therapist who are not trained in EMDR or other experiential modalities. Over the next 5-10 years I believe they will become more of the standard of care.
Pricing:
- Elizabeth Schutz LPC $200
- Kelli Klaus LPC-Associate supervised by Casey Christian LPC-S $100
- Jackson Wells Master’s level clinician $50
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Photos of Elizabeth Schutz by Natalie Barrett Photography
