Latechia Hester, LCMHC, LCPC

Latechia Hester is a licensed counselor with 24 years of experience who began her career in 2001 working directly with at-risk male youths and young adults in group home settings. She supported homeless young men and their families in areas such as family reunification, substance abuse, LGBTQ+ concerns, job readiness, life skills, and independent living. From that early work she transitioned into the substance abuse field, providing services to DUI offenders, court-mandated anger management clients, and acting as an interventionist for people and families dealing with addiction and codependency.

She returned to school to earn a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and worked in an outpatient hospital clinic with people facing depression, suicidal thoughts, grief and loss, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety, PTSD, and co-occurring diagnoses. Later she completed a second master’s degree in School Counseling and gained experience supporting students in inner-city schools with body image concerns, self-harm, substance use, LGBTQ+ issues, ADHD and ADD, OCD, neighborhood trauma, and histories of sexual, emotional, or physical abuse.

Latechia holds LCMHC and LCPC credentials, which indicate licensure as a clinical counselor. Her primary therapeutic orientations include cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and solution-focused therapy, and she emphasizes meeting each person where they are to build a strong therapeutic alliance. She frames counseling as a process of transformation and aims to uplift, empower, teach, and motivate clients as they work toward healthier, more satisfying lives.

Integrating evidence-based approaches into online care

Latechia brings several practical, evidence-informed methods to online therapy. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps clients identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors - it is often used for anxiety, depression, stress, and many day-to-day coping challenges. Motivational Interviewing is a collaborative, goal-oriented style that helps people find their own reasons and motivation to make changes, which is especially useful for addictions, ambivalence about treatment, and behavior change. Solution-Focused Therapy emphasizes practical steps and strengths to build forward momentum - it is helpful for clients who want focused, goal-directed work on specific problems.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic work. Latechia collaborates with each person to identify which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences, and she adapts techniques from different orientations to create a personalized plan. This collaborative process makes it easier to try approaches and adjust as progress is made.

Online therapy with Latechia offers flexible options - video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging - so clients can choose formats that fit their schedules and comfort levels. These options increase accessibility for people managing busy lives, caregiving responsibilities, or geographic constraints, while allowing therapists and clients to focus on practical, effective progress.