Dr. Katie Sharp

Qualifications & Experience

I received my Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Clinical Psychology from the University of Kansas. I began seeing clients under supervision in 2011 and have gained experience since then in a variety of settings, including hospital systems, outpatient mental health clinics, and inpatient facilities. I started working exclusively in outpatient mental health care settings as a licensed psychologist in 2016, giving me 15 years of experience in the mental health field. I have completed training in Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD (CPT), prolonged exposure (PE) for PTSD, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

In addition to my clinical work, I have served in a variety of helping roles throughout my early career, including volunteering as a pet grief counselor for the SPCA of Texas, providing meal support for eating disorder residents at Thalia House, working with youth at Boys Town, and supporting individuals with developmental disabilities in community living settings. These experiences reinforced my passion for helping others navigate difficult life circumstances and strengthened the empathy and compassion I bring to my counseling practice.

My Call to Christian Counseling

From a young age, I’ve had a deep sense of empathy and a longing for connection with others. I’ve always thought deeply about things, and the human mind has always been an area of fascination. When I discovered the field of psychology, I fell in love. Clinical psychology appealed to me because of its research foundation and the opportunity to work with individuals in need. I had strayed from my Christian upbringing when introduced to the scientific model, trading my pursuit of God for scientific explanations. However, after experiencing deep wounds from grief and loss, I found myself calling out to God once again, and He more than answered through a profound spiritual awakening. So, if you find yourself in deep pain, losing faith, and feeling hopeless, I have been there. I also now see how God was there all along, turning my mud into true miracles. After a short time away from work, I decided that I would use my God-given gifts for His purpose and to fulfill His calling by pursuing Christian counseling. Sometimes God closes doors because He has greater ones to open for us. I’ve learned to trust in Him even in the darkest moments because He uses everything for the greater good.

More About Me/On a Personal Note

God gave me gifts to work with animals and a special affinity for dogs in particular. I believe that each dog chosen for me taught me lessons I needed to learn in certain seasons of my life. When my husband and I got our first dog together (a very high-achieving, smart, cunning Cocker Spaniel named Louie), we had no idea the gift we’d been given. I started competing with him in the sport of dog agility, and fell in love. He ended up taking me all across the nation, placing in many big competitions, including many in Orlando, FL. He was the fastest Cocker Spaniel in the U.S. for many years in a row, and he was even shown on ESPN. We put together dance routines for national trick dog competitions and had a blast together. I now have four dogs, and we compete (though less often) in agility and scent work.

On a more personal note, I also love to run in nature while listening to my favorite worship music and talking to God. The beach or exploring other beautiful (albeit warm) spots in nature are so grounding to me. I also sketch portraits from time to time and write poetry or just engage in freestyle writing as my creative outlets. I love to sing and dance with my 3-year-old daughter, although this is more on the untalented, silly side!

Areas of Expertise/Specialties

• Abandonment and Neglect
• ADHD
• Aging and Geriatric Issues
• Anger Management
• Anxiety
• Chemical Dependency
• Counseling for Teens
• Codependency
• Depression
• Eating Disorders
• Grief and Loss
• Individual Counseling
• OCD
• Online Counseling
• Personal Development
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Psychiatric Care Services
• Psychological Testing
• Relationship Issues
• Sex and Porn Addiction
• Sexual Abuse
• Spiritual Development
• Trauma
• Weight Loss
• Women’s Issues

OCD

OCD is characterized by unwanted, intrusive thoughts followed by compulsive behaviors in an attempt to neutralize the associated discomfort (e.g., compulsively cleaning, washing, organizing, googling, researching, asking for reassurance, etc.). I believe the enemy places these thoughts in our minds and it is our responsibility to place our faith in God and do the next right thing. This means we let go of the compulsive behaviors that reflect our need for control. This biblical approach is also the root of the gold-standard treatment for OCD called Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). I will challenge you to acknowledge your fearful feelings but have faith that God is in control as you work to let go in order to let God break the chains of this often life-altering struggle. Where our own control efforts backfire, God is and was always in control if we learn to let go and let Him.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

PTSD occurs when someone experiences or witnesses a life-threatening, terrifying, or deeply traumatic event. Sadly, due to modern technology including social media, exposure to such events is at an all-time high, affecting more individuals including vulnerable children. PTSD can cause unwanted, intrusive memories; avoidance of people, places, and situations that may evoke unwanted feelings or thoughts related to the event(s); negative changes in mood or thinking; and an increase in reactivity or arousal levels (e.g., becoming hypervigilant or jumpy).

God does not want us to live in fear or to believe the enemy’s narrative about our safety. Thus, gentle exposure to safe but triggering stimuli and modifying behaviors and thoughts that perpetuate our fears are an integral part of treatment. I have training in both Cognitive Processing Therapy and Prolonged Exposure (PE) for the treatment of PTSD, and I spent a year of my internship working with veterans with PTSD in a VA setting.

Most importantly, asking God and opening our minds to how God can use our pain for His purpose may lead to a condition of what science calls post-traumatic growth, which is a positive psychological transformation individuals can experience after surviving major life crises or traumatic events. Thus, we have the potential to grow even more spiritually connected or into a greater purpose for God as a result of these events. Miracles are still possible even after these extreme experiences.

Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders can include symptoms of unwanted worry, rumination, uncomfortable physiological sensations (e.g., rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, etc.), and panic attacks. Oftentimes, the human tendency is to seek comfort by running away from these unwanted inner experiences. However, when we are so focused on getting away from them and label them as “bad,” we can easily become caught in control behaviors that lead us farther away from our values and our faith.

Remember that anxiety “stories,” as I like to call them, usually never come true, but the enemy likes us to believe scary stories about the future to distract us from our calling and faith. “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Mindfulness through prayer, meditation, etc., and an open mind can allow us to be still long enough to accept unwanted experiences and respond with a faithful heart rather than reacting in ways that lead to more pain and suffering.

Addiction

My office will always be a non-judgmental place for you to check your shame at the door because it doesn’t belong here anymore. After all, God sacrificed His Son Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins, so shame belongs only to the devil.The famous psychiatrist/psychotherapist Carl Jung worked with addicts and alcoholics and concluded that chronic addiction was a spiritual malady that could only be healed through a profound spiritual awakening. In fact, it informed the 12 steps of common recovery groups today (e.g., AA, Celebrate Recovery, Regeneration, etc.). We can ask God to show us purpose in our pain so that we can not only recover, but be better versions of ourselves than we were before addiction took over. It IS possible! I believe that God has a powerful testimony for you in this!

Eating Disorders and Body Dysmorphia

The beautiful thing about the Word of God is that we are constantly reminded just how much He loves us. Indeed, God promises that “you are fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). Your value comes from being God’s creation, not from the opinions or values of the world. When we criticize ourselves, hold on to others’ opinions of us, or avoid connecting with others out of anxiety about our appearance, we are telling God that His creation is flawed. It is difficult, however, to let go of our control behaviors (restricting, bingeing, purging, weighing, counting calories, obsessively reading labels, etc.). But these control behaviors contribute to the problem rather than alleviate it.

God reminds us that your “what ifs” are nothing compared to the Great I Am. To love yourself as God intended means acting as if you were nurturing yourself like a small, dependent child—because you are God’s most precious child. He hurts when He witnesses you harming your body as you would hurt if you witnessed your own child or loved one harming themselves in similar ways. I can help by giving you tools to manage the anxiety and discomfort that can accompany any meaningful change as you learn to act on and lean deeper into your faith.

Availability (by office location):

• Rockwall – Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays
• Rowlett – Tuesdays and Wednesdays
• Online Counseling – Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays

Fees: I offer a Risk-Free Initial Session for individuals looking to pursue counseling with me. Please note that there is a fee for the Risk-Free Initial Session as it is a clinical hour and reimbursable to most insurance companies, but if you choose not to reschedule and continue therapy after the initial session, the entire fee for the session will be waived. For ongoing treatment, the full fee per session is required at the time of service.

Insurance: As a Licensed Psychologist, most insurance companies will reimburse for a portion of my services (as an Out-of-Network Provider). Please consult with your insurance provider to determine whether your plan specifically covers adolescents, individuals, and couples.

Receipts/Statements: In the event you require a printed or digital receipt, I will provide receipts for personal use, insurance reimbursement, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), and Health Savings Accounts (HSA).

Payment options: Cash, check, or credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express). A fee of up to 4% per transaction may be added for credit card payments.