Janika Williams, M.Ed., LPC
I didn't come into this field by accident. I became the therapist I once needed.
I know what it's like to look like you have it all together while quietly carrying more than anyone can see. To keep showing up, keep performing, and keep taking care of everyone else, while wondering when it's your turn.
I founded Poplar Belief because too many quiet stories were going untold. I work with the people most likely to say they're "fine": the ones holding it together for everyone else, the ones whose nervous systems are doing more than anyone notices.
Before private practice, I spent about a decade in public schools as a school counselor. I sat with kids and families through grief, family changes, and crises, and with parents who loved their children and didn't know how to help. Those years taught me that real change happens when people feel safe enough to be honest.
Today, my work goes beyond traditional talk therapy. I'm trained in EMDR, and I use SSP listening therapy, sand tray, and play-based approaches, so we can work with your body and your story, not just your thoughts. For clients who want it, I also integrate Christian faith into our work. I'm a graduate of the University of St. Thomas counseling program and a member of the Houston Counseling Association.
Here's what you can expect from me: honesty without judgment, a pace that fits you, and goals we set together. We'll get clear on what's actually happening, and then do the steady work of building something different from the inside.
If you're reading this and feel like you should already have it figured out, you don't. You can just come as you are.
I look forward to working with you.
