Meet Our Therapists

Bryant Howard
Licensed Marriage and Family
Therapist,
LMFT.
Owner and Founder of
Heart of the matter counseling
Bryant Howard is a Licensed marriage and family therapist here in the Sacramento area.
He is originally from the small town of Derby, Connecticut. Bryant has always had a natural gift of listening and supporting others in times of crisis. He was often who his friends and even acquaintances would go to for advice or support. Read More
After graduating from his local high school it was clear to Bryant not only would he pursue a career in therapy, but would also pursue his college career in California. He first attend a community college in Southern California called Antelope Valley College, and studied there for about three years . He later traveled up north to Sacramento where He attended Sacramento City College and California State University Sacramento (CSUS or Sac State). He received his Associates degree in Psychology from Sacramento City College and his Bachelors in Psychology from Sacramento State. Bryant attended the University of San Francisco to pursue his Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology. His program focused on Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT). After three years of studying and training He completed the program and obtained his Masters degree. Bryant spent four years working at a community based non-for profit agency within Sacramento, working with families and their youth. In his private practice Bryant has helped many individuals and couples with their relationship issues and mental health needs.

Christina Owen
Adminstration
Hi! My name is Christina Owen, I am the administrative assistant here with Heart of the Matter Counseling! As one of the first people you will speak with I strive on making the onboarding process effortless and smooth for you. Read More
With such admiration, I have been a part of Heart of the Matter Counseling’s team since 2019. I love getting to share this work family while also knowing each team member is behind me. I confidently know that these counselors and myself, want to show support in all the ways that can matter for our guests. We treat clients as our guests because we want you to experience that ‘comforting’ feeling.
I may not be providing strength for you inside your session room, though I will provide different strength for you on the outside. The insurance outside that is! Insurance can be confusing and so tough to understand at times, but this is where I come in to help! I will verify or assist with any questions you may have regarding your insurance!
The practice is waiting for your outreach so I can help make your first steps toward a big, life-altering decision – easy, and our counselors are waiting to make that big difference!
Thank you for your interest in Heart of the Matter Counseling, we hope you choose us!

Bryanna Cobb,
Adminstration
Welcome! My name is Bryanna Cobb, and I am the new Administrative Assistant here at Heart of the Matter Counseling. I will be one of the first people you interact with, and my job is to make it go as smoothly as possible. Read More

Rachel Sapozink
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Welcome to Heart of the Matter Counseling! I know it can be difficult to talk to someone new about your personal issues, but I’m thankful that you are taking a step towards personal growth, and I’ll be here to guide you throughout your journey to a better you! But first things first: Read More

Monica Hefner
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW
Hi! My name is Monica. Thank you for your interest in me as your therapist. My goal is to partner with and empower my clients on their mental health journey. I see us all as people-in-progress, so rest assured that you are coming into a safe and judgment-free space. Read More
I am a Sacramento native. I graduated from Sac State in 2015 and have worked in various positions in the field of mental health throughout the Sacramento area for six years.
I draw from a number of therapeutic approaches and am trained in trauma informed care. I pride myself in mindful, culturally humble care, and am committed to meeting each of my clients where they are at.

Yvette Wilhite
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Yvette is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 4 years of experience working with children, teens, adults, families, and couples. She has worked for Heart of the Matter Counseling since 2020. Read More
Yvette desires to empower families, couples, and individuals to overcome obstacles they encounter that hinder them from experiencing healthy and positive relationships and from being their best selves. She believes we all have the potential to be great and would like to help facilitate one reaching his or her greatest potential. Understanding that we will face difficulties in life, Yvette hopes to encourage a positive outlook and better ways to deal with negative situations as well as negative thoughts and emotions that often arise when we encounter these difficulties. Yvette’s goal is to help individuals reach their highest potential and to help couples and families live more harmonious and happier lives together.
Do you ever feel overwhelmed by feelings of depression or anxiety? Do you have difficulty making and/or maintaining relationships and experience feelings of aloneness as a result? Yvette invites you to sit down and talk with her. She would like to build a therapeutic relationship of trust, respect, and rapport, where together you can explore strategies that allow you to address the root causes of the issues you may be experiencing and work towards positive change.
Yvette is currently training to become a Beck Institute CBT Certified Clinician.
Yvette is a Retired US Air Force Veteran.

Melanie Pang
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW
Everyone is working on being the best version of themselves. Therapy can help you get to that goal. The idea of starting therapy can be intimidating and overwhelming, so I commend you for being here today. My goal is to support you and meet you where you are in your journey.
My name is Melanie Pang and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I received my Masters of Social Work and Bachelors in Psychology. I speak English and Cantonese. Read More
I’ve worked with children with Autism, clients with HIV+ diagnosis, and children with depression, anxiety, ADHD, and trauma. In addition, I also provided services to children who have been abused and/or neglected. My most recent experience included working at a community-based mental health agency with adults dealing with depression, anxiety, trauma, homelessness, psychotic disorders, and substance use. As an Asian-American female, I understand how much stigma there is to talk about mental health. I am here to normalize and provide a safe space for you. I look forward to meeting you and being a puzzle piece to your journey!

Caitlin O’Donnell
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
I am a passionate mental health advocate who has been working in the field for close to 8 years.
My journey to becoming a therapist has consisted of lived experience and education. I received my Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from The University of Phoenix and became an Associate in February of 2020. Read More
I have extensive experience working with impoverished families, crisis intervention, high acuity diagnosis, substance use disorder, and trauma. I believe that you are the expert in the room and I strive to empower the expert within. I look forward to meeting you!
My time in this field has taught me the value of meeting people where they are at and leaning into experiences with an open heart and mind. My desire is to provide my clients with a safe place to land on their journey.

Darcy Jackson
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Originally from Connecticut I moved to California to pursue a new journey. Along this path, it has allowed me to be a therapist who is compassionate, funny, yet challenging. I like to use these skills, all while linking solid professional education with personal experience in supporting people to find their inner gifts. Read More
I offer warmhearted treatment for people who need assistance in overcoming the impacts of negative life experiences. I help clients improve their quality of life by developing coping skills, processing their thoughts, feelings & experiences.
I operate from an empathic, non-judgmental, and multicultural lens that focuses on inclusion. In addition to my therapeutic work, I have a history and passion for working with those who are justice impacted. This includes those that are incarcerated, and the families impacted by incarceration.
I believe that we all have a story and at times it may seem we need guidance to move between chapters. Whether you are at the beginning or middle or concluding season of life’s book. I look forward to being alongside this journey.

Danielle Wood
Associate Clinician Social Worker, ACSW
I know we are all born as a promise to the world with a unique set of gifts and abilities, with a divine right to space on the planet by virtue of our birth, but life can get in the way of us knowing these truths. If you are looking for a therapist to help you on your healing journey, congratulations! Starting is the hard part! Read More
I love holding safe, accepting, and authentic space for clients and respect that you already have everything you need within you to heal. Sometimes, we just need someone with a good set of tools to remind us who we are. Someone who reminds us of the strength in our resilience, in our roots, in our faith(s), in our communities, in the pearls of our tragedies. Through gentle use of evidence-based practices and years of experience, I have helped many clients move closer to their authentic, actualized selves and realize the promise they were meant to be, and it is always a blessing and an honor.
I am originally from Sacramento and prior to my career as a therapist, I worked for five years as a Behavioral Counselor with developmentally delayed adults and then as a preschool teacher, both in Santa Cruz, Ca. I obtained Preschool Teacher certification and a Bachelor’s in Child Development. I received my Master’s in Social Work from San Jose State in 2017 and worked with Sacramento County families and children until 2022, completing my two years of clinical supervision working with youth and families at a local non-profit. I have received additional training in trauma, play therapy, sand tray therapy, and EMDR. I use evidence-based approaches and am always seeking to expand my knowledge base to be the best therapist I can. I have worked with a variety of clients from many different populations and backgrounds and am an advocate and ally of communities that experience oppression and marginalization at the macro and micro levels, from African American, Indigenous/Native, Latinx, various Asian communities, Queer and Trans, persons who are autistic, and person with delays and other cognitive impairments. I am also recovery friendly. My wish for you is that you find a match in a therapist so great that every week is a relief, and you get momentum on your healing journey, and one day soon, you start recognizing your joy and your light and the promise of yourself again, and the next thing you know, you will be off in the world, shining, all by yourself, just like I knew you would!

Linda Loessberg-Zahl
Associate Marriage & Family Therapist, AMFT
Life can be rough – even very difficult. We all know that, but in the midst of those hard times we often don’t recognize our own strengths, skills, and wisdom. Read More
My commitment as a therapist is to listen deeply to you and your wisdom, to collaborate with you, to advocate for you, and help you find the way forward to greater healing and hope in your life.
I’ve worked with people of different ages, ethnicities, races, nationalities, spiritualities, immigration status, sexual orientations, gender identities, political perspectives, and socio- economic statuses. My respect and appreciation for our amazing human diversity began as I lived in different countries and in many different regions of this country.
I’ve had the privilege of accompanying clients as they’ve faced crisis, anxiety, depression, loss, relationship and parenting challenges, trauma, and esteem and identity issues.
I received a Master of Science in Counseling with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy from California State University in Sacramento and am a registered Marriage and Family Therapist (#128573). I approach therapy from a Narrative perspective and use insights from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Family Systems Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Mindful Self-Compassion.
My approach to counseling is that you are not the problem – the problem is the problem – and I know you have the ability to find the way forward.
I look forward to meeting you and hearing your story!

Elizabeth Agusti Becerra
Associate Marriage & Family Therapist, AMFT
Welcome to Heart of the Matter Counseling. I am glad you are taking steps to take care of yourself!
Getting support when you are facing life challenges makes a big difference. My desire is to walk alongside you and help you in your journey towards healing.Read More
I have a Master of Science degree in Counseling Psychology and I am a Registered Associate Marriage and Family therapist. I am also fluent in English and Spanish. I have experience working in higher education and mental health. I have worked with children and young adults in school settings and I have been providing individual, couple, and family therapy in-person and through telehealth for the last 2 years.
During my time working with children, adolescents and families, I have gained experience in treating symptoms of anxiety and depression. In addition, I have helped parents assist their children when dealing with challenging behaviors. During my time working with adults, I have expanded my competence in treating addiction, codependency, and trauma.
I am confident in our ability to work together to potentiate your mental health and achieve your goals for therapy.

Maya Washington
Associate Marriage & Family Therapist, AMFT
Hello! My name is Maya Washington. Thank you for your interest in me as your therapist. I received my master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Saint Mary’s College of California in Moraga, CA and became an Associate Marriage in Family Therapist in December of 2021. As your therapist, my goal is for my clients to feel comfortable speaking to me in a safe, relaxed, and judgment free zone. Read More
During therapy, I see clients as experts on their own lives. My job is to guide and facilitate clients on the path they want to go on, or goal(s) they want to reach. Although my approach to therapy is through relational and attachment-based therapy, and mindfulness-based work, I do draw from many different therapeutic approaches to fit each individual client. Let’s work together to achieve and accomplish goals! I look forward to meeting you!

Thelma Zazueta
Associate Marriage & Family Therapist, AMFT
Welcome to Heart of the Matter Counseling. My name is Thelma, and I am grateful that you took the opportunity to read my profile. Many things are happening in our world right now that can make us feel stressed, anxious, sad, or depressed. But you are not alone. Read More
I have a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. I am also fluent in English and Spanish. My work experience in mental health began in 2014 when I started working as a Case Manager at a Community Mental Health Clinic. Then I transitioned in 2016 to my internship site, where I had the opportunity to work with children, adolescents, and their families. In 2017, I returned to work at the same Community Mental Health Clinic where I started as a case manager, but this time my work was as a Mental Health Therapist where I focused on treating the adult and geriatric population.
While working in these agencies, I gained experience treating symptoms related to anxiety, depression, life transitions, grief and loss, relationship issues, and posttraumatic stress.
I would love to learn more about you and support you through the journey of growth and wellness while you envision your new future.

Veronica Villanueva
Associate Marriage & Family Therapist, AMFT
Hello, my name is Veronica Villanueva! I was born and raised in Mexico before coming to the U.S. and pursuing my education. I completed my master’s degree in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling and currently am registered as an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist.Read More
My therapeutic style is client-centered with specialties in narrative and acceptance techniques, though I take a flexible approach to meet each person’s individual needs. I like to empower my clients to gain greater confidence, practice self-compassion, and write a new story that allows them to be the best version of themselves.

Kyle Pettit
Associate Marriage & Family Therapist, AMFT
Taking your first steps into the world of therapy can often be an unfamiliar and uncomfortable process. Coming to terms with the fact that we need some form of support can be an important chapter in our lives. I’m here to show you that this part of your life story doesn’t have to be taken alone. Read More
My journey into the world of therapy began in 2016 after working as a data collector and analyzer for different psychological surveys. I quickly discovered that I wanted to have a much more active role for the people in my community. This eventually led me to receive my Master’s in counseling which allowed me to give back in a more fulfilling way. I have worked with adolescents and their family members in school settings as well as adults for individual, couples, and family therapy.
I have experience working with clients struggling with depression, anger, self-esteem, grief, significant life transitions, as well as many different forms of anxiety and stress related difficulties. I also have experience facilitating therapy for individuals working though sensitive aspects of relationships including intimacy, especially for men who are engaging in therapy for the first time.
I believe each person has a unique story to tell and thus benefits from an equally unique approach. While the content of treatment remains consistent throughout my clients, I place a great deal of value on how the treatment is applied by tailoring our sessions based on what you need. To me, therapy is a collaborative process and one that requires effort on both our ends to realize meaningful change. I would love to have the opportunity to be even a small part of your much larger and beautiful story.