Gabriela V. Cantu, MS, LPC-S

Licensed Professional Counselor - Supervisor
Owner of Saving Hope Counseling, PLLC

Gabriela V. Cantu, MS, LPC-S, received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology/Sociology in 2008 and a Master of Science in Marriage and Family Counseling in 2011 from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. She has over fourteen years’ experience providing counseling to families, children, couples, and adults. She is recognized as a Licensed Professional Counselor - Supervisor by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors. She offers weekly or as needed counseling to individuals in the Corpus Christi and the South Texas area.

“I am committed to assisting adolescents, teenagers, individuals, and couples to reach their fullest potential, by providing a mental toolbox to utilize throughout their lives. I believe that everyone is worthy of loving the life they live, so I focus on mindfulness as well as staying active to encourage decent change. It is important to work together to see these changes impact your life in a way that produces resolution and purpose. I feel that discouragement can often lead to a downward spiral that can be hard to maneuver. It is so important to overcome unhelpful patterns of thinking and behavior, so you can feel and be better. My therapeutic approaches are Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Adlerian Therapy.”

Andrea Mendoza, MS, LPC-Associate

Licensed Professional Counselor - Associate

Supervised by Gabriela V. Cantu, MS, LPC-S

Andrea Mendoza is a Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi doctoral student and a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (supervised by Gabriela V. Cantu, MS, LPC-S). In 2023, she received her Master of Science in Professional Counseling, specializing in Marriage and Family Counseling, from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. Andrea is also a National Certified Counselor. Her specialties include working with children, adolescents, couples, adults, and Spanish-speaking individuals. She offers play therapy-informed services for children and a variety of therapeutic modalities to meet the mental health needs of adolescents, couples, and adults. Andrea believes each client deserves a counseling experience tailored to their needs. As such, she believes therapy is a collaborative process that allows you to work on your goals in a safe therapeutic environment. Her approach is holistic, relational, integrative, and creative because therapy is not "one size fits all." She works with clients to help them create more authentic relationships with themselves and others and develop the skills, tools, and strategies they need to confidently navigate life challenges. Andrea is now accepting new clients for in-person sessions.

Samantha Saenz

Student Counselor-In-Training

Supervised By Gabriela V. Cantu, MS, LPC-S

Samantha Saenz is a student counselor-in-training who has a passion to assist individuals with autism, adolescents, teens, and individuals with their mental health needs. She has prior experience working with children in the mental health field for 7 years assisting with social skills, life skills, and coping skills. She will be accepting new clients at a discounted rate starting mid August under the supervision of Gabriela V. Cantu, MS, LPC-S. Samantha received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology/Criminal Justice in 2017 and is currently working towards her Masters of Science degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Her therapeutic approaches are Solution-Focused Therapy, Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, and Adlerian Therapy.

Teri Lynn Hodges, MS, LPC, CCATP, CTMH

Licensed Professional Counselor

Teri Lynn Hodges, MS, LPC, CCATP, CTMH has over twelve years’ experience providing counseling to individuals in need. She has experience with sexual assault/domestic violence victims, individuals with mental health backgrounds as well as individuals looking to find their passion and live out their dream. She can help maneuver through life struggles to accomplish long-term and short-term goals. She is a Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional and a Certified Clinical Tele Mental Health Specialist. She is certified in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Experiential Training, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Couples and Building Self Esteem in Youth! She offers weekly or as needed counseling to individuals in the Corpus Christi and South Texas area. She is currently offering Tele Mental Health sessions.

Jose Cantu, CPC

Certified Professional Life Coach

Jose M. Cantu, CPC founded Cantu Life Coaching, LLC in 2022. He has a passion and drive for assisting others find their own happiness and motivation for life. Cantu Life Coaching, LLC provides high quality, professional and compassionate care. In a comfortable and peaceful atmosphere, he will provide a highly personalized approach that is tailored to each client’s individual needs.

Through a collaborative approach, he can assist you in tackling your goals and aspirations. He does offer an empathetic listening ear to those needing his assistance. It is important to stay in the present moment and understand what obstacles may be getting in the way of success.

Evette Burch

Student Counselor-In-Training

Supervised By Gabriela V. Cantu, MS, LPC-S

Evette Burch is a student counselor-in-training who has over two decades of experience working with children and families. She has experience in inner healing and a certification in Mental Health Trauma. For three years she worked with children and adults in her business as a Life Coach where she coached individuals on parenting and relationships. Using skill building exercises, behavioral management techniques and tools to help solve behavior problems. Her experience in leading marriage groups and social groups for Special Needs adults allows her understanding in a diverse population. Evette enjoys working with individuals and families to empower them to meet their goals and walk with them on their journey to better mental health. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Liberty University in Psychology and is currently completing her Master of Science degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She is excited to be working under the supervision of Gabriela V. Cantu, MS, LPC-S at Saving Hope Counseling, PLLC.

Vivianna Esquivel

Student Counselor-In-Training

Supervised by Gabriela V. Cantu, MS, LPC-S

Vivianna Esquivel is a student counselor-in-training who will be working under Gabriela V. Cantu, MS, LPC-S. She is committed to working with children, adolescents, and adults. Believing that her client’s needs come first, Vivianna will utilize an approach that best fits the needs of her client. She has experience working in the mental health field helping individuals with life and social skills. Vivianna has graduated from Texas A&M University- Corpus Christi with a bachelor's degree in psychology in 2022. She is currently working on her Masters of Art in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

Gabriela Reyes

Student Counselor-In-Training

Supervised by Gabriela V. Cantu, MS, LPC-S

Gabriela Reyes is currently a counselor in training who will be working under Gabriela V. Cantu, MS, LPC-S starting August 2025. Gabriela graduated in 2023 with her bachelor's in psychology and is actively working on her master's in professional counseling at Texas A&M University Corpus Christi. She is passionate in creating a safe therapeutic space for her clients from all backgrounds. Gabriela plans to utilize the different resources and tools available to her in order to create a positive impact for her clients. She is looking forward to working on what works best for you and your mental health.

Madelyn Placencio

Student Counselor-In-Training

Supervised By Gabriela V. Cantu, MS, LPC-S

Madelyn Placencio is a student counselor-in-training who will be working under Gabriela V. Cantu, MS, LPC-S, beginning January 2025. Madelyn graduated from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi with a bachelor's degree in 2023 and is currently working on her Masters of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Texas A&M-University-Kingsville. She is passionate about providing therapeutic services for children, adolescents, and young adults. She will utilize various techniques depending on the individual needs of each client. She looks forward to collaborating with you and applying the right technique to benefit your mental health.

Deborah Dubuque

Student Counselor-In-Training

Supervised By Gabriela V. Cantu, MS, LPC-S

Deborah Dubuque is currently a counselor in training who will be working under Gabriela V. Cantu, MS, LPC-S starting August 2025.

Deborah Dubuque graduated from Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi with a bachelor’s in psychology. She is currently working on her Master of Science in Clinical and Mental health Counseling. She is passionate about working with children, adolescents, and young adults reach their full potential. Deborah has experience working with children and adolescents in various settings such as the medical and educational fields. Deborah’s approach on person-centered therapy allows her to provide a safe and therapeutic environment to help meet the needs of all ages. She looks forward to assisting you with all your mental health needs.

Gloria Miranda

Bilingual Student Counselor-in-Training | Trauma & Crisis Support | CBT-Informed Therapy Supervised by Gabriela V. Cantu, MS, LPC-S

Gloria Miranda is a Counselor Student-in-Training with over 25 years of experience supporting individuals and families through trauma, crisis, and major life transitions. She specializes in working with survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, Spanish-speaking families, and couples, offering bilingual counseling in English and Spanish.

She earned dual bachelor's degrees in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Texas at Brownsville (UTB) in 2002 and is currently completing her Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Liberty University, with an expected graduation in May 2026.

Gloria has extensive experience in crisis intervention, trauma support, and mental health services, helping individuals and couples manage depression, anxiety, grief, and relationship challenges. She has worked with survivors of domestic violence, individuals coping with trauma, and families facing dementia-related difficulties. Taking a holistic approach, she integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques to address the emotional impact of trauma while promoting stabilization, healing, and resilience, while also connecting clients to supportive resources for enhanced, coordinated care.

She is a Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP) and a certified SYMBIS (Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts) assessment facilitator, equipping her to support both individuals and couples in strengthening their emotional well-being and relationships. She is also an active member of the American Counseling Association (ACA) and the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry (AAGP), reflecting her dedication to mental health and aging-related care.

Gloria will begin seeing clients in May 2025 and is currently accepting English and Spanish-speaking individuals for her waitlist under the supervision of Gabriela V. Cantu, MS, LPC-S.

Shae-Lynn Ball, M.Ed, LPC-Associate

LPC-Associate
Supervised by Gabriela V. Cantu, MS, LPC-S

Shae-Lynn is an LPC-Associate who is committed to providing therapeutic care and services to adolescents, individuals, families, and couples. Some other populations she loves working with include those who are neurodiverse and in the LGBTQ+ community. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Texas A & M University - Corpus Christi from 2021. In 2024, she earned her Masters of Education in Counseling & Development with a specialization in Marriage, Couples, and Family Therapy from Lamar University. Throughout her internship she was supervised by Gabriela, so she will continue to be supervised by Gabriela V. Cantu, MS, LPC-S.

Shae-Lynn is now seeing clients, so feel free to reach out to get on her schedule today! She believes it's important to meet the needs of clients, so she will utilize various approaches and techniques that best suit the clients involved. Some of her favorite approaches include narrative therapy, person-centered, and systemic/relational therapy. Call the office today to inquire about rates and scheduling opportunities.

Nancy Le

Student Counselor-In-Training

Supervised By Gabriela V. Cantu, MS, LPC-S

Nancy Le is a student counselor-in-training, who will be working under the supervision of Gabriela V. Cantu, MS, LPC-S. She had prior experience in working with youth on the autism spectrum, and has also had experience in working to advocate for and provide resources to adults who had mental health needs and intellectual disabilities. Nancy received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi, and is currently working towards a Masters of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling through Colorado Christian University. Nancy is passionate about working with children, adolescents, and young adults, and will apply various theoretical approaches and techniques in order to help meet the needs of each client. She looks forward to collaborating with you, to empower and encourage you in facing the challenges that come your way.

Reach out today to learn more about our talented team.