FBISD Mental Health Counselors

FBISD Mental Health Counselors provide support to all campuses in the district. 

Kara Hatfield is a Licensed Professional Counselor with over 10 years of clinical experience working with children, adolescents, young adults, and their families, while addressing an extensive range of concerns. Kara’s experience includes individual therapy, family therapy, group therapy, crisis intervention, and psychological assessment. Kara has worked in a variety of mental health settings including: residential treatment centers, hospital settings, school-based care, and outpatient care. Kara obtained a Master of Science from University of North Texas in Counseling Psychology. She enjoys implementing an eclectic and individualized approach in therapy to best meet each client’s needs. Kara values the importance of highlighting and exploring the unique strengths and resilience in each individual to help encourage hope, confidence, healing, and growth. She supports the Elkins and Ridge Point feeder patterns

 My name is Melissa Henderson, and I am the Mental Health Counselor (MHC) for the Austin and Kempner feeder patterns.  I am excited to support these campuses and the students, parents, and staff that are part of them! This is my third year working for FBISD and prior to that I worked in home base, outpatient, and school settings as a Therapist.  I have a Master’s degree in Clinical Counseling Psychology specializing in Children and Adolescent Therapy and am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) within Texas and Pennsylvania. As an MHC, I collaborate with School Counselors and work with students and families who need intensive, specific interventions. My referrals will come through the School Counselor and with parent permission; I am able to provide short-term counseling to students. Why do I do what I do?  I care about students hearts and want to hear their stories.  Working together, my hope is to help students edit their life stories and write new chapters in their books.  We will process their experiences and come up with tools and strategies for their “tool boxes” in order to cope with anxiety, stress, depression, or other mental health challenges that may be affecting them personally and their school success. Family-centered care is very important to me and I will work closely with the parent/caregiver to provide the most effective support for the student and his or her family. 

Jesse Moreno is the Mental Health Counselor for the Dulles, Travis, and Willowridge feeder patterns.  He attended the University of Houston – Clear Lake and earned his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology.  He obtained licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in 2008.  Jesse is a product of Fort Bend ISD attending Lakeview Elementary, Sugar Land Middle School, and graduated from Kempner High School in 1996.  Prior to working for Fort Bend ISD as a Mental Health Counselor in 2019, he worked for Family Services of Greater Houston, Houston ISD, and Fort Bend County Juvenile Probation.  In his spare time Jesse enjoys golfing, fishing, coaching baseball, and spending time with his wife, four sons, and daughter. 

Maritza Veliz is a bilingual (English/Spanish) Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor, certified as an Anger Resolution Therapist and Clinical Trauma Professional.  She graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and the University of Houston-Clear Lake with a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology. She spent 10 years working with adolescents at the Fort Bend County Juvenile Probation Department and has been a mental health counselor with Fort Bend ISD for two years. She supports the Bush and Hightower feeder patterns as well as the Spanish-speaking students in the district. Mrs. Veliz is passionate about trauma-informed care, facilitating student healing and growth, strengthening family relationships and working collaboratively with staff members and parents to provide support for students.  

Antwanette Weaver is a board-certified Licensed Professional Counselor. She is currently a Mental Health Counselor but has served in various roles during her career with Fort Bend Independent School District. Prior to becoming a Mental Health Counselor, she was the School Professional Counselor for Juan Seguin Elementary in Fort Bend ISD for nine years. Throughout this time, she also provided mental health services to individuals and families in the private sector, as well as those involved with Children’s Protective Services.  Antwanette holds a Master of Education degree in Counseling from the University of Houston-Victoria. She also holds a Bachelor in Interdisciplinary Studies degree from the University of Houston-Victoria. Moreover, she is a certified Professional School Counselor and certified Teacher. She has nearly 25 years of experience in Fort Bend ISD. In addition to her extensive career in Fort Bend ISD, she is also a graduate of Willowridge High School and has always been committed to giving back to the community that established her foundation. Her personal goal is to work with every client to reach optimal mental health while reaching their full potential.

Muriel Williams is the Mental Health Counselor (MHC) for the Hightower and Thurgood Marshall feeder patterns as well as Spanish-speaking students in the district. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) licensed to practice in Texas and the US Virgin Islands. She has a master’s degree in Counseling and of Divinity. This is her sixth year working in FBISD and 11th year in education. Prior to earning her LPC license, she worked in the Eating Recovery Center and Center for Discovery as an outpatient therapist with her internship being completed at The Menninger Clinic. Her goal as a counselor is to compassionately and skillfully help individuals process through the ebbs and flow of life while providing a safe, non-judgmental space to grow and heal. Muriel is passionate about the work that she does and finds joy helping individuals make connections and gain insight while working towards a hopeful future.

Invocare IMPACT Therapists

Invocare IMPACT supports the following campuses through the use of the VOCA Grant:

• Briargate Elementary
• Burton Elementary
• E.A. Jones Elementary
• Glover Elementary
• Goodman Elementary
• Heritage Rose Elementary
• Hunters Glen Elementary
• Quail Valley Elementary
• Quail Valley Middle
• Rosa Parks Elementary 

Sheryl Attilee is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) with the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) as well as a Certified Professional Life Coach. As a former US Army Officer, Sheryl is familiar with serving others with experience as an educator, counselor, and clinical therapist interacting with families, couples, children, women, men, elderly, veterans, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered (LGBT) of all cultures. She is dedicated to helping others improve their lives through education, insight, and change. As an at-risk youth herself, Sheryl’s great passion is helping children heal who have experienced a traumatic/stressful experience and help change maladaptive thinking thus maladaptive behavior. She believes everyone should have a safe and healing place to work through life's difficulties to include children. She also specializes in addictions, anxiety, anger management, trauma, crisis, stress, grief, depression, parenting, divorce, separation, weight loss counseling, group counseling, psychoeducation, PTSD, multicultural counseling, military separation, and life’s stressors. Sheryl has experience working in a hospital setting, private practice, case management, vocational and career setting, church, foster homes, and residential treatment centers.  

“I help my clients, who include children, adults and families, to restore their lives back to a better state of functioning. I do this by assisting them in having healthy perceptions of themselves and strengthen their relationships in order to be whole with a sense of security”.

Juan Rojas is the lead behavior analyst for Invo’s IMPACT program; a multi-disciplinary program that provides mental health counseling and behavioral support to at-risk youth in school and community settings across the country. Juan is a former U.S. Army combat medic, achieving the rank of Sergeant. Juan completed his B.A. in Psychology with a concentration in Behavior Analysis at Florida International University and obtained his M.A. in Professional Behavior Analysis at Florida Institute of Technology. Juan has worked in the field of Behavior Analysis since 2012, working in clinic, research-based, and applied settings (schools and in-home programs). Juan has provided behavior analytic services to clients ranging in age from toddlers to young adults. 

Clearhope Counseling & Wellness

Clearhope supports the following campuses through the VOCA Grant, private insurance, and Medicaid:

• Austin High
• Baines Middle 
• Bowie Middle
• Bush High
• Clements High
• Crockett Middle
• Dulles High
• Dulles Middle
• Elkins High
• Garcia Middle
• Hightower High
• Hodges Bend Middle
• Kempner High
• Lake Olympia Middle
• Marshall High
• McAuliffe Middle
• Missiouri City Middle
• Ridge Point High
• Sugar Land Middle
• Thornton Middle
• Travis High
• Willowridge High

Click here for therapist bios. 

Sugar Land Counseling Center

Sugar Land Counseling Center supports the following campuses through the use of private insurance:

• Austin Parkway Elementary
• First Colony Middle
• Fort Settlement Middle
• Sartartia Middle

Click here for therapist bios.