South Texas Chapter
The South Texas Chapter has three dedicated volunteers assisting with chapter operations under the oversight of the board.
Gladys A. Cortez, LPC-S, RPT, CRC is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Council-approved Supervisor, as well as a Registered Play Therapist and Certified Rehabilitation Counselor. She is TF-CBT Certified and EMDR trained, and is the owner of Cortez & Associates Counseling Services, LLC, a private practice in McAllen, Texas, where she provides counseling services to children, adolescents, and adults.
Gladys is a compassionate advocate for mental health and individuals with disabilities, serving on various boards and advisory committees for more than 15 years. Gladys is dedicated to expanding access to mental health resources for marginalized and underserved populations. Her work emphasizes healing as a transformative and empowering process, equipping individuals and families with meaningful coping skills in a safe, caring, and empathetic therapeutic environment.
email: southtexaschapterchair@txapt.org
Gladys Cortez
Dr. Matilde Barrera Alaniz, PhD, LPC-S, RPT-S, CSC, NCC, CART, is an EMDR Certified Therapist and the founder of Alaniz-Barrera Counseling Services, where she provides trauma-informed, culturally responsive mental health services. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor and Registered Play Therapist Supervisor with extensive experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and families.
Dr. Barrera Alaniz also serves as Adjunct Faculty at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), contributing to the training and development of future counseling professionals. In addition, she works as an LPC-S with Roma Independent School District, supporting student mental health and promoting emotional wellness within educational settings. Her professional interests include trauma recovery, play therapy, EMDR, supervision, and counselor education.
email: southtexasfinance@txapt.org
Matilde Alaniz
Allison Joyal is a doctoral candidate in the Counselor Education program at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. She is a professional counselor and play therapist under RPT supervision, serving children and adolescents in group private practice. She is also a Certified Animal-Assisted Counseling (AAC) Team-Associate and integrates animal-assisted interventions into her play therapy practice. She serves on the APT Leadership Academy Committee and supports other APT projects by serving on various task forces. Her current research includes facilitating safety during posttraumatic play, integrating AAC interventions into Adlerian Play Therapy, and child sexual exploitation and abuse.
email: southtexassocialmedia@txapt.org