Gladney Counselors

Kristin Porter, LCSW-S received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Samford University and her graduate degree in Social Work from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.  She has 20 years of experience in the adoption field, working with birth parents, adoptive parents, and adoptees.  She is certified in Trust Based Relational Intervention TBRI® through Texas Christian University and is currently working toward her Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy certification. She has a passion for working with children who have experienced trauma.  Her goal to provide a safe and trusting environment for children and their families to heal.  In her spare time, Kristin enjoys reading, DIY projects, and spending time with her family.

Caitlyn Ussery, LCSW, began her social work career in 2013 serving unaccompanied refugee minors and immigrant children and the foster parents who cared for them. Caitlyn is certified in Trust Based Relational Intervention TBRI® through Texas Christian University and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. She is also a certified Healing, Attachment, Loving Outreach (HALO) therapist and a Making Sense of Your Worth (MSOYW) facilitator. She is currently working toward her Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and is EMDR trained by an EMDRIA approved training. She received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Dallas Baptist University and her graduate degree in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington. Caitlyn specializes in providing counseling services for children and families in the foster care/adoption community. She strives to provide a safe, encouraging, and respectful environment where those committed to therapy and change can find solutions. Her hope for each person is to have healthier, more connected relationships with others. Caitlyn enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and a good cup of coffee.  

Kati Silcox, LPC. Kati's passion for working in the adoption field began when she started working as a birth parent caseworker at Gladney in 2015.  Since that time, she left Gladney to pursue her License in Professional Counseling.  After gaining some experience by working with children and families in a private practice setting for 5 years, Kati returned to Gladney to focus on providing therapy to those affected by adoption and foster care. Kati is trained in Play Therapy and is an EMDR trained by an EMDRIA approved training.  She is also currently being trained in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and is working on her certification for Safe and Sound Protocol. She received her undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Sociology from Dallas Baptist University, along with her Master's degree in Counseling.  Kati's goal is to provide children and their caregivers a safe place to talk about their feelings and learn more about their emotions. Her hope is to provide services that help client's heal emotionally inside and outside of their therapy sessions. 

Kara Leon, LMSW, Supervised by Kristin Porter, LCSW-S, received her undergraduate and master's degrees from Stephen F. Austin State University. She has worked within the foster care system for over five years with foster children and foster/adoptive parents, with the past one and a half years working with Gladney’s New Beginnings program. She has received her Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy certification and is EMDR trained by an EMDRIA approved training. Her goal is to provide a judgement free and safe environment for people to express their emotions. Kara enjoys spending time with her family, reading, napping, and watching the newest action movies. 

Bill Porter, MA, LPC-S has 20 years of experience in providing counseling, support and advocacy to at-risk children, youth, and families. Bill joined the Gladney Family in 2013 and he spends most of his time leading his team in providing “best practices” to adoptees, birth families and adoptive families. Bill has been trained through the Trust-based Relational Intervention TBRI® at Texas Christian University and has provided clinical supervision and consultation in evidenced based programming. Bill received his Bachelors of Arts in Religion from Southern Nazarene University and his Masters of Education in Counseling from North Texas University. 

Heather Rogers, LPC has 16 years of experience in the adoption field and has worked closely with expectant mothers, birth parents, adoptive families, and adoptees.  She has 4 years of experience working with adolescents in the Texas foster care system, specifically in a residential setting.  Heather is passionate about helping her clients navigate through their grief, loss, and trauma.  She is a TBRI® practitioner and is currently obtaining her certification in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.   Heather obtained her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Texas Christian University and her masters degree in Counseling from Texas Wesleyan University.  
 
Dr. Ivy Byun started working in the field of adoption in 2007. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and music, master’s degree in marriage and family therapy and mental health counseling, and doctorate in counselor education and supervision. While she has had experience in private practice counseling, social work, and higher education, she is continually drawn to working with individuals, couples, and families in the adoption community. Her hope is to walk alongside people to help them increase self-awareness, develop skills to manage challenges, strengthen relationships, find a greater sense of meaning and purpose, and live meaningful, authentic, abundant lives.