Contact the Counseling and Mental Health Center

Cynthia A. Cook, Ph.D.
cookc@uhcl.edu
Licensed Psychologist
Executive Director, Counseling and Mental Health Center

Dr. Cook has been on staff at UHCL since 1999. She has had prior training experiences in other counseling centers, military settings, and community mental health. Dr. Cook believes strongly in the importance of developing a collaborative relationship with clients. Her clinical specialties include couples therapy and relationship issues, women's issues, managing stress and anxiety, spirituality, and vocational counseling.

Jason Boothe, Ph.D.
boothe@uhcl.edu
Licensed Psychologist
Associate Director and Clinical Director

Dr. Boothe has trained and worked in numerous settings, including VA hospitals, community mental health clinics, pain management clinics, and college counseling centers. Clinical interests include working with disability and chronic health/medical issues, trauma, mindfulness, interpersonal and relational concerns, identity development/existential concerns, multicultural issues, and group therapy.

Stefanie Denu, Psy.D.
denu@uhcl.edu
Licensed Psychologist
Associate Director and Training Director

Stefanie Denu joins the UHCL Counseling and Mental Health Center as a licensed clinical psychologist supporting students through individual and group treatment modalities and supporting trainees in their professional development. She earned her PsyD doctoral degree from Xavier University and has previously worked in counseling centers at the University of Iowa, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Northeastern University. Her approach to therapy is based in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) that incorporates a mix of mindfulness and action-oriented strategies with a focus on creating a meaningful life while learning to cope with inevitable stressors along the way. Her clinical and professional interests include eating disorders, anxiety, depression, grief/loss, life transitions, identity development, and emotional distress related to chronic or acute medical illness.

Amanda Hedrick, LCSW
hedrick@uhcl.edu
Case Manager/Staff Therapist

Amanda brings a variety of experience including child welfare, palliative care, domestic violence support, and advocacy work to the UHCL Counseling and Mental Health Center. She supports UHCL students by assisting them in navigating various resources on and off campus. Clinical interests include grief, trauma, health/medical issues, multicultural issues, inner child work, and gender identity development. Amanda uses a collaborative empowerment approach when working with clients.

Monica Martinez, LMSW
martinezmon@uhcl.edu
Outreach Coordinator/Staff Therapist

Monica is excited to be part of the UHCL Counseling and Mental Health Center staff.  Monica is a licensed social worker who has worked in a variety of counseling centers, institutions of higher education and community programs.  In addition to seeing students, Monica coordinates mental health outreach efforts with on and off campus partners.  Monica uses a collaborative and empowerment counseling approach with students to provide comprehensive, caring and supportive services.

Taylar Gutierrez, Psy.D.
McCoyT@uhcl.edu 
Staff Psychologist

Taylar is originally from Freedom, PA, and is currently based in Houston, TX. With a master’s degree in International Disaster Psychology and a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Denver, Dr. Gutierrez specializes in trauma-informed care and substance use treatment, utilizing a multicultural lens. Dr. Gutierrez is also passionate about working with pregnant and parenting students, providing them with tailored support during pivotal life transitions.

Michael P. Huttar, Ph.D.
huttar@uhcl.edu
Staff Therapist

Michael is originally from Lacey, WA and is currently based in Houston, TX. With four years of community mental health, public school, and specialized disability practice, Michael has provided assessment services, as well as individual, family, group, and couples therapy to clients in need. Michael has served in multiple clinical and non-clinical roles throughout his past training and experiences, most notably as a board member for a community behavioral health and medical clinic, researcher, college instructor, and clinical supervisor. Michael also serves as the principal investigator for a research team focused on exploring the experiences of autistic adults within romantic relationships (the focus of his dissertation). Michael holds an Associate of Science degree in Computer Network Engineering from Pierce College in Puyallup, WA; a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Saint Martin's University in Lacey, WA; a Master of Art's in Counseling from the University of North Dakota; and a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, ND.

Katie Piercy, DPsych
piercyk@uhcl.edu
Staff Therapist

Katie grew up in North Carolina, where she studied psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She then got her teaching certification and taught elementary school for fifteen years. After deciding to return to graduate school, she completed her doctorate at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and found a second career in counseling. Living and studying abroad was a highlight of her personal and professional life. Now with six years of counseling experience, Katie enjoys working with most any client issue, including loss, grief, and life transitions. 

Kwang Kim, PMHNP-BC
Consulting Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Kyana Bellon, M.C.
Doctoral Psychology Intern

Julie Grunhaus, M.A., M.S.Ed.
Doctoral Psychology Intern

Kendall Smith, M.A.
Doctoral Psychology Intern