Today we’d like to introduce you to Karla Pineda.
Hi Karla, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Karla Pineda. I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor specializing in the treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorders and Anxiety disorders. I am the owner and founder of Layers Counseling Specialists PLLC in Plano, Texas, and I host a podcast called Character Clinic with my friend and fellow counselor Haley Harris. In the podcast, we role-play counseling sessions with fictional characters and discuss how we would work with them in therapy.
My story goes all the way back to high school. When I was a teenager, I lived with severe depression and anxiety. I struggled every day until I started seeing a mental health counselor who helped me find joy in life again. That clinician inspired me to pursue a career in counseling. I wanted to help others the way he helped me.
After graduating with my Bachelors from the University of North Texas at Denton, I was accepted into UNT Denton’s Counseling Masters program. Being accepted was a huge accomplishment because I would be the first in my family to go to graduate school.
I struggled through grad school. I loved learning and enjoyed my classes. I knew counseling was my calling, and at the same time, I was very stressed with work and school. My mental health began to decline so much that it became debilitating. I was seeing a therapist for anxiety, and it wasn’t helping. To be honest, I think it was making things worse. Nothing was helping until I stumbled upon an article about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. While reading the article, I cried tears of relief. I remember thinking, “This is exactly what I’m going through.”
After doing some research, I learned that the best treatment for OCD was a therapy called Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). I also learned that talk therapy could make OCD worse. I started working with an OCD specialist and quickly started seeing results. At that point, I decided that I wanted to work toward becoming an OCD specialist.
Since graduating with my Masters in Counseling, I have taken various trainings in different therapeutic modalities with the goal of becoming an OCD and Anxiety specialist. In December 2023, I received a certification in Exposure and Response Prevention for OCD through the Cognitive Behavior Institute.
December 2023 was a huge month for me. I received the certification I worked really hard for, I started a new podcast with my friend, and I left my position at the group practice I was working for. I was ready to bet on myself and start my own private practice. Making the leap was scary, but I knew it was the right move for me.
In January 2024, Layers Counseling Specialists PLLC was officially open for business! Our goal at Layers is to provide clients with specialty treatment from highly-trained clinicians while providing clinicians with an environment where learning and growth are rewarded and encouraged. I’m excited to work toward expanding the practice in the next few years.
I am a passionate advocate for OCD awareness among mental health professionals. I give continuing education presentations to fellow clinicians about knowing how to identify OCD in their clients. I remember how hard it was for me to find the care I needed, and I want to make that easier for clients. I believe the best way I can do that is by providing clinicians with the information they need to know the signs and know when to refer clients to a specialist.
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?
The road hasn’t always been smooth. My biggest obstacles have been my own mental health struggles and fear of failure. I’ve overcome so many of those struggles with help from therapists and my loved ones, who have encouraged me and believed in me throughout my journey. Looking back, I can say that the bumpy ride has been worth it.
As you know, we’re big fans of Layers Counseling Specialists PLLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Layers Counseling Specialists PLLC is a mental health counseling practice based in Plano, Texas. Our mission is to offer clients therapy with clinicians who have trained or are training to become specialists in their chosen niche. We also want to provide mental health professionals who are passionate about their chosen specialty with an environment that rewards continued learning and growth in their area of focus.
I specialize in OCD and Anxiety treatment. I work with clients ages 16+ who are struggling with OCD, Social Anxiety, Panic Disorder, and PTSD. I provide treatment in English and Spanish.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I believe passion is most important to my success. I’m passionate about counseling, and I can’t see myself doing any other job, but I think (well, I hope) that my passion for my field and specialty resonates with others.
Pricing:
- Individual Counseling $185 per 50-minute session
- ERP Intensives $200 per hour
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.layerscs.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karlapinedaocd/ and https://www.instagram.com/layerscounseling/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlaapineda/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CharacterClinicPod
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@karlapinedaocd
Image Credits
Karla Pineda
