Meet Dr. Karrie Hilliard

I am a licensed psychologist with a passion for partnering with young people and their families. As a former bilingual kindergarten teacher and a parent to three young boys, my winding path to becoming a psychologist informs my daily practice with clients. I have worked in many schools, from the lowest-performing to the top-performing in the state. I have worked with a variety of young people, from juvenile offenders to valedictorians. Through it all, my work has remained grounded in a deeply-held belief that all parents want the best for their children, and all children are doing the best they can with the tools they have. 

Many things can get in the way of a child's best self, but great change is possible with the right tools. I partner with parents, young people, and their teachers to identify sources of difficulty, and design and provide a comprehensive plan for support. I specialize in difficulties rooted in ADHD, autism, anxiety, depression, and learning disorders.

Licenses and Certifications:

  • Licensed Psychologist (Texas)

  • Licensed Specialist in School Psychology (LSSP, Texas)

  • Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP)

  • Health Service Provider through the National Register of Health Service Psychologists

  • PSYPACT Authority to Practice Interjurisdictional Telepsychology (APIT)

Treatment Approach Informed By:

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Children and Adolescents

  • Parent-Child Interaction Therapy

  • Parent Management Training

  • Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

  • SPACE: Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions

Degrees:

  • BA, Psychology and Government, Claremont McKenna College (Magna Cum Laude)

  • M.Ed., Counseling, University of Houston

  • Ph.D., School Psychology, University of Houston

Work History:

  • Bilingual Kindergarten Teacher, Teach For America

  • School Counselor at a local independent school

Bilingual: English and Spanish

FAQ about Dr. Hilliard

  • I am a licensed psychologist and a licensed specialist in school psychology. The Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council (BHEC) oversees both of these licenses. On the national level, my credentials have been verified with the National Register of Health Service Psychologists and the National Association of School Psychologists. All of this matters because it demonstrates that I have completed (and continue to actively uphold) the most rigorous training standards in my field for providing therapy, consultation, and psychological assessment. Because I have PSYPACT approval, I am able to provide telehealth services to individuals who reside in any PSYPACT-participating state (currently 40 and growing). Please see below for more FAQs related to telehealth and PSYPACT. As a psychologist, I cannot prescribe medication - but I can recommend some great psychiatrists who can!

    • TX Licensed Psychologist, #38689

    • TX Licensed Specialist in School Psychology, #71802

    • Nationally Certified School Psychologist, #63988

    • Health Service Provider, #147712

  • Having worked in schools for 18 years, I have a wide range of experience and expertise. Some children I have worked with have needed shorter-term support to get through a difficult phase. Others have benefited from a longer commitment to target skills needed to improve self-regulation, resulting in improved management of impulses, planning and completing schoolwork, sleep difficulties, anger or frustration, unhealthy technology habits, worries, and social relationships. Sometimes young people come to me with a diagnosis of ADHD, autism, anxiety, depression, or a learning disorder, while others come to me while navigating some bumps in the road. If the behaviors or feelings that concern you as a parent are having a significant impact on your child’s school performance, family relationships, friendships, or sense of self, I am prepared to partner with you to improve their skills and coping.

  • As a licensed psychologist and LSSP with a doctorate in school psychology, I have specialty training in assessment, especially for purposes of school-related support. My area of research during my doctoral study was measurement and detection of learning disorders, with a special focus on assessing reading disabilities (i.e., dyslexia) in bilingual (English/Spanish) learners. Many of the young people I evaluate are bright, capable students with many strengths, but seem to be underachieving in terms of school performance or general life satisfaction. I am available for bilingual (English/Spanish) assessment.

  • If the word “sprouting” conjures up images of new growth for you, that is exactly what I envision for our partnership and your path to a more fulfilling future. Like a seedling, human development occurs in phases of slow, imperceptible change, interspersed with delightful, colorful breakthroughs. Sprouting also refers to the incredible work that our brain neurons do over the life course to adapt and make new connections. Each of us has the capacity to grow, thrive, and make new meaning of the world around us. 

Core Values

In every aspect of my practice, I am guided by five core values:


  • I care deeply for the young people and families I serve, and put empathy into action with thorough and carefully-tailored support.

  • In addition to the strict ethical standards of my profession, I uphold a high standard of personal and professional integrity, and am transparent and forthcoming with young people and their families.

  • I believe there is always a way forward to a more fulfilling future, and take responsibility for nurturing such optimism in young people and their families.

  • With a doctoral training background emphasizing research, my practices are constantly evolving to reflect the most recent and rigorous scientific studies about how best to support young people and their families.

  • I am a lifelong learner and will never have all of the answers. I strive to partner with and learn from others, particularly those who experience the world very differently than I do.

Mission

Through upholding these core values, I seek to fulfill the mission of my practice:

To provide excellent, evidence-based psychological services to young people and their families such that my clients may lead more fulfilling lives-personally and in their communities.