Sandra McQuinn, LPC

Please note she is not taking any new clients at this time.

Sandra McQuinn is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Texas who brings a varied professional background and a compassionate, practical approach to therapy. She combines hands-on experience from earlier careers as a horse trainer and educator with clinical training in counseling to support people through stress, anxiety, trauma, depression, addiction, and life transitions. Sandra explains LPC as a licensed counselor who has completed graduate-level training and meets state requirements to provide mental health services.

Her path into counseling included a bachelor’s degree in education, work as a special education and English teacher, and a master’s degree in counseling. That foundation shaped a belief that each person is the author of their own story and can create meaningful change. Outside of work she is a wife to a disabled Coast Guard veteran and a mom to a rescued dachshund named Nathan, which informs her appreciation for family systems and pet-assisted healing.

Sandra’s clinical roles have spanned school counseling, prison and rehab settings, suboxone clinics, crisis response, workforce counseling, support for homeless veterans, and services for families involved with foster care. She has taught Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) classes and practices a flexible, client-centered method, drawing from CBT, DBT, mindfulness techniques, and motivational interviewing to tailor care to each person’s needs.

Approaches That Guide Online Care

Sandra frequently uses Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) when working with clients. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on creating a respectful, nonjudgmental space where the therapist follows the client's lead and supports their personal goals - it is especially helpful for people seeking greater self-understanding and confidence. CBT teaches practical skills to identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, which is effective for issues like anxiety, depression, and stress. DBT emphasizes emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness, offering tools for managing intense emotions and improving relationships.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Sandra works with each person to assess needs, preferences, and goals, and adapts techniques over time so therapy remains relevant and effective. She aims to match methods to the individual rather than applying a one-size-fits-all model.

Online therapy in her practice includes video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, providing flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These options make it easier to continue care during life transitions, balance work and family demands, and access support from home while working with licensed professionals and experienced therapists.