Meet the Houston Team Behind Four Trauma Approaches, One Practice

Guy Bender brings over 16 years of experience in the mental health field to his role as Practice Owner and Clinical Director of Connect Clinical Services. With a commitment to clinical excellence, Guy oversees the delivery of trauma-focused care, ensuring that clients benefit from evidence-based therapeutic approaches drawn from several modalities. His extensive background as a trauma specialist and leader in program development equips him to guide a team of compassionate and highly skilled clinicians in providing exceptional care.

Guy began his career as a trauma specialist at a premier treatment center in Arizona, where he recognized that many mental health challenges—such as anxiety, depression, addiction, and substance abuse—are rooted in physical and emotional trauma. This realization shaped his professional focus, leading him to pursue advanced training in trauma-focused modalities, including EMDR, Brainspotting, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Neurofeedback.

Guy has specialized training in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), working with luminaries such as Richard Schwartz, founder of Internal Family Systems, and Peter Levine, originator of Somatic Experiencing. Additionally, as a trained Neurofeedback practitioner, he remains passionate about the neuroscience and brain-body connection, integrating these insights into the practice’s therapeutic philosophy.

Guy’s leadership experience extends beyond clinical care. He has served in key roles, including Director of Operations and Clinical Director at Heights Treatment in Houston, TX, where he was instrumental in designing and implementing a comprehensive outpatient program. At Connect Clinical Services, Guy combines his clinical expertise with his leadership acumen to create a practice environment that prioritizes innovation, collaboration, and individualized care. Under Guy’s leadership, Connect Clinical Services is committed to helping clients work through trauma and build fuller lives, offering approaches that work with trauma at its root while supporting resilience and well-being.

Shannon is a licensed clinical social worker and is licensed in Chemical Dependency Counseling. Shannon also holds a certification as a clinical social worker supervisor. Shannon has over 30 years of experience in the mental health field, working in various settings, including research, detox, residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and private practice.

Shannon has specialized training in trauma-informed yoga, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). She also uses strengths-based, client-centered, relational, systems theory, Motivational Interviewing (MI), Harm reduction, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Choices Theory. Shannon is versed in various recovery programs, including SMART, Refuge, and 12-step.

Shannon brings a rich diversity of working with adolescents, adults, couples, and families to her therapy practice. Shannon has a high aptitude for cultural sensitivity and has expertise working with HIV, GLBTQI, and other religious or secular backgrounds and various alternative community circles.

Marina is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Supervisor (LMFT-S), Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor, Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT), and Certified Multiple Addiction Therapist (CMAT-Tech) with over ten years’ experience practicing in Houston. She has experience in various settings including residential and outpatient care, and in her previous position, developed and managed the Recovery Intensive Outpatient Program at The Menninger Clinic.

Marina specializes in the treatment of multiple addictions including substance misuse, as well as behavioral addictions such as problematic sex, relationships, pornography, and technology use. Marina views mental health through a family systems lens and understands the challenges partners and family members feel when a loved one is struggling.

Marina employs evidenced based therapies including Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to reduce distress for her clients and build skills for daily life. She is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) and is a member of the International Institute for Trauma & Addiction Professionals (IITAP).

Austin is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC), and a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT) with over 10 years of specialization in addictions and problematic addictive behaviors.

Austin uses structured assessments to build a comprehensive clinical picture before treatment begins. The Sexual Dependency Inventory (SDI 4.0) measures the breadth and impact of sexual addiction across life domains such as relationships, emotional well-being, and financial health. The Post-Traumatic Stress Index (PTSI-R) surfaces co-occurring post-traumatic stress symptoms and past trauma that often sit underneath addictive patterns. The Sexual Digital Media Inventory (SDMI) maps the online platforms, media types, and usage patterns tied to compulsive sexual behavior, which helps pinpoint high-risk situations and triggers. The Money and Work Adaptive Styles Index (MAWASI) examines work styles, financial stress, and adaptive patterns that can intersect with compulsive behavior or act as secondary risk factors. Austin uses these tools to help clients set clear boundaries, address co-occurring mental health concerns, rebuild trust in their relationships, and develop targeted relapse prevention strategies.

His approach is trauma-informed, compassionate, and clinically grounded. It looks past the behavior itself to the emotional, relational, and developmental factors that may be driving it.

Vanessa is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Nationally Certified Counselor. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition and Foods from the University of Houston and a Masters of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Houston – Clear Lake. Her clinical experience includes individual therapy, group therapy, and neurofeedback in residential, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient settings.

Vanessa utilizes Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Solution-Focused therapy to help clients struggling with challenges such as trauma, self-esteem, PTSD, disordered eating, substance abuse, grief, depression, anxiety, and boundary issues.

Vanessa practices from a multicultural perspective in which she emphasizes the client’s personal values and culture within the counseling process. She believes it takes courage to prioritize mental health, so it is important to her that clients feel safe, heard, and understood.

Sarah McGinnis is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Texas. She holds a Master of Science from the University of Houston and has experience working in various settings, including partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and private practice.

Sarah specializes in Narrative Therapy, a treatment modality based on the premise that life can be viewed as a story with an ending not yet written. She is also trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Somatic Experiencing and focuses on supporting clients as they work through physical, sexual, and relational traumas.

Sarah is known for her warm, caring nature that creates an atmosphere of unconditional acceptance which is tempered by her ability to challenge her clients for optimal growth.

Tyler Lemmons is a Licensed Master Social Worker who earned her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work. She brings experience in grief support, trauma-informed care, and somatic practices to her clinical work. Tyler is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and is passionate about creating peaceful, attuned, and nonjudgmental spaces for clients to safely explore their inner world.

Tyler approaches therapy through a lens of clinical and cultural humility, believing in her clients’ inherent wisdom, resilience, and capacity for change. She integrates grounding techniques, mindfulness, and a warm, relational approach to create safe, collaborative spaces where clients can process pain and build inner resilience.

Tyler has worked extensively with underserved children, teens, and adults, bringing a systems-based lens to her work. She has a special interest in supporting clients who are processing religious trauma, navigating grief, and exploring the impact of early life experiences and family dynamics.

Ryan is a Licensed Master Social Worker, earning his BA in Philosophy and Master’s in Social Work at The University of Houston. Ryan has worked in inpatient, outpatient, and community treatment settings, helping clients across all stages of their growth process. He has worked with clients in acute crises around substance use, suicidality, depression, anxiety, adjustment disorders, and psychosis.

Ryan does most of his work through a psychodynamic lens, helping clients get clear on their own motivations. If you’re someone who has all the coping tools, every reason to make a change, but still find yourself stuck or repeating old patterns, Ryan’s deliberate approach may be the nudge to get you where you want to go.

Ryan worked as a Milieu Manager for The Prevention and Recovery Center, as a Clinical Intern at The Council on Recovery, and currently works as an Addictions Counselor at The Menninger Clinic.

Jamie is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate (LMFT-A) who specializes in working with couples and families, offering a warm, collaborative space to slow down and reflect on the patterns that shape our relationships. Through the lens of trauma informed, evidence based approaches including Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Narrative Therapy Jamie helps clients navigate conflict, repair ruptures, and deepen connections. She believes that lasting change within a partnership or family system begins with a willingness to look inward – to understand our own roles, protective patterns, and emotions in the dynamics we find ourselves in. Through introspection and accountability, we can begin to approach one another with greater empathy, honesty, and compassion.

With more than 10 years of experience working with neurodivergent individuals and their families, Jamie brings a deep appreciation for the complexity of family systems and the unique ways each person experiences the world. She hopes to help couples and families better understand one another, create space for vulnerability and repair, and build relationships rooted in deeper connection and care.

Megan Tronzo is a Licensed Professional Counselor who provides compassionate, client-centered therapy for individuals and families seeking support, clarity, and meaningful change. She believes that every person deserves to feel seen, heard, and supported, and she works collaboratively with clients to create a safe space where growth and change can unfold.

Megan specializes in working with trauma, mood disorders, and relational challenges. Her therapeutic approach is trauma-informed and draws from several evidence-based modalities including EMDR, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), somatic approaches, and family systems work. She is currently completing advanced training in Somatic Experiencing to further support clients in understanding and working with the ways trauma can live in the body.

Throughout her career, Megan has worked in intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization treatment settings, including world-renowned treatment centers Sierra Tucson and The Menninger Clinic, where she has helped individuals navigate complex emotional experiences, recover from trauma, and rebuild a sense of stability and connection. She has extensive experience providing individual, family, and group therapy and developing personalized treatment plans tailored to each client’s unique needs.

Megan approaches therapy with warmth, curiosity, and deep respect for each client’s story. She is passionate about helping clients develop greater self-understanding, strengthen relationships, and cultivate the resilience needed to move forward with confidence and hope.

Stephanie Bender brings over 18 years of experience as a case manager in various professional settings to her role as Director of Neurofeedback and Counseling Intern at Connect Clinical Services. She takes a neuro-affirming, trauma-informed approach to care, recognizing that every person’s brain, experiences, and strengths are unique.

In her counseling work, Stephanie integrates training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and evidence-based, neuro-affirming approaches to supporting Autistic individuals and individuals with ADHD. She is passionate about helping neurodivergent clients better understand themselves, their nervous systems, and the unique ways they experience and interact with the world.

As Director of Neurofeedback, Stephanie specializes in qEEG brain mapping and individualized neurofeedback protocols, providing data-informed care that complements psychotherapy and supports each client’s unique goals and overall well-being.

As the Client Care Coordinator at Connect Clinical Services, Dorothy is here to ensure that every aspect of your experience is as smooth and supportive as possible. From your initial inquiry to scheduling appointments and answering any questions you may have, she is dedicated to helping you feel comfortable and well-cared-for throughout your journey.

Dorothy takes pride in helping connect individuals with the right therapist and resources to meet their needs. She understands that reaching out for support is a big step, and her goal is to make that process seamless and welcoming. Whether you need assistance with scheduling, navigating insurance, or learning more about our therapy services, Dorothy is here to guide you every step of the way.