Ryan Connor, Clinical Intern

Supervised by Samar Ansari, LPC & Mallory Striesfeld, LPC-S, LMFT-Associate

*ACCEPTING CLIENTS beginning 8/26/2025 at our Memorial office

Hello! My name is Ryan and I’m a Clinical Intern here at Healing Pathways of Houston. My counseling training began in 2023 at Sam Houston State University, where I am currently studying to obtain an M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a certification in Play Therapy. I’ve been fortunate to work with children, teens, and adults as part of my program and have enjoyed every minute. I’ve been able to tackle a range of issues with clients, such as life transitions, past trauma, career concerns, and identity development.

I favor a humanistic gestalt/existential approach that focuses on bringing greater awareness to aspects of yourself and your life that may be interfering with your goals. In our time together I will strive to create a judgement-free, empathetic space to foster a strong relationship, where you feel respected and comfortable in sharing your thoughts and feelings with me.

When working with younger adolescents and children, I typically implement a mix of non-directive and “outside of the box” techniques that allow for children to lead the sessions as they see fit, as well as offer creative, engaging activities intended to address different concerns depending on their unique needs. Caregivers, of course, play a major role in treatment as well, and I make a point to involve them as often as is appropriate. Prior to pursuing a career in counseling, I graduated from Texas State University with a B.S. in Biochemistry and worked in drug manufacturing for a short time.

In my free time I like to read, play the piano (poorly), play dungeons and dragons, and spend time outside with my dog.

If you’d like to schedule a free 15-minute consultation with me, I’d love to meet you and learn more about your reason for seeking counseling. I hope to hear from you soon!