““Your best decision ever is the one you’re about to make. Right now.” ”
— Craig Groeschel, Divine Direction

The Purpose of a Licensed Professional Counselor

Riverstone Counseling is a place where you can find renewal, restoration, and transformation. Because honestly, life can be hard. Sometimes we need help navigating the ebb and flow of life’s changes. We need an independent voice speaking truth into our lives. Our goal is for you to find help – not just theories and ideas that sound good – but honest help that has been proven trustworthy to withstand the rough waters of life. Regardless of your struggle - depression, anxiety, marriage issues, anger management, addiction - Riverstone Counseling will provide confidential, safe, affordable therapy to assist you in your healing process. Our desire is to guide you to discover the skills necessary to move back into the normal rhythm of life – whatever that may look like for you and/or your family. The counseling practice is conveniently located just west of Interstate 35 on Chisholm Trail in Round Rock, convenient to Pflugerville, Georgetown, Cedar Park, Leander, Hutto, and surrounding communities.

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RENEWAL

 “an instance of resuming an activity or state after an interruption”

Getting started again can be tough. Interruptions happen in everyone’s life – it seems the river dries up at some point no matter what. We want Riverstone Counseling to provide you with a map – with directions – on how to resume life after an interruption. That might be a death of a loved one, the loss of a relationship, employment change, a new season of life – whatever has you feeling lost or emotionally dry, Riverstone Counseling can be a place of renewal. 

 

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RESTORATION

“the action of returning something to a former place or condition”

As licensed therapists, we want to help you begin your journey towards healing and wellness. Regardless of the struggle, we all have things in our past – or present – that keep us from experiencing the abundance in life that God intended. If you or your family are looking to restore relationships to a place of health, Riverstone Counseling can partner with you on that journey. You may need couples counseling. It could be family brokenness due to addiction problems, communication issues, anger management concerns. It might be individual concerns such as depression, anxiety, trauma, loneliness. Regardless of the issue, Riverstone Counseling offers private counseling services to help you find restoration. 

 

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TRANSFORMATION

“a thorough or dramatic change
in form or appearance”

There are times in our lives where the river takes a turn – where the flow of life makes an abrupt change. Sometimes we choose that detour, and other times it is thrust upon us. We want to come alongside as you navigate that change – as you and/or your family discover a new way to do life with joy, peace and satisfaction. Riverstone Counseling is a therapy center where you can find transformation. 

 

Michael Bonner, Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor

Owner, Therapist

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My name is Michael Bonner and I am a Licensed Professional Counselor located in Round Rock, Texas. Our office is conveniently located just west of I-35 on Chisholm Trail in Round Rock, convenient to Pflugerville, Georgetown, Cedar Park, Leander, Hutto, and the North Austin area. I also happen to be a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). My wife and I have been married for over 35 years, and we have three wonderful adult children. I’ve worked in the corporate sector as a CFO, the non-profit world as a Pastor, and the mental health field as a Licensed Professional Counselor. 

I like to believe that my private counseling work is a beautiful combination of my life experience, my professional training, and my calling. As a licensed therapist performing psychotherapy (i.e. counseling), my role is to help you reach your destination. Sometimes I’m a tour guide – because you have no idea where that destination is. Sometimes I’m the mean teacher who gives too much homework – because you know where your destination is but have no energy or discipline to get there. Sometimes I’m your cheerleader because often we need someone to help us realize that we can reach our destination. Finally – and always – I am a fellow traveler on the journey attempting to reach my own destination. 

I would appreciate the opportunity to visit with you about your professional counseling needs. I am a Christian counselor, but I believe you will find my therapy practice comfortable regardless of your spiritual beliefs. I work with clients 18 years of age and older. I am experienced with adult individual work (such as depression, anxiety, bi-polar disorder, etc.), and have extensive experience in marriage counseling. I am trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and use it often with clients in my practice (find out more at www.emdria.org). I also offer online counseling for those who cannot make it into my office yet would still like to receive solid, affordable private counseling.

Education

MA in Professional Counseling, Liberty University

MA in Christian Education, Dallas Theological Seminary

MBA in Finance, Dallas Baptist University

BBA in Accounting, Baylor University

Certified Public Accountant with the State of Texas

Credentials

Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor within the State of Texas – License #68551
Certified Prepare/Enrich Marriage Enrichment Facilitator

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)-Trained Provider

Professional Affiliations

American Association of Christian Counselors

                        Christian Counselors of Texas

Van Putman, Licensed Professional Counselor-Associate

Therapist

Supervised by Michael Bonner, LPC-S

My name is Van Putman, and I am a Licensed Professional Counselor-Associate located in Round Rock, Texas. I am married to my best friend, Meredith, and we have two beautiful daughters who have captured our hearts!

I have a Bachelor of Business Administration-Finance degree from Southern Methodist University, and spent four years in the Financial Services industry as a Financial Advisor prior to entering the counseling profession. My time in the financial world taught me how to achieve strong, lasting relationships with clients. However, I always felt there was something missing from those collaborative relationships - and felt called to pursue the psychotherapy field. During my graduate work, I had the wonderful opportunity to practice at a counseling center in the Austin area. I attained my Master’s in Professional Counseling, and I thoroughly enjoy being part of the team at Riverstone Counseling Center, PLLC.

I believe my life experience and deep compassion - coupled with my professional training - uniquely equip me to journey with you through your wounds, sufferings, and/or struggles towards renewal, restoration, and transformation. As a Christian counselor, I believe it is my life’s purpose to display the glory of God, whom I believe to be the Wonderful Counselor (Isaiah 9:6). With that said, I believe you will find my personality and counseling style make my therapy practice comfortable for you regardless of your spiritual beliefs.

I work with clients 13 years of age and older. I have experience working with adolescents, individual adults and couples. I work with clients experiencing spiritual struggles and faith development concerns, work-related struggles, grief and loss, shame and guilt, anxiety, depression, anger management, perfectionism, and sexual addiction and recovery. I also enjoy working with couples, navigating the complicated issues that can arise relationally. I also conduct premarital counseling.

I am able to offer online distance counseling for those who are unable to make it into our office in-person. I look forward to walking alongside you in your journey towards health and healing!

Credentials

Licensed Professional Counselor-Associate within the State of Texas - License #90815, Supervised by Michael Bonner, LPC-S

National Certified Counselor - Certificate #1724708

Professional Affiliations

American Association of Christian Counselors

National Board for Certified Counselors

Association of Biblical Counselors


Education

MA in Professional Counseling, Texas State University

BA in Business Administration-Finance, Southern Methodist University

Ashley Hardy, Licensed Professional Counselor-Associate

Therapist

Supervised by Liz Lawrence, LPC-S

My name is Ashley Hardy, and I am a Licensed Professional Counselor- Associate located in New Braunfels, Texas. I am married to my wonderful husband, Chris, and we have a fur baby named Tucker.

I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance from Texas State University. I have spent the last 10 years as a drill/dance team director at the high school level, and a dance studio manager in the Austin area. While I loved my time in the dance industry, I felt there was something missing in the work I was doing. This led me to pursue psychotherapy (counseling). I attained my Masters of Clinical and Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University, and am excited to join the team at Riverstone Counseling Center, PLLC.

I believe the role of the counselor is to guide you on the path to your destination. I am passionate about helping people by utilizing a holistic approach to care for the mind, body, and spirit. Whatever issues bring you into counseling, my priority is to provide a safe space for you to share your struggles and pain. Together, we will identify counteractive thought patterns while utilizing your strengths and resources to change behavior. I hope to walk with you through your trials and to see your life transformed. I believe that God is the ultimate Counselor, and my desire is to be used by Him in walking with others through seasons of difficulty and struggle. Whether or not faith is a component of your story, you will feel comfortable as we collaboratively work to identify and pursue healthy goals for your counseling experience.

I work with clients 10 years of age and older. I have experience working with adolescents and individual adults in areas such as anxiety, depression, grief, loss, shame, guilt, perfectionism, relational issues, and life transitions. I will be in the Round Rock office on Mondays and Thursdays for in-person sessions, and will offer online telehealth sessions for the other days of the week. I look forward to walking alongside you in your journey!

Credentials

Licensed Professional Counselor-Associate within the State of Texas - License #95836, Supervised by Liz Lawrence, LPC-S

Sand Tray Trained Provider

Emotional Transformation Therapy (ETT) Level 1 Trained Provider

Professional Affiliations

American Association of Christian Counselors

Christian Counselors of Texas

Education

MA in Clinical and Mental Health Counseling, Liberty University

BFA in Dance, Texas State University

 
““I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Thy works, and my soul knows it very well.” ”
— Psalm 139: 14

Counseling Services for Adolescents, Individual Adults, Married Couples, and Families

The Theory Behind the Process

Our private counseling style is rooted in Cognitive Behavioral theories, based upon Christian values and principles as ethically appropriate in the psychotherapy setting. The practice is spiritually-based and clinically sound. In other words, we are Christian counselors but you will feel at home in our sessions regardless of the role spirituality plays in your life. Additionally, effective clinical therapy happens when there is a healthy and trusting client/therapist relationship. Thus, a primary goal is to ensure our clients feel heard and understood. Regardless if we are working with a pre-marriage couple, married couple, adult individual, or adolescent we believe private therapy can be highly effective. 

If you have been to other therapists, you may discover that we are a bit bolder than some other professional counselors. Frankly, we believe you should leave a session and feel like you have gained something – like you’ve learned something about yourself, others, or the world around you. You won’t always feel better when you leave – but we want you to always feel as though you will be a better individual/couple/family because of every counseling session you spend with us. Remember the goal is to reach your destination, and that rarely happens in a single session (although it can…it just doesn’t happen often).  

Clients Served

Adolescents (13 years of age and older) | Adult individuals  |  Adult couples  |  Families  |  Work Groups (Organizational Consulting)


Services Offered

Marriage Counseling  |  Parenting  |  Family Distress  |  Depression  |  Anxiety  |  Stress-related Issues  |  Abuse
 Grief & Loss  |  Financial issues  |  Relational problems  |  Codependency issues  |  Shame
Premarital Counseling  |  Addiction Issues | Organizational structure, interaction, and flow

Online (Distance) Counseling

Online counseling - or distance counseling - is a valuable way to utilize technology in the professional counseling process.
Whether you are traveling for work, away at college, or your residence is too far from our office in Round Rock, Texas to come in person –
we can hold counseling sessions via a secure telehealth platform periodically or on an ongoing basis. Phone counseling sessions
are also available on an as-needed basis and can be effective as well. 

FeeS

The current fee for individual and couples therapy is $140 per 50-minute session for Michael Bonner, and $100 per 50-minute session for Van Putman and Ashley Hardy.

If the session cost is a problem, please give us a call and let's visit about options. Please do not let the cost of therapy prevent you and/or your family from getting the healthcare you may need! We try our best to make private counseling affordable for you at Riverstone Counseling.

Finally, payment is due the day of service (billed to the card on file the morning of a scheduled appointment). Payment is made with debit/credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, HSA, etc.). Cash and check are also accepted if necessary - please speak with your therapist about these forms of payment. 

 

 

Insurance

Whether you choose to visit our private counseling practice or another, please consider carefully the fact that insurance companies require mental health professionals to assign a psychiatric diagnosis code that becomes part of your permanent health record. There are risks involved, including denial of future employment, military entrance, life insurance, etc. Additionally, if your insurance is provided by an employer, they may be informed of your participation in therapy treatment - which is a technical breach of confidentiality. Many opt not to utilize insurance for these reasons and others, so please consider your decision carefully. 

Having said that, our private counseling is covered by insurance assuming your plan pays for out-of-network service. We can provide you with the appropriate documentation to turn in to your insurance provider for reimbursement as an out-of-network provider should you choose to do so. Most plans provide this coverage after you have met a stated deductible. Please consult your plan to determine benefits, and then visit with your therapist. Many times we may be able to provide a quality number of counseling sessions for a rate similar to your deductible amount.    

ADOLESCENT COUNSELING

Counseling with teenagers requires a different skill-set than counseling with adults. Teens have a unique perspective - and a very different set of needs - as they move from childhood through adolescence into their adults lives.

Current culture presents our teens with choices and challenges their parents never faced. Today’s adolescents are dealing with sexual identity concerns, relationship issues, pornography addiction, unhealthy sexual behavior, technology addiction, disintegrating family support, anger problems, and a myriad of other challenges with which therapy can help.

If you are looking for a professional counselor to come alongside your teenager - and your family - to work through concerns, we can help you at Riverstone Counseling Center. We have experience and training in dealing with young people and the issues they face.

Give us a call here at (512)501-5449, or email us at michael@riverstonecounselingtx.com and let’s talk about getting your teenager headed in a new direction!

INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING FOR ADULTS

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If you are an adult looking for some clinically sound and confidential individual therapy, please come visit with us at Riverstone Counseling. There are times in life where we simply need a little assistance processing and moving past events in our lives in a healthy way. We utilize proven cognitive behavioral therapy techniques to help our clients align their thoughts, feelings, and actions in order to move forward to a better, more rewarding place in their journey.

Adult Individual Counseling Issues Addressed:

Depression, Anxiety, Trauma Recovery, Addiction Issues, Bipolar, Borderline, Relationship Problems, Anger Management, Grief Recovery, Career Planning, Life Stage Transitions, and a Variety of Other Concerns

 

  

Maybe you struggle with depression or anxiety. Perhaps you have addiction issues such as pornography, alcohol, spending, or sex. You may be trying to process the loss of a loved one, the loss of a relationship, or some other form of grief. You might have anger management issues, commitment problems, or struggle with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Perhaps your issues involve mental health concerns such as bipolar, borderline, narcissism, or some other struggle. 

Give us a call at Riverstone Counseling, and let's begin the journey to a happier and healthier 'you' today. The waves may seem big now, but you'll be surprised how small they become once you get some solid private counseling. 

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MARRIAGE COUNSELING

Marriage is challenging in the very best of circumstances. For many couples, they reach a season where they need assistance navigating the difficulties they face. The question is often asked, "Is marriage counseling effective?" It can be extremely helpful when an effective marriage counselor has the opportunity to assist a couple willing to put in the hard work and dedication to repair their relationship. 

Marriage Counseling Issues Addressed:

Premarital Counseling, Communication Problems, Affair Recovery, Conflict Resolution, Sexual Intimacy Concerns, Parenting Differences, Financial Disagreements, Impact of Pornography and Other Addictions, and a Variety of Other Relationship Counseling Issues

 

 

 

 

At Riverstone Counseling, we look at marriage counseling as an opportunity to help two individuals become healthy in order to create one healthy couple. We believe marriage counseling often fails because couples (and at times, therapists) don't understand that each individual's personal issues have to be addressed - in addition to just the presenting concerns within the marriage relationship. Thus, marriage counseling sessions at Riverstone Counseling will often be a combination of individual and couples sessions as needed. 

Marriage counseling at Riverstone Counseling is based on Biblical principles, and thus would be considered Christian marriage counseling. However, regardless of the role spirituality plays in your personal life or marriage, we believe you will be comfortable here - and find the relationship counseling for which you have been searching. Working on a marriage is difficult - but the sooner you start the shorter the road to recovery. We believe you and your spouse can find your happily ever after!

FAMILY COUNSELING

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Counseling for Families in the Greater Austin Area

Families come in a million shapes, sizes, and forms. So do the problems that families face. If your family is in Round Rock, Georgetown, Pflugerville, Cedar Park, Leander, or the surrounding areas and you are searching for a licensed professional counselor, please come see us at Riverstone Counseling. 

As private counselors, we provide therapy services for families in crisis, as well as those just needing a little boost to strengthen their family bond or solve a tough issue. When one member of a family is struggling, the ripple effect usually impacts the entire family. A professional counselor can objectively lead your family through difficult communication and interaction, meanwhile providing your entire family with the necessary tools to handle tough situations in the future. 

So, if your family could use some coaching, please give us a call at Riverstone Counseling. We believe you will find our counseling services to be effective, affordable, and quite possibly life-changing. Give us a call at (512)501-5449, or reach out via email at michael@riverstonecounselingtx.com. We look forward to working with your family!

Serving Round Rock, Pflugerville, Georgetown, Cedar Park, Leander, Hutto, North Austin and the Surrounding Areas

Located Near the Intersection of Interstate 35 and Sam Bass Road

 

Riverstone Counseling is located at 1311 Chisholm Trail #103, Round Rock, TX 78681 (Building 1 - Facing Chisholm Trail)

We offer professional counseling services to Round Rock, Pflugerville, Georgetown, Cedar Park, Leander, Hutto, North Austin and the surrounding communities. We also offer virtual online telehealth sessions for those who cannot make it into our offices.

 
 

Book an Appointment for Adolescent, Adult Individual, Marriage, or Family Therapy  

Contact us by phone at (512) 501-5449
or send us a message using the form below. 

 
 

Resources for Marriage Counseling, Parenting Issues, and Other Therapy Needs 

We will be adding individual, marriage, and family resources to this section periodically. Check back occasionally to see what's new!

Marriage

Books

The Mingling of Souls; Chandler

Love & Respect; Eggerichs

The Five Love Languages; Chapman

Boundaries in Marriage; Cloud & Townsend

Building Love Together in Blended Families, Chapman 

AFFAIR RECOVERY

Books

Surviving an Affair; Harley/Chalmers

 

 

 

 

PARENTING

Books

The Most Important Place on Earth; Wolgemuth

Boundaries with Kids; Cloud/Townsend

Toe to Toe with Your Teen; Myers

The Power of a Praying Parent; Omartian

Fearless Parenting; Barna/Myers

Addiction Issues

Books

Unwanted, Stringer

Finally Free, Lambert

At the Altar of Sexual Idolatry, Gallagher