Influential Woman · Mental Health Counseling Practice
Autumn Maxwell
Founder / LPC-A, Kander Counseling and Consulting PLLC
Dallas, TX
Her Story
About Autumn
My journey into mental health counseling began while earning my bachelor’s degree in social psychology. I initially knew that I wanted to work within the field of psychology, but during undergrad, I realized that my passion was specifically in mental health counseling. That led me to pursue my master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling, which I completed with honors.
Before becoming a counselor and opening my private practice, I served for six years in the Air National Guard, primarily with the 121st Air Refueling Wing in Ohio. During my service, I was part of the Fatality Search and Recovery Team and also held responsibilities related to fitness, recreation, and supporting the well-being of service members. At the same time, I built a civilian career in human resources while serving in the National Guard part-time.
My experiences in military service, leadership, and human resources gave me the opportunity to work alongside people from many different backgrounds and at very different points in their lives. Those experiences shaped the way I understand people, relationships, resilience, and the importance of having meaningful support. They also contributed to my desire to build a counseling practice where I could continue walking alongside people in a more intentional way.
Opening Kander Counseling and Consulting PLLC has been the fulfillment of a goal I have carried since graduating high school. Even then, I envisioned eventually earning my doctorate and building a practice of my own. Today, I am watching those goals take shape while pursuing my doctorate in psychology at Liberty University with a specialization in theology. My academic interests focus on the integration of psychology and theology and the ways psychological science and faith can meaningfully inform our understanding of people and their relationships.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Autumn
01What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
If I had to give young women one piece of advice, I would say: know your why. You don't have to have your whole life figured out, especially when you're young and still discovering who you are. But I think it is important to be intentional about the choices you make.
Ask yourself why you're choosing a certain path, what you hope to gain from it, and whether it aligns with who you are and the life you want to build. When you have a stronger sense of your why, it becomes easier to make decisions that feel aligned with your values, goals, and ultimately who you're becoming.
02What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in the mental health field right now is the gap between how many people need support and how difficult it can be to actually connect them with appropriate care. We are seeing significant mental health concerns among adolescents and young adults, while social media has also changed the way people learn about and understand mental health. Having access to information can be helpful, but it can also lead people to self-diagnose or interpret normal experiences through a clinical lens without the guidance of a professional.
At the same time, there are many people actively looking for help, but connecting them with the right therapist can still be surprisingly difficult. That is especially challenging in private practice, where clinicians are often responsible for making themselves visible and building referral networks while also providing care.
I think one of the opportunities within our field is for therapists to become more connected with one another. When clinicians build strong professional communities and referral relationships, we are better able to help people find the care that actually fits their needs.
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