Yarixza Rowser, MS

Yarixza Rowser earned her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Master of Science in Victim Services Management from Sam Houston State University and is currently completing her Master of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Lamar University. She is also a member of the Texas Counseling Association. Her background includes crisis intervention, victim advocacy, child and family services, education, foster care, juvenile justice, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, community mental health, MHMR services, and nonprofit work focused on community outreach and increasing access to care. She has worked extensively with adjudicated youth, adults involved in the criminal justice system, children and families involved with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, and individuals experiencing crisis, including suicidal thoughts. She has extensive experience in crisis care, de-escalation strategies, and high-conflict situations. Her training includes Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM), which supports her work in safety-focused care. As a former educator and previous Special Education Department Chair with Austin Independent School District, she understands the emotional, behavioral, and family needs that affect children, adolescents, and adults.

Yarixza’s counseling style is genuine, down-to-earth, and collaborative. She knows that reaching out for help can feel uncomfortable, overwhelming, or even discouraging at times. Her goal is to create a space where clients do not have to carry everything alone. She believes meaningful change begins when people feel accepted, challenged in supportive ways, and reminded that they are stronger and more capable than they may realize.
She uses an integrative, evidence-based approach tailored to each client’s needs, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, trauma-informed care, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Psychodrama, psychoeducation, group therapy, and Gottman-informed work. Her approach is grounded in an understanding of the neurobiology of trauma and the ways trauma can affect emotions, behavior, relationships, and daily life. She frequently works with clients experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma-related concerns, grief, anger, stress and burnout, relationship concerns, high-conflict family dynamics, heartbreak, divorce, co-parenting challenges, conflict resolution difficulties, life transitions, identity and self-worth concerns, and emotional regulation challenges.

Yarixza enjoys working with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. She has a special interest in working with families raising children with developmental, behavioral, or learning differences, as well as adolescents and adults involved in the criminal justice system, including adjudicated youth, individuals facing probation or legal challenges, and adults navigating reentry after incarceration. She also works with first responders, teachers, and school staff experiencing workplace stress, burnout, compassion fatigue, and the demands of helping professions. She works with individuals, couples, and families navigating concerns related to intimacy, connection, postpartum changes, parenting, single parenthood, and intimate partner violence. Growing up in a military family gave her a deep appreciation for the sacrifices made by service members and their loved ones, and she is passionate about supporting military members, veterans, and their families.

Outside of counseling, Yarixza enjoys spending time in nature, traveling, painting, listening to music, and making memories with her two children and dogs. She feels honored to walk alongside clients as they move toward healing, hope, and meaningful change.