ANXIETY THERAPIST HOUSTON, TX
Decide for yourself what comes next.
Therapy for women untangling anxiety, guilt, and complex mother-daughter dynamics—with clarity, cultural nuance, and care. Come in person in Houston, or meet online anywhere in Texas or California.
If it feels like too much, it’s because it is…
It’s a lot, right?
The pressure to keep the peace. The guilt when you don’t. The way even a five-minute call can throw off your whole day. And you’ve been managing it — for years.
Maybe you’ve even convinced yourself it’s not THAT bad. Other people have it worse. She didn’t mean to. You should be “over it” by now.
But deep down, you know this isn’t just anxiety. It’s the weight of a relationship that never gave you space to be fully yourself.
You’re not trying to blow up your whole life—you just want to feel less anxious and more like you.
Dream it
Dream it
COMPLEX FEELINGS WELCOME
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COMPLEX FEELINGS WELCOME ⚬
Kissu Taffere, LCSW
Most women I see are carrying complex, layered relationships with their mothers. They’ve learned how to stay connected (even when it hurts) and how to hide what it costs them. We start by telling the truth about that.
My approach is grounded in relational psychodynamic work. That means we look at what shaped you — not to blame anyone, but to understand what you’ve been carrying and why. When it fits, I also draw from EFT and somatic practices to support deeper clarity and presence.
As a first-generation Ethiopian-born Eritrean American from a large family, I bring a lot of cultural context into the room. I know what it means to navigate layers (roles, languages, expectations) and how much can go unspoken in the name of loyalty or survival. If your story doesn’t fit neatly into categories, you’re in the right place.
Before private practice, I spent a decade in the humanitarian field — in refugee camps, global institutions, and everything in between. It taught me how to sit with grief, contradiction, and complexity without needing to rush past it.
Outside of sessions, I write about hard things and draw silly things. I’ve also done improv, which probably tells you most of what you need to know: I take this work seriously. I don’t take myself too seriously.
Ready to go deeper?
Adult Daughter Therapy
$200—50 min
For women who are tired of carrying guilt, anxiety, and pressure alone — and want a space to figure out what actually feels right for them.
Mother-Daughter Therapy
(coming soon)
For mothers and adult daughters who are ready to face the hard stuff together — with honesty, care, and space to move at your own pace.
How it works
Step 01
Book a free 15-minute phone consultation to see if we’re a good fit.
Step 02
If it feels right, we’ll schedule your first session and I’ll send the intake forms.
Step 03
From there, we begin — at your pace, with care and clarity.
If you feel the pull, let’s talk.
You don’t need to have all the words yet. If something in you is ready to slow down, get clear, and move differently — we can start there. The first step is a free 15-minute call to see if it feels like a good fit.
FAQ
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I’m a private-pay provider in California and take limited insurance plans in Texas. If you have out-of-network benefits in either state, I use a service called Thrizer that makes reimbursement easier — often you’ll only pay your copay upfront.
If you're not using insurance, you have the right to a Good Faith Estimate of what your therapy sessions will cost — before you start or anytime during care. If a bill is ever $400 or more above that estimate, you can dispute it. To learn more about your rights, just ask — or click here.
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It depends on what you’re coming in with. Some people start to feel relief or clarity after just a few months. Others choose to stay longer, especially if we’re working through long-standing patterns. We’ll check in regularly to make sure it still feels helpful.
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Not at all. Some of my clients are estranged or have very limited contact. This work is still about you — your clarity, your boundaries, your healing — regardless of what’s happening externally.
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My practice centers adult daughters and their relationships with their mothers. But if you’re a mother — or even a son — navigating distance, guilt, or emotional strain that feels familiar to what I’ve described here, you’re welcome to reach out. If the fit feels right, we can talk about working together. And if not, I’ll help point you toward someone who might be a better match.
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If you’re dealing with a painful or layered relationship with your mom — especially if it’s impacting how you feel in other parts of your life — we might be a good fit. I work with people who are open to relational work and want more than symptom management. If you're in active crisis or looking for short-term support, I’ll help you find someone else who can meet that need.
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Not only. We can talk about anything you’re navigating — anxiety, boundaries, self-doubt, big changes. That said, if you’re drawn to this work, your relationship with your mom (past or present) might be part of the picture. It often connects to how you relate to others, care for yourself, or hold emotion — and we can explore that together.
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◦ Licensed Clinical Social Worker — Texas (#112859) and California (#120785)
◦ Master of Social Work — University of Texas at Austin, 2014
◦ Intensive training in psychodynamic therapy, trauma, intergenerational family work
◦ Ongoing consultation and education in relational and culturally-responsive care
◦ Steering committee member and faculty, Coalition for Clinical Social Work, San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis, 2023-2025
◦ Member, California Association of Marriage & Family Therapists (CAMFT), 2023-current -
These are just some of the tools I might bring in, depending on what you need.
EFT (Emotionally Focused Therapy) helps us tune into what’s happening underneath the surface—especially in relationships.
Relational Psychodynamic Therapy looks at how past relationships shape current patterns, helping you understand and shift what’s no longer working.
Somatic practices bring the body into the room, gently helping you notice physical cues and access deeper awareness.None of this is one-size-fits-all. I’ll explain things as we go, and we’ll use what actually feels supportive for you.