Licensed Master Social Worker (under supervision by Lisa Delaplace, LCSW-S)
Welcome. I’m Christa, and I support parents raising children with autism or PDA, and adults healing from trauma through EMDR therapy. My work is warm, neurodiversity-affirming, and focused on your goals.
I see clients in person in Prosper, Texas and online throughout Texas.
A space to exhale, be understood, and finally feel supported.
My practice centers on two deeply connected areas: trauma healing through EMDR and therapy for parents of neurodivergent children, especially those parenting kids with autism or PDA.
If you’re raising a child with autism or a PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) profile, you already know this work asks everything of you. The advocacy. The IEP meetings. The sensory planning. The constant recalibrating of expectations the rest of the world doesn’t understand.
You may love your child fiercely and still feel completely depleted. Both can be true.
I offer parents a place to set the weight down for a moment. Together we work on nervous system regulation, reducing burnout, processing grief and guilt, repairing your relationship with yourself, and finding parenting approaches that actually fit your child, not the generic advice that keeps backfiring.
PDA in particular is widely misunderstood, even by other therapists. I bring real familiarity with the demand avoidance profile and the collaborative, low-demand strategies that help these kids (and their parents) thrive.
EMDR therapy is a gentle, research-backed approach that helps your brain and body process painful memories so they stop running the show. You don’t have to relive everything in detail. EMDR works with how trauma is stored, not just the story of it.
Clients often come to EMDR carrying:
Many of the parents I work with are also carrying their own unhealed trauma, and that absolutely affects how they show up at home. EMDR can help your nervous system finally find some relief.
I bring a strength-based, neurodiversity-affirming, and anti-racist lens to all my work. I’m not here to pathologize you or your child. I’m here to help you find what’s already working and build on it.
I also bring lived experience navigating neurodivergent dynamics and cultural differences in my own life, which shapes how I show up in the room, with real empathy, not just clinical training.
You deserve a space where your story is fully seen, your strengths are recognized, and what we build together actually works for your real life.
If you’re looking for EMDR therapy or support as a parent of a child with autism or PDA in Prosper, Texas or anywhere in Texas, I’d love to connect.
Answers to what clients ask most
PDA stands for Pathological Demand Avoidance (sometimes called Persistent Drive for Autonomy). It's a profile within the autism spectrum where the nervous system perceives everyday demands as threats, even welcome ones like favorite activities. Traditional behavior strategies, rewards charts, and firm boundaries often backfire with PDA kids and can deepen distress for the whole family. Effective support looks more collaborative, flexible, and low-demand. I help parents understand the why behind their child's responses and shift toward approaches that actually reduce the meltdowns and shutdowns.
My focus is on you, the parent. I don't provide therapy to children in this work. Parents who feel regulated, supported, and equipped tend to see real changes at home, and that's where I can offer the most. If your child needs their own therapist, I'm happy to share referrals.
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation, usually eye movements, tapping, or sounds, while you briefly notice a memory or feeling. You stay in control the whole time. You don't have to share every detail of what happened. Most clients describe it as a process where things that used to feel huge and present start to feel like they belong in the past, where they actually happened.
It depends on what you're processing. A single recent event might shift in a handful of sessions. Complex trauma or long-standing patterns take longer, often a few months of consistent work, sometimes more. We'll talk early on about what a realistic timeline looks like for you.
Both work well. I offer EMDR in person in Prosper, Texas and virtually throughout Texas using secure video. Many parents prefer online sessions because it's one less thing to arrange childcare for.
Yes. Parental burnout is real, and it's not a personal failing. It's what happens when caregiving demands outpace recovery for too long. We work on the underlying nervous system patterns, the guilt and grief that often come with neurodivergent parenting, and practical shifts that protect your energy. You don't have to keep running on empty.
I'm an out-of-network provider. I can provide superbills you can submit to your insurance for possible reimbursement. I'm happy to talk through the details on a consultation call.
The easiest way is to schedule a free consultation. We'll talk about what you're hoping to work on, I'll answer your questions, and you can get a feel for how I work before committing to anything.
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