20 years

We're proud to celebrate 20 years of service to our Central Texas community.

A word from our Director and Founder

Kerry Williamson, MA, LPC-S, LMFT-S, CST

kerry-williamson-austin-sex-therapist
Thank you for joining the ALCS team as we celebrate 20 years of serving Central Texas! Some of you have sought services here and referred people you love to us. Others are pastors who have created unique opportunities for partnership and ministry. Still others join us from the trenches of counseling, connecting with us through shared expertise. All of us, together, have made possible a dream bigger than I could have possibly imagined.

In 2003, 20 years ago, I began ALCS in a borrowed office with a desire to meet people in the inevitable mess of life. I knew firsthand the power of pain to shape our behavior and relationships, holding us back from being loved and loving the way we long to. I wanted to continue serving as a counselor, the way I had for nine years, but I wanted something more. I wanted to practice, and ultimately to develop a team, that could serve the community in a way that was reflective of my heart: providing services that were clinically excellent and foundationally Christian.

The words of John 10:10 and Matthew 22:37-39 became my true north, the guiding focus for enlisting others to come alongside me in navigating the work of helping people and relationships heal. We’ve sought to become a refuge for weary, fearful, depressed, lonely people. A place where all people, regardless of faith or background, could be seen, heard, and helped. A place safe from society’s stigmas. A place where we could fulfill a shared mission: “To help people live and to help people love.” And it happened.

Over the years, we grew. New staff strengthened the common heartbeat of ALCS while expanding our capacity to serve by contributing unique expertise. We witnessed the impact. Couples and marriages found relief from persistent patterns, experiencing connection emotionally, spiritually, and sexually. Families discovered the capacity of conflict to strengthen relationships, not just damage them. Young children expressed their pain through play and found their language understood. Men and women brought sexual issues out of hidden, lonely places and found the light of acceptance. People were liberated from the painful grip of trauma through specialized care—and, above all, patient love. Growth gave way to more growth. We opened satellite offices in Kyle and Georgetown, increasing our impact, convenience, and accessibility. We’ve delighted in serving new communities with the same faithfully integrated heart.

20 years later, we stand together as a flourishing team of twelve therapists and two administrators. And we stand overwhelmed by gratitude. We can simply say: Thank you. Thank you for trusting us with your hearts, with your stories, and with the people you love and lead. Thank you for joining us as we pursue what is, I believe, our highest calling: to love God and others with our whole selves.

It’s a calling that leads, inevitably, to more abundant life.

Thank you for creating something special with us!

Team members at the North Austin and Georgetown locations:
Front Row Left to Right: Rachel, Regina, Mary Kate, Jenna, Nicole
Back Row Left to Right: Kerry, Julie, Roslynn, Carolyn, Rachelle, Elizabeth
Not Pictured: North Austin team member Hannah, and Kyle team members Michelle and Linlee (see photo below)

















We're Here to Serve You!

How we partner with churches:

We recognize that navigating difficult issues in today's culture can be a heavy burden for church leadership and we are here to help! Part of the "heart" of ALCS is to strengthen the body of Christ by supporting the local church and we have two primary ways we approach that.

Church Scholarships:
Do people within your flock need more extensive care than you are equipped to provide?

For those individuals who need professional support, we invest, along with the client's local church, in order to make counseling affordable. With our scholarship program, churches receive a built-in discount for clients they support financially when they refer them to us. Built-in discounts range from $20-$50, depending upon the therapist's normal fee.  For more details about how the scholarship program works and how to set up a scholarship for someone in your congregation, click here.

Speaking Engagements:
Could your congregation benefit from professional knowledge and expertise on a particular subject?

Many of our clinicians are gifted presenters and are eager to equip members of our community and the local church with tools to help them thrive! Keep scrolling to see a listing of recent and upcoming speaking engagements, as well as a sampling of titles and audiences from past presentations.. Would your upcoming event benefit from the voice of a professional counselor? We'd love to hear from you!

Recent and Upcoming Presentations:

Essentials for a Great Start with Sex
11/06/2023
In this session of the Gateway Church Soulmates Class, Kerry will invite class members to reflect on their own story, expectations, and communication health regarding sex. He will also give helpful hints for the honeymoon.
Falling in Love with our Firefighter Parts
10/26/2023
During this episode of the “Outer Circle Inner Stillness” Podcast, Mary Kate and two other Christian therapists will consider our relationship with the parts of ourselves that use unwanted behaviors to soothe/distract us from pain: our Firefighters. Historically shunned and shamed, we’ll discuss how to move with compassion towards them, without enabling their behavior.
ADHD, What It Is and How to Help
9/16/2023
Part of the "SEEN" Mental Health and Parenting Conference for Riverbend Church. During this session, Hannah described the diagnosis of ADHD and explained specifics of what that entails in a child or adolescent brain. She also suggested practical tools to use in parenting and deciding on a course of treatment.
Suicide: Psychoeducation and Assessment
9/15/2023
Part of the "SEEN" Mental Health and Parenting Conference for Riverbend Church. In this joint presentation, Nicole and Mary Kate provided content to inform parents of teens what symptoms professionals assess regarding suicide ideation, what risk factors increase the probability of suicide, and what protective factors can help protect against the risk of suicide. They also discussed how parents can best engage with their kids on this subject, helping to create a safe place for their child to share their emotions.
Suicide: Psychoeducation and Assessment
9/15/2023
Part of the "SEEN" Mental Health and Parenting Conference for Riverbend Church. In this joint presentation, Mary Kate and Nicole provided content to inform parents of teens what symptoms professionals assess regarding suicide ideation, what risk factors increase the probability of suicide, and what protective factors can help protect against the risk of suicide. They also discussed how parents can best engage with their kids on this subject, helping to create a safe place for their child to share their emotions.
Balancing your Priorities
9/12/2023
During this presentation to the Liberty Hill Women in Business, Julie discussed the importance of prioritizing priorities, as well as strategies to ensure that our schedule aligns with our core values.
Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) Presentation
8/22/2023
During this training for Council Oaks Preschool teachers, Hannah discussed the nature of trauma from the perspective of TBRI, describing trauma's impact on the brain and practical tools and resources from TBRI that teachers can utilize to help children impacted by trauma succeed and stay regulated in the classroom.
Trauma Informed Classroom
7/29/2023
During this training for Round Rock Ready, Hannah discussed the nature of trauma, it's impact on the brain, and practical tools and resources to utilize in the classroom in order to help children with a history of trauma stay emotionally regulated and succeed.
Step 4: Fearless Moral Inventory
7/7/2023
During this session of Remedy, a Christ-centered recovery ministry, Julie led participans to consider the importance of facing pain from the past. "We cannot heal a wound by saying it isn't there. Unearthing our past is a step toward healing."
Essentials for a Great Start with Sex
3/26/2023
In this session of the Gateway Church Soulmates Class, Kerry invited class members to reflect on their own story, expectations, and communication health regarding sex. He will also give helpful hints for the honeymoon.
Essentials for Great Sex and the Hindrances that Get in the Way
3/24/23
In this meeting of the Motherhood and Community Group at Austin Oaks Church, Kerry discussed foundational principles for mothers with young children to have a satisfying sexual relationship. He discussed the powerful bonding that comes with sex when it is a wholistic experience instead of a behavioral focus. Common hindrances like anxiety and lack of energy and drive were identified as obstacles that are common for young families, and strategies for countering these obstacles were identified.
Sometimes You’re the Pharisee - Spiritualizer Parts
3/15/2023
“Outer Circle, Inner Stillness” is a podcast that centers on the intersection of spiritual life and recovery work. In this episode, Mary Kate and two other Christian therapists discussed the use of a particular form of psychotherapy (Internal Family Systems) to address parts of ourselves that use spiritual teachings to avoid inner healing.
Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) Presentation
3/4/2023
During this training for Round Rock Ready, Hannah discussed the nature of trauma, it's impact on the brain, and practical tools and resources to utilize in the classroom in order to help children with a history of trauma stay emotionally regulated and succeed.This is where the description goes.
Managing your Anxiety
2/24/2023
During this session at a women's retreat at Summer's Mill Retreat Center, Julie offered strategies for managing anxiety. "Anxiety is a part of life, but you can make peace with anxiety and not let it control you."
Worthiness
2/3/2023
During this session of a women's retreat at Lakeview United Methodist Conference Center, Julie shared strategies for developing a biblical perspective toward the way we see ourselves. "We can find our identity and worth by accepting how God sees us.
Essentials of Christian Counseling: the Person, the Profession, and the Practice
1/27/2023
During this training for professional and lay counselors of Texas Baptist Children's Home, Kerry discussed the distinctives of Christian counseling. He identified four essential components: the Christian therapist’s relationship with God, their story as it relates to therapy, the implications of having a professional license and the accompanying ethics, and the unique role of being a Christian counselor. He explored special areas of focus including sexuality.


















How can the ALCS team bring value to your community?

We'd Love to hear from you!

(Kyle team members Michelle and Linlee on the far right)

Sampling of Titles / Audiences of ALCS Therapists' Past Presentations 

mary-kate-sowell-lpc

Mary Kate Sowell

Common Questions on Communication & Conflict in Romantic Relationships - Red Rocks Austin: Power Couple Conference
Mental Health Panel , "A Conversation on Mental Health," during Weekly Sunday Service – Red Rocks Austin (click here to watch)
“If I said No to Sex, it was My Fault:” Comparing the Influences of Method Choice on Romantic Relationships - Midwest Sociological Society Annual Meeting
rachelle-honohan-lcsw

rachelle Honohan

Suicide Prevention: Facts and Feelings (with Carolyn Dixon) - Summit Christian Academy

Hannah Pitman

Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) Trainings for both parents and teachers (from 1.5 to 8 hour trainings) - public and private schools, church groups, police departments, Council Oaks preschool teachers, Round Rock Ready, Three Strands Parenting, Austin Sunshine Camps, and nursery workers working with unplanned pregnancies.

Michelle Johnson

Yours, Mine & Ours: Emotion Co-Regulation in the Preschool Setting - Mother's Day Out Teacher Training
Trauma-Sensitive Classrooms: Helping Preschoolers Feel Safe, Loved & Connected - Mother's Day Out Teacher Training
Navigating Family Dynamics During Transitions & The Holidays - Mother's of Preschoolers (MOPS)
carolyn-dixon-lcsw

Carolyn Dixon

Helping the Hurting: An Experiental Approach to Caring for Those in Distress - Austin Christian Fellowship
Fear Less: How to Deal with Anxiety - Rockpointe Church Women's gathering
An Experiential Introduction to Emotionally Focused Therapy - Christian Counselors of Texas Annual conference
Jesus’ Love for Women and the Challenges of Being a Mom - Rockpointe Church Mothers’ Day Service
Becoming an Effective Minister of Care - Austin Christian Fellowship
Creating a Culture of Empathy - MSB University (Business Inservice)
Suicide Prevention: Facts and Feelings (with Rachelle Honohan) - Summit Christian Academy
kerry-williamson-austin-sex-therapist

Kerry Williamson

Pornography and Its Consequences: Relational, Neurological, and Sexual Dysfunction - Christian Counselors of Texas State Conference
Battle for Pure Hearts - Brentwood Oaks Church of Christ
The Journey of Sex Education - Church at Canyon Creek
Sex and Purity - Church at Canyon Creek
Gender Dysphoria - Christian Counselors of Texas State Conference
Nurturing Sexual Intimacy During the Childbearing Years - Christian Counselors of Texas State Conference
Treating Sexual Dysfunction - Christian Counselors of Texas State Conference
The Secret to Great Sex? Approach It Like Children Approach Play - Christian Counselors of Texas State Conference
Pornography and the Neurochemistry of Sexual Addiction - Christian Counselors of Texas State Conference
Breaking Through Resistance: Inviting Clients into the Battle - Christian Counselors of Texas State Conference
Treating Sexual Dysfunction: Dialogue, Education, Coaching, and Referral - Christian Counselors of Texas
Healing Marital Pain - First Baptist Church Georgetown Stephens Ministry
Essentials for a Great Start with Sex - Gateway Church Premarital Class
Marriage Class - Gateway Church “Gateway U” Class
Codependency: Die to Yourself but Don’t Lose Yourself - Grace Covenant Church
Differences in Men & Women: God Did It on Purpose! - Great Hills Baptist Church
Marriage Matters Sessions 1-6 - Church at Canyon Creek Marriage Class
Emotional Intimacy: The Foundation of Sexual Intimacy - Austin Oaks Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS)
Finding Your Sexual Fire - Austin Oaks Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS)
Sex During the Preschool Years: Is It Possible - Austin Oaks Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS)
LGBTQ+ Awareness: Compassionate Care & Committed Relationships - Texas Baptist Children’s Home
Purity Starts with Sexual Wholeness - Church at Canyon Creek Youth
Preparing for Adolescence Retreat and Parenting Sessions - Church at Canyon Creek