Maranda has been with Waterloo since November of 2020. Earlier that year, she earned her Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology degree in 2016 from Texas Tech University. She is currently a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate in the State of Texas.

Maranda’s biggest passion for therapy is that it is a means to pour more love and empathy into a world that is sometimes lacking those things.

Her current specialty interests are in Grief/Bereavement, LGBTQIA+ issues, and issues surrounding clients who have been newly diagnosed with HIV, Pet Loss, Depression/Anxiety, Relationship Issues, Stress/Coping Skills, Parenting, Life Transitions, and College Counseling. She is trained in the Gottman Method for couples counseling.

She utilizes techniques from Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, and Gestalt Therapy, however her foundational approach is rooted in Choice Theory/Reality Therapy. She helps clients meet their wants and needs by examining their past choices and behaviors to then empower them to make new choices and exhibit new behaviors that are more meaningful and fulfilling.

Maranda believes that the most effective tool in therapy is a strong therapeutic relationship between the counselor and the client(s). With that said, she strives to create a client-centered environment using congruence, empathy, and unconditional positive regard for those that sit in front of her.

Maranda is proud of the growth she has made as a professional counselor since graduation and is also equally proud of her personal growth and achievements, such as recently getting married and starting a family.

In her spare time, she loves spending time with her 6 pets (3 dogs and 3 cats who may make the occasional appearance in virtual sessions). She also enjoys hiking, live music, thrift shopping, cooking/baking, fishing, and spending time with her family.