What "near me" means when counseling is online
When Carrollton parents search for family counseling near me, they usually want something practical: a counselor they can actually get to between work, school and practices. Dr. Audrey Kteily removes the distance question entirely. Every session is held over secure, HIPAA-compliant video, so there is no office to reach, no parking and no rush hour on I-35E or the George Bush Turnpike.
She is also genuinely local. Her long-standing practice address is in neighboring Coppell, and she has worked with Dallas-Fort Worth families for more than two decades. You get a counselor who knows North Texas school calendars, commutes and family rhythms, without having to drive anywhere to see her.
Carrollton is a large, diverse city that stretches across Dallas, Denton and Collin counties. Families here range from multigenerational households to blended families to parents raising teens while caring for their own aging parents. Online sessions make it easier to bring the right people together, even when they live in different parts of the metroplex.
What happens in family counseling with Dr. Audrey?
Family counseling starts with the question of what is happening between people, not just within one person. Dr. Audrey's PhD is in Family Studies, and her core approach is family systems counseling. She looks at roles, communication habits and the unspoken rules that keep a family stuck in the same arguments.
A typical course of counseling might include a first meeting with parents to understand history and goals, separate time with a teen so they can speak freely, and joint sessions where everyone practices new ways of talking. She gives families specific things to try at home between sessions. For a detailed look at how this works day to day, read what a family counselor actually does.
Common reasons Carrollton families reach out
- Constant arguing, slammed doors and a tense household
- A teen dealing with anxiety, depression, self-harm or school stress
- Divorce, remarriage or a blended family adjusting to new roles
- A child with ADHD, autism spectrum traits or behavioral challenges
- Grief after the loss of a family member
- Parents who disagree about discipline, screens or independence
What progress tends to look like
Families often ask how they will know counseling is working. Change usually shows up in small, ordinary moments before it shows up in big ones. A disagreement about curfew ends in a decision instead of a shouting match. A teenager joins the family at dinner without a standoff. Parents stop relitigating the same fight and start backing each other up.
Dr. Audrey checks in on goals regularly, so you are not guessing. Early sessions tend to focus on lowering conflict and restoring some calm. Middle sessions address the patterns underneath, such as one parent always being the enforcer, or a child who has taken on the role of peacemaker. Later sessions are about keeping new habits steady when the next stressful season arrives, whether that is a move, a new school or a change in someone's health.
Not every family member changes at the same speed, and that is normal. Even when only one or two people attend consistently, shifts in how they respond often change the whole household over time.
Counseling for teens and parents
Teens ages 12 to 18 make up a large part of Dr. Audrey's work. Adolescents in Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD, Lewisville ISD and other area districts juggle academics, activities and social pressure that often moves faster than parents can see. Some teens shut down, some act out, and some quietly struggle with identity or self-harm.
She works with teens directly and supports parents at the same time. Parents learn how to listen without lecturing, how to set limits that hold, and how to tell the difference between normal teen moodiness and something that needs more attention. Her pages on adolescent issues and on teen counseling services in the area explain more. Parents who want help with their own approach can read how parent counseling improves parenting skills.
The practice is LGBTQ+-friendly and LGBTQ+-owned, aligned with GLSEN and the Human Rights Campaign, so teens exploring identity have a respectful place to talk.
When trauma is part of the family story
Sometimes family stress has a deeper source: a frightening event, domestic violence, an assault, or years of instability. Trauma affects everyone in a household, even those who were not directly harmed. Dr. Audrey treats PTSD and complex PTSD and often combines individual trauma work with family sessions so that relatives understand what a trauma response looks like.
For teens and adults who struggle with intense emotions or self-harm, she draws on Dialectical Behavior Therapy, in which she holds C-DBT certification. Her other specialties include grief, addictions, mood disorders and life transitions.
If you are in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or 911. This practice is not a crisis service. If you are looking for additional resources, the SAMHSA treatment locator lists services nationwide, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness offers education and support for families.
How online family counseling works in Texas
Texas families are seen under Dr. Audrey's Texas Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor license, and sessions are scheduled in Central Time. You receive a secure link that opens in your browser; nothing needs to be installed. Each participant needs to be physically in Texas, New Jersey or New York at the time of the session.
That rule gives families a lot of flexibility. A parent can join from a work laptop in Las Colinas, a teen from home, and a grandparent from across town. Divorced parents can each join from their own homes, which can lower tension in the early sessions. A college student at a Texas university can log in from their dorm room.
Research on family-based approaches is broad and ongoing. If you want to explore it, PubMed indexes published studies, and the National Association of Social Workers provides consumer information on choosing mental health care.
Who is Dr. Audrey Kteily?
Dr. Audrey holds a PhD in Family Studies and a Bachelor's in Psychology from Texas Woman's University, and a Master's in Counseling from Dallas Baptist University. She has been a Texas Licensed Professional Counselor since 2001 and a Supervisor since 2004. She is also licensed in New Jersey (LPC) and New York (LMHC).
She is a Certified Family Life Educator through the National Council on Family Relations, holds C-DBT certification from Evergreen Certifications, and has published work on family dynamics. Read her full story on the about Dr. Audrey page, or learn about the practice on about the practice. Have a question first? Try Ask Dr. Audrey.
Getting started from Carrollton
To begin, fill out the appointment request on the home page or text the practice. Texting is the quickest way; please keep health details out of texts. You will hear back within one business day to talk through who should attend the first session.
Dr. Audrey is an out-of-network provider. She provides a superbill you can submit to your insurer for possible reimbursement, so check your out-of-network mental health benefits before you start. If you are unsure whether family counseling or individual sessions make more sense for your situation, mention that when you reach out; sorting that out is part of the first conversation.
Ready to talk? Request an appointment, or text or call (917) 905-3183. You can also email [email protected].