Existential Therapy in Houston
You’ve achieved, endured, maybe even outgrown things you once thought would fulfill you. And still… something feels hollow.
You might be wondering:
What’s the point of all this?
Who am I, really, beyond the roles I play?
Why do I feel so disconnected, even when I’m doing everything “right”?
At Rooted Therapy, we offer existential therapy in Houston and online across Texas for individuals navigating identity, purpose, and the emotional weight of being human.
What is existential therapy?
Existential therapy is a depth-oriented approach that explores the core questions of human experience: freedom, identity, meaning, isolation, mortality, and choice. It’s not about “fixing” symptoms as much as helping you understand your experience in a fuller, more honest way.
Rather than pathologizing your thoughts or feelings, we explore them with curiosity. Together, we look at how you’re living, what feels aligned (or not), and what beliefs or fears may be shaping your sense of self.
This approach is ideal for people who:
Feel empty, stuck, or disconnected from their lives
Are going through a major life shift or identity crisis
Struggle with overthinking or emotional disconnection
Find themselves asking “what now?” after reaching big goals
Are carrying grief, regret, or unresolved existential pain
Crave a deeper, more grounded connection to themselves
It’s Not About Toxic Positivity
We don’t gloss over your pain, and we don’t try to reframe everything into a silver lining.
Existential therapy holds space for discomfort, contradiction, and complexity. It invites you to be real about your pain without letting it define you. It’s a place to name the questions you’ve been afraid to ask and explore how to live more truthfully in the face of them.
Work with someone you connect with
-
Lauren Palmer
MA, LPC · Practice Owner
WHO SHE WORKS WITH
Works with thoughtful, high-functioning adults who understand themselves pretty well but still feel stuck in anxiety, perfectionism, trauma, or painful relationship patterns.
FOCUS AREAS
High-Functioning Anxiety
Trauma & Attachment
Perfectionism
Relationship Patterns
Burnout & Disconnection -
Alyssa Garcia
MS, LPC-Associate, Bilingual English/Spanish
WHO SHE WORKS WITH
Works with adults and couples navigating grief, relationship changes, and the tension between family or cultural expectations and figuring out what feels true to them.
FOCUS AREAS
Grief & Loss
Trauma & EMDR
Family, Culture & Belonging
Relationships & Attachment
Life Transitions & Identity -
Chloe Espenan
LMSW
WHO SHE WORKS WITH
Works with adults, couples, and teens (13+) navigating depression, codependency, substance use, complicated relationships with food, and coping patterns that aren’t working anymore.
FOCUS AREAS
Depression
Codependency
Substance Use & Process Addictions
Disordered Eating Patterns
Anxiety & Self-Criticism -
Michelle Saltzer
MA, LPC-Associate
WHO SHE WORKS WITH
Works with adults and couples who overthink, people-please, avoid conflict, and struggle to say what they need, especially in their closest relationships.
FOCUS AREAS
Anxiety
People-Pleasing
Self-Criticism
Relationships
Fertility, Perinatal & Postpartum
Couples Therapy -
Lauren Bigelow
LMSW
WHO SHE WORKS WITH
Works with adults and couples navigating burnout, grief, neurodivergence, chronic illness, and the exhaustion of being the person everyone else relies on.
FOCUS AREAS
Neurodivergence
Chronic Illness
Grief & Loss
Burnout & Caregiver Fatigue
Anxiety & Perfectionism
Perimenopause -
Haley Macek
MS, LPC-Associate
WHO SHE WORKS WITH
Works with adults, teens (13+), and couples who feel disconnected from themselves, stuck in painful relationships, or exhausted from trying to be who everyone expects them to be.
FOCUS AREAS
Anxiety & Depression
Trauma
Relationships & Attachment
LGBTQIA+ Identity & Belonging
Support After Sexual or Domestic Violence -
Sana Maaz
MA, LMFT-Associate
WHO SHE WORKS WITH
Works with adults and couples feeling lost, disconnected, or unsure of who they are anymore, especially in the aftermath of trauma, anxiety, or major life change.
FOCUS AREAS
Trauma & Attachment
Anxiety
Couples & Relationship Patterns
Cultural Identity
Life Transitions
Self-Discovery & Identity Shifts
How We Work at Rooted Therapy
At Rooted Therapy, existential work is trauma-informed, emotionally attuned, and tailored to your lived experience. We integrate approaches like IFS, ACT, and somatic therapy when helpful, but always with the goal of helping you reconnect with your sense of agency and aliveness.
In session, we may explore:
Your values, beliefs, and personal philosophy
The ways disconnection or numbness show up in your daily life
Grief over who you were, or who you never got to be
The tension between responsibility and freedom
How to tolerate uncertainty and build a life rooted in meaning
You don’t need to have the answers. You just need space to ask the real questions.
Existential Therapy in Houston
Whether you’re in the middle of a life transition or quietly struggling with disconnection and meaninglessness, existential therapy offers a space to reflect, reclaim, and realign.
We offer both in-person existential therapy in Houston and virtual therapy across Texas, so you can access support wherever you are.
Ready to Explore What’s Underneath?
You don’t need to go through this alone. If you’re seeking something deeper—therapy that meets you in your questions and not just your symptoms—Rooted Therapy is here.