About Us
Our Philosophy of Counseling:
At the Parkway Counseling Center, we provide Professional Christian Counseling as a means of leading people to a greater understanding of their divine nature and human nature. Here’s what this means:
- Through the process of counseling, individuals, couples and families discover how to partake of the divine nature and how human nature gets in the way of living the abundant life.
- At the Parkway Counseling Center, we believe that people are created by God, for God, and that we need to understand what Scripture says to us and for us.
- While counseling addresses symptoms, healing comes from a relationship with God.
Our Beliefs:
We believe that true healing and personal growth are only possible when we are connected to the ultimate source of life: Jesus Christ, the True Vine.
Change, healing and transformation are the by-products of being in union with Christ. The goal is to grow spiritually by learning one’s identity in Christ and identifying what needs to be pruned or removed as it impedes spiritual growth.
Meet Our Counselors and Staff
Our counselors are trained to address various issues, including stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), grief and loss, substance abuse, anger management, sexual addiction, marriage, relational issues, military life, spiritual formation and more.
Our counselors see clients from all religious and spiritual perspectives and will meet you where you are at on your spiritual journey. You do not need to attend or be a member of Parkway Bible Church to receive counseling.
Not sure what you’re looking for? Our counselors would love to come alongside you to identify the areas you want to address.
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Francisco Peralta, M.Ed., LPC-S, NBCC
Francisco has dedicated over 35 years to the profession of counseling, earning his license as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in 1990. His experience includes serving as an LPC-Supervisor, guiding and mentoring associates through the process of achieving full licensure.
His counseling expertise encompasses a wide range of issues, including childhood trauma (physical, emotional and sexual), depression, anxiety, anger management, domestic violence, substance and sexual addictions, grief, loss, and relational challenges. Francisco provides marriage counseling helping couples understand and come into the God designed marriage as noted in Genesis 2: 24. Additionally, Francisco specializes in addressing spiritual formation obstacles, helping individuals deepen their attachment and relationship with God. His experience also includes working with individuals and families involved in the criminal justice system, providing support and guidance through complex circumstances.
Fluent in both English and Spanish, Francisco can serve diverse populations effectively. He believes that counseling is fundamentally about facilitating change. However, he recognizes that change can often be elusive, daunting, and difficult to sustain. For believers, the struggle between the old nature and the new nature in Christ (Galatians 5:17) can create additional challenges in the process of transformation.
Francisco’s desire is to see those experiencing doubt, hurt, guilt, grief, shame, or estrangement from God find healing and restoration through the merciful and gracious love of Christ. His counseling ministry is dedicated to guiding individuals toward wholeness, hope, and renewed faith, trusting that God’s grace will lead them to lasting change and spiritual renewal.
In his practice, Francisco’s orientation is attachment based. The goal is to help others learn their identity in Christ and identify specific hindrances to change. This process empowers individuals to make informed decisions about what and how to effect meaningful change. His approach is rooted in biblical principles, particularly 2 Timothy 2:24, which encourages servants of the Lord to instruct others with patience, kindness, and compassion. The goal is to foster repentance and a renewed understanding of the truth, leading to spiritual and emotional restoration.
Throughout his career, Francisco has worked with both non-profit and governmental organizations, gaining a broad perspective on mental health and community service.
In addition to his professional roles, Francisco and his wife Denise owned Abundant Mercy Christian Counseling, a private practice committed to providing faith-based counseling services. The practice was closed in 2024 when Francisco felt called by the Lord to accept the position of Counseling Director at Parkway, where he continues to serve with dedication.
Francisco's service to the body of Christ extends beyond counseling. He has served as an associate pastor, providing spiritual guidance and leadership within his church community. He also holds the position of Chaplain for the Pflugerville Fire Department and is actively involved with Christian Counselors of Texas, supporting fellow professionals in their faith-based counseling efforts.
· Master of Education, Counseling and Guidance, Southwest Texas State University, San Marcos, TX (May 1988)
· Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX (August 1980)
· Thirty-five years of experience in counseling and guidance
· Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and LPC Supervisor by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors
· National Board-Certified Counselor, Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor, National Board for Certified Counselors
· Chaplain for Pflugerville Fire Department and for Christian Counselors of Texas
Jaime Chapman, Practicum Student/Townsend Institute
My name is Jaime Chapman. I am a Practicum/Intern Student with the Townsend Institute at Concordia University, Irvine. I have completed all of my academic courses, and I am excited to be completing my year-long internship.
I am completing my Master’s in Mental Health Counseling. My Bachelor of Arts is in Creative Writing through San Francisco State University, California.
I was created to be a soul healer. With my giftings of empathy, compassion, and discernment, combined with walking intimately with Jesus through significant losses, heartbreaks, and storms, I am honored to partner with you on your own healing journey.
I use an integrated approach, and I plan to specialize in trauma-informed therapies, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) , and a variety of Creative Arts therapies.
Personally, I have lived in Austin for 20 years and I love it! I am a single mom of 14-year-old twins, who also happen to be my two favorite humans. I am an artist and a writer. I love hiking and being outside in nature. I also am pretty fearless and love going on adventures around the world.
Brooke Niemietz, LPC-A, supervised by Ashley Buckmore, LPC-S
Brooke received her Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor with a special focus in human sexuality, somatic- and attachment-based treatments, and lifespan studies. She has worked with children, adolescents, adults. She also has experience helping individuals as well as children and their families with Anxiety and Stress, Autism Spectrum Disorder, effects of Divorce, Life Transitions, and Trauma, and Self-Esteem.
Brooke strives to create a safe and supportive space for clients to express themselves and believes that people of all ages are worthy of being authentically known, just as we are all fully known and loved by God (Psalm 139:1). She knows firsthand how play and humor are not only inseparable parts of our humanity but also powerful expressions for reviving the heavy spirit.
Brooke’s therapy approach stems from a Person-Centered and Cognitive-Behavioral lens, and combines elements of solution-focused, sand tray, and play therapy modalities. These techniques are thoughtfully selected as a way to communicate with the child in their natural language (play) while teaching new ways of behaving and thinking. Brooke enjoys collaborating with adults in therapy to provide encouragement and therapeutic structure tailored uniquely to each person’s circumstances. It is an honor to be a witness to your life story!
Shalanda Tookes Wilder, LPC-A, supervised by Patricia A. Oeswein, LPC-S
As a seasoned therapist whose background is a unique blend of marriage & family therapy and employee development, I have worked with individuals who need help managing issues like anxiety, substance use, workplace stress, relationships, and life transitions since 2007. Individuals experiencing transitions, along with the accompanying stress and anxiety, are taught coping skills while also exploring personal strengths and interests. Clients often include military family members, substance users, new or pregnant mothers (perinatal), and those dealing with career transitions.
I graduated from Amridge University (formerly Southern Christian University) with a dual Master's in Marriage & Family Therapy and Professional Counseling and am currently pursuing my doctorate in Grief Counseling with a Clinical Psychology specialization. I typically use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and motivational interviewing, as many people have a lot of self-doubt and defeating thoughts that keep them from living a fulfilling life.
We will collaborate to draw out an individualized plan to identify goals, your strengths, and any blocks in thinking that may be hindering progress. Distractions steal our time day after day, so I also enjoy working with people on their productivity and time management, earning me the title Queen of Time Management. Using a strengths based and person-centered approach has helped clients find peace and purpose while also developing coping skills for use outside of sessions.
After 24 wonderful years as a military spouse, my husband and I embrace the joys of military retirement by continuing to travel with our four wonderful children. We also serve in our local church as leaders for the marriage ministry and children's church. I love watching people succeed and hope to work with you either individually or in group therapy as we work to keep you moving forward in whatever you are going through.
Laura Yates, Administrative Assistant
Laura provides administrative support for the Parkway Counseling Center. She has held administrative roles for several years in nonprofit and for-profit environments, including a medical office. She has also helped coordinate programs through The University of Texas at Austin and volunteered in various faith-based and mental health-related organizations. Laura holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Mary-Hardin Baylor.
In her spare time, Laura enjoys reading, playing with her cat, cooking, and being out in nature.