Allen Johnson
Welcome! I’m Allen, a professional counselor, and I’m glad you’re here. Reaching out for help takes courage, and my job is to make that step feel as comfortable as possible. I work with men, couples, and individuals who want to strengthen their relationships, and I have a growing passion for helping adults navigate ADHD and anxiety. Whether you’re feeling stuck in your marriage, overwhelmed by worry, or frustrated by a mind that won’t slow down, you don’t have to figure it out alone.
Whether you’re feeling stuck in your marriage, overwhelmed by worry, or frustrated by a mind that won’t slow down, you don’t have to figure it out alone. Let’s build a plan that works for you.
I hold a Master’s in Professional Counseling from Amberton University, and before becoming a counselor, I spent years teaching in Garland ISD. I’ve been married to my wife for over 40 years, and I bring that real-life perspective into my work. My approach is practical, honest, and focused on helping you make real progress. If faith is important to you, I’m glad to weave faith-based principles into our work together. If not, we’ll keep our focus right where you want it. When you’re ready to take the next step, schedule a first session. I’d love to help.
First session
Our first session together will be spent building trust and rapport. It is important for you to know and trust me. I want to know about what it is that brings you in to want to speak with me. What is it that you are dealing with? Only after I understand that can you begin the journey to having a better life.
Strengths
I don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach to therapy. I draw from several methods to fit what works best for you. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy gives us practical tools to work through unhelpful thought patterns. Person-Centered Therapy gives you a supportive, non-judgmental space to be heard. Existential Therapy helps us explore meaning, purpose, and life’s bigger questions. My years as a teacher gave me patience and a front-row seat to how people learn, grow, and change over time. I’m comfortable meeting you where you are, explaining things in plain language, and giving you tools you can use right away, not just insights. I work to create a space where you feel safe and secure, but also comfortable enough to be open and vulnerable. From our first session, we’ll work together to turn your goals into reality, one step at a time. And here’s the truth: the day you fire me is a day to celebrate. When you tell me you don’t need me anymore because you’ve achieved what you came for, that’s a win for both of us.
Ideal clients
I have a passion for marriage. I do not think that very many people understand what it means to love someone. I can tell you that I love my wife, I love football (college and pro) and I love Blue Bell ice cream. Three times I used the same word, love but with very different meanings. I have written a paper to assist couples with understanding what love is and how to understand different nuances of love. I use communication techniques, the 5 Love Languages and attachment styles in developing a deeper understanding of the relationship and making marriages stronger. I have worked with couples and individuals in developing techniques and understanding of the marriage relationship. I have individuals tell me that we have improved and deepened their relationships. These individuals did not initially come to me for marriage counseling but while working on other issues, improvements in their marriage occurred. I have worked with men on various issues. Being a man in today's world can be difficult and confusing. ADHD can be very frustrating. While everyone can self-sabotage, people with ADHD can win gold medals with doing it. Self-sabotaging can be a defense mechanism that protects us from failure. I say failure because if we do not try then we did not fail. Success can also be as scary as failing. Success can create higher expectations. Whether we self-sabotage to protect ourselves from failure or success, they both hold us back.
Origin story
Marriage became my passion. When I was nineteen, I returned to church on my own, and I was struck by the relationship my pastor had with his wife. He was kind, caring, thoughtful, and considerate of her, a world apart from what I had grown up around. I had the chance to watch their marriage for five years, and eventually he performed my own wedding ceremony. That example showed me what a healthy relationship can look like, and it changed how I think about love, respect, and commitment. My wife and I have built a strong partnership over more than 40 years. Like any couple, we’ve faced our own speed bumps along the way, and we know firsthand what it takes to do the work and come out stronger. That’s what drew me to counseling. I want to help others build relationships they can be proud of, whether I’m working with a couple together or one person who wants to grow. I also love working with men, who often carry a lot and rarely get the chance to talk about it.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Often our feelings run ahead of our decisions, if we have made any decisions. Learning to take control by making decisions can be a great help in controlling our emotions or minimizing the affect that feelings can have on our daily life.
Person-centered (Rogerian)
I believe that you play an important role in overcoming the difficulties that you are dealing with. Your thoughts, feelings and ideas all impact your ability to deal with the difficulties in life. Together, we will develop responses, that fit you to respond to the difficulties that you are facing.
Existential
Focusing on the hear and now. The ability to stay in today and not get ahead of yourself is so important. This is especially true when dealing with anxiety and depression.
Location
Virtual sessions