MEET OUR TEAM

Alyssa Gilden, PhD, LSSP

Pronouns: she, her

Youth & Family Mental Health Director

Alyssa Gilden is a Licensed Psychologist and a Licensed Specialist in School Psychology (LSSP). She specializes in working with children and families to help all find new ways of tackling problems in order to live happier and healthier lives. Her approach to therapy involves a blend of cognitive-behavioral, interpersonal, and solution-focused techniques to create a collaborative and supportive environment in which children and families can better understand themselves and one another. She believes strongly that children and adolescents have much to communicate if we can listen openly, and she uses talk, play, and other creative means to facilitate communication. Through creating a safe environment in which to explore, she strives to empower children and families to use their inner strengths to solve problems and foster growth.

She works with children and adolescents of any age experiencing a variety of social and emotional challenges and their parents. She specializes in school-related problems, including depression, anxiety, school refusal, social and peer-related issues, and attentional or behavioral concerns. She has a strong background in family systems and family therapy, positive behavior management, and stress management. She knows that reaching out can be one of the hardest steps to getting help, and looks forward to hearing from and working with you and your family.

Alyssa earned her B.A. in sociology and B.S. in psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Go Tar Heels!). She earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in School Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin. She completed her doctoral internship in clinical and school psychology with the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District and post-doctoral training in policy and administrative psychology with WICHE. Throughout her career, Dr. Gilden has focused on gaining experiences, knowledge, and understanding of working with children, adolescents, parents, and families from a variety of modalities and settings.

Mary Catherine Dickerson, LMSW

Pronouns: she, her, hers

Early Childhood Therapist

At JFS, Mary Catherine sees our youngest clients and their families and utilizes child-centered play therapy to meet children where they’re at. She also enjoys working with school-aged youth and teens. Mary Catherine focuses on attachment, self-esteem, anxiety, and trauma. Mary Catherine also works with the Early Childhood Program (ECP), where she supports and empowers teachers and parents in addressing challenging or internalized behaviors using a strengths-based approach rooted in child development.

Mary Catherine earned her Bachelor of Social Work at the University of Texas at Austin and her Master of Social Work at Columbia University in New York City. Born and raised in Austin, she is thankful to be able to work within her own community. She is currently supervised by Amanda Mills, LCSW.

Amanda Mills​, LCSW

Pronouns: she, they

Clinical Director

Amanda Mills is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) trained in EMDR, CBT, and body-based approaches. She works with individuals across the lifespan, with a focus on preteens, teens, and young adults. Her approach to therapy is highly collaborative and she enjoys working with concerns such as anxiety, stress management, self-esteem, identity, and current or past traumatic experiences.

She works to empower clients with knowledge about the brain and the body. She brings a trauma-informed, justice-minded perspective as she walks alongside her clients on their journey towards healing and growth. 

A born and raised Texan, Amanda received her Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin. Outside of work, Amanda enjoys video games, creative writing, yoga, hiking, and cuddling with her cat.

Audrey Burnett, LCSW

Pronouns: she, her, hers

Clinical Intake Specialist/Therapist

A born and raised Texan, Audrey Burnett has ten years of experience working with junior high and high school-aged youth. As a participant in the Gerontological Resources and the Aging Community in Education at the Steve Hicks School of Social Work, her social work internships focused on older adults where she gained experience and a passion for working with people dealing with grief and loss. Audrey’s therapeutic approach is person-centered and relational, and she hopes to help clients see themselves from a strength-based perspective.

Audrey earned her bachelor’s degree from Austin College earned dual master’s degrees, getting a Master of Divinity from Austin Theological Presbyterian Seminary and a Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin. She lives in Austin with her husband and dog, and they enjoy hiking, spending time with family, and traveling together. As the Clinical Intake Specialist, Audrey helps clients connect with the resources and support they need.

Maura Kinney, LCSW

Pronouns: they, them

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Maura is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who focuses on working with clients on the myriad ways grief can manifest in our lives: via loss of a loved one, relationship, or element of identity; via the experience of systemic oppression and identity-based rejection by family, community, or country; and/or via the grief associated with traumatic experiences past and present.

Maura comes to clinical social work via a background in theatre, sexuality education, and community organizing. They enjoy working with clients across the lifespan through a relational and psychodynamic lens. Maura uses their strong orientation towards justice and self-determination to work towards co-creating a therapeutic space that feels supportive based on each client’s history and needs.

Maura has received training in Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions, and through Ample and Rooted’s Eating Disorder training program. When not at work, they enjoy writing and playing music, and working in their garden.