Empowered Counseling Services, PLLC

01/23/2026

Bringing Years of Experience Into Clinical Practice

Emily Cisneros, M.Ed., LPC-Associate

Emily Cisneros brings a strong foundation of real-world experience into her counseling work. She served five years in education and additional time in Child Protective Services, allowing her to work extensively with children and adolescents ages 4–18, as well as their families. This background provides her with a deep understanding of developmental, behavioral, academic, and family-related challenges.

Emily also works with adults, supporting individuals experiencing depression, anxiety, emotional regulation difficulties, life transitions, and everyday stressors.

She holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a Bachelor’s degree in Rehabilitation Services. Emily is bilingual (English/Spanish) and practices as an LPC-Associate under the supervision of Griselda Alaniz, LPC-S. She is also an LCDC-Intern, allowing her to address co-occurring mental health and substance-related concerns when appropriate.

Areas of Focus

- Child & Adolescent Counseling (ages 4–18)

- Depression

- Anxiety & Stress Management

- Behavioral & Emotional Regulation

- Family Dynamics & Parenting Support

- School-Related Challenges

- Life Transitions & Coping Skills

- Substance Use & Co-Occurring Concerns

- Bilingual Counseling (English/Spanish)

New appointment availability is open. Emily accepts Aetna and Blue Cross Blue Shield.

📞 (956) 278-0021
🌐 www.empoweredrgv.com/appointments

01/20/2026

Teen drivers start here 🤍
February enrollment now open
Register today with a $50 deposit.
Ages 14–18 ✨

Los conductores adolescentes comienzan aquí 🤍
Inscripciones abiertas Clase de febrero
Asegure su inscripción hoy con un depósito de $50.
Para estudiantes de 14–18 años ✨

01/11/2026

📍 Rudy’s Friday Outreach – Continuing the Mission for Empowered Counseling Services

This past Friday, Rudy Solis continued our community outreach mission, visiting key partners across the Rio Grande Valley to strengthen relationships, share resources, and expand access to mental health and behavioral health services for the people we serve.

These visits are about more than just introductions — they are about building a strong, connected referral network so clients can get the right support, at the right time, from the right providers.

We are especially excited to share that one of Rudy’s stops was Westbrook Clinic, also known as Valley AIDS Council. We are already in early conversations and look forward to collaborating with their team on future projects that will help us better serve clients through integrated medical, behavioral, and supportive care services.

This is what community-based care looks like — showing up, building trust, and working together to remove barriers to treatment.

If your clinic, office, or organization would like Empowered Counseling Services to visit, partner, or provide information for your patients, feel free to reach out.

📞 Office: (956) 278-0021
🌐 Appointments: www.empoweredrgv.com/appointments

💬 Marketing & Office Visits: Message us here or contact Rudy Solis directly

Together, we are building a stronger, healthier Rio Grande Valley.

01/11/2026

Welcome Back to Our Practicum & Internship Team 💙

Today we had the pleasure of meeting with our practicum students and interns — some who have already begun seeing clients, and others who will officially return on January 20th.

These students are a vital part of Empowered Counseling Services. They bring compassion, dedication, and fresh energy into the work we do every day for our community. Their presence allows us to expand access to care while helping shape the next generation of mental health professionals.

We are grateful for their commitment and proud to walk alongside them as they grow into their roles.

📸 Left to right:
Brandon, Paul, Connie, Ruby, LPC-S Griselda Alaniz, Maria, Zenaida, and Katie

Here’s to another meaningful semester of learning, healing, and service — together.

01/10/2026

We’re Hiring! Join Empowered Counseling Services, PLLC

Empowered Counseling Services, PLLC is expanding, and we are currently seeking a fully licensed LPC or LCSW to join our team as an Independent Contractor.

What We Offer:
• Credentialing with insurance panels handled for you
• Scheduling support
• EHR access and management
• Administrative support so you can focus on clinical work
• A supportive, collaborative, and growth-oriented environment

Who We’re Looking For:
• Fully licensed LPC or LCSW (Texas)
• Clinicians who are ethical, motivated, and client-centered
• Professionals interested in building a sustainable caseload with support

✨ You focus on therapy. We take care of the rest.

📍 Find Us At: 324 W. Ocean Blvd,
Suite 203,204, 205
Los Fresnos, Texas 78566
Website: www.empoweredrgv.com
Email: griselda.alaniz@empoweredrgv.com

01/08/2026

Today, Rudy, our Marketing Manager visited 23 more offices across the city of Brownsville, continuing our mission of connecting with providers and strengthening community partnerships for Empowered Counseling Services PLLC.

At Empowered, we’re about more than services—we’re about the community. We show up, build relationships, and make sure people know help is available when it’s needed most.

📌 Now accepting more Blue Cross and Aetna patients — with expanded availability.

🔥 Grand total of offices visited so far: 50! 🔥

📅 For appointments:
📞 Call our office at (956) 278-0021
💬 Message us here
🌐 Visit www.empoweredrgv.com/appointments

🤝 For marketing and office visits:
💬 Message us here or
📞 Call Rudy Solis directly at (956) 708-7343

01/06/2026

‼️‼️‼️Now Taking New Patients ‼️‼️‼️

While we accept several insurance plans, this month we’ve extended availability specifically for Blue Cross Blue Shield and Aetna patients — including same-day appointments in some cases.
If you or someone you love has been waiting to start services, now is the time. 💙

📞 Call or message us for more information
(956)278-0021

🌐 Visit our website: www.empoweredrgv.com

📅 Book directly at: www.empoweredrgv.com/appointments

Empowered Counseling Services PLLC
Supporting your journey toward healing, growth, and empowerment.

01/06/2026

Today We Were Out in the Community !

Today we visited clinics in Port Isabel and North Brownsville, spreading the word about our services with Rudy Solis, Marketing Manager for Empowered Counseling Services PLLC.

We’re out here building relationships, shaking hands, and letting our RGV community know that Empowered Counseling Services is here to support mental health 🤍

If you’re a clinic, business, school, or hosting an event and have room for Empowered, we’re always happy to pull up and show support.

💬 Message us here or contact Rudy directly at (956) 708-7343.

01/05/2026

✨ Meet Our Marketing Manager – Rudy Jaden Solis ✨

We’re excited to officially introduce Rudy Jaden Solis, the Marketing Manager for Empowered Counseling Services PLLC.

Today, Rudy was out in the community visiting clinics across Brownsville, Harlingen, and Los Fresnos, sharing information about our counseling services, programs, and how we support individuals, families, and the community as a whole.

At Empowered Counseling Services, we believe in showing up, building relationships, and planting seeds of support wherever we’re welcomed.

If you’re a business, clinic, school, or hosting an event and have room for Empowered Counseling Services to be present, we’d love to connect.

📞 Contact Rudy directly: (956) 708-7343
🤝 Let’s work together to support our community.

01/05/2026

Jose is accepting new clients with same day availability.
Accepting BCBS, Aetna, and Private Pay.

Call us at 956-278-0021 or visit our page at https://www.empoweredrgv.com/appointments and request to see Jose.

INTRODUCING JOSE CASTRO, M.Ed, LPC-Associate

(Adolescents & Adults – CBT-Based Counseling)

We are proud to welcome Jose Castro, M.Ed, LPC-Associate, to Empowered Counseling Services!

Jose is dedicated to helping individuals move toward clarity, resilience, and emotional well-being. With a counseling approach grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), he focuses on helping clients understand unhelpful thinking patterns, build healthier coping skills, and gain tools to navigate everyday challenges.

Jose creates a safe, compassionate, and non-judgmental space where clients can process life transitions, improve self-esteem, and work through emotional hardships. He provides individual counseling for adolescents and adults.

Areas of Support

• Depressive Symptoms
• Anxiety & Overthinking
• Life Transitions
• Relationship Issues
• Burnout & Emotional Fatigue
• Low Self-Esteem
• Boundaries & Self-Care

Education

• AAS in Criminal Justice
• BS in Psychology
• M.Ed in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Jose Castro, M.Ed, LPC-Associate
License #100720
Supervised by Griselda A. Alaniz, LPC-S (License #77477)

📩 Jose is now accepting new clients. Join us in welcoming him to the Empowered team!

12/18/2025

Funeral Services for Ninfa Alaniz Sauceda. I thank everyone for your thoughts and prayers.

My Aunt Ninfa was such a loving and giving soul, we are missing her deeply. She left us too soon.

Ninfa helped her parents at the Original Alaniz Tortilla Factory, owned Tiffany's Stop and Go and most recently owned DakDoc convenience store in Brownsville's La Famosa Southmost Area.

-Griselda A. Alaniz
Owner of Empowered Counseling Services

Ninfa Sauceda, born on May 22nd, 1956, in Brownsville, Texas, passed away peacefully on December 15, 2025, in her hometown of Brownsville. She was 69 years old. Ninfa was a lifelong resident of Brownsville, where she built a life rooted in family and community. Her presence touched the lives of many...