Dr. Betsy Puentes

Dr. Betsy Puentes brings a direct, practical style to therapy. She holds a Doctorate in Counseling Psychology and a Master’s in Clinical Psychology, and she is licensed as an LMFT and an LPC in Texas. She has worked in mental health for 46 years and helps people who are dealing with stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, career struggles, addictions, relationship concerns, trauma, and anger.

Her approach treats the person, not a label. She listens for strengths and builds from what is already working in someone’s life. Clients can expect straightforward conversation, focus on goals, and help finding clearer ways to handle difficult feelings and behaviors.

Dr. Puentes draws on several practical methods, including cognitive behavioral techniques to shift unhelpful thinking, acceptance and commitment ideas to clarify values and action, and emotionally focused strategies to address painful interactions. She uses these approaches to help people manage mood, set boundaries, and make decisions that match their goals.

Sessions are aimed at real-world change. Work may include learning new coping skills, practicing different responses to conflict, and developing a plan for steps forward. The emphasis is on small, manageable moves that add up over time.

She practices from Texas and works in English. To begin, people complete an intake and schedule sessions based on availability. Dr. Puentes invites those ready to try a different way of managing stress and strong emotions to take the first step.

How specific approaches translate to online work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, helps people name their values and take small steps toward them even when feelings are hard. It focuses on learning to notice thoughts and commit to actions that matter. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at patterns of thinking and behavior and teaches practical skills to change them, which can help with anxiety, anger, and low mood. Emotionally-Focused Therapy, or EFT, centers on understanding emotions in close interactions and practicing new ways of responding to reduce reactivity and grow trust.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and the problems they want to solve. Together they decide which methods to try and adjust the plan over time based on what helps.

Confirm the available session formats before booking, as the biography does not list specific options. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life by removing travel time, allowing quicker check-ins, and letting people attend from a place that is quieter or more comfortable. It also makes it possible to continue regular work on skills between sessions and to schedule meetings more flexibly around work and family demands.