About Dr. Jacqueline Mercado

Dr. Jacqueline Mercado is a bilingual Licensed Professional Counselor dedicated to providing compassionate, culturally responsive, and trauma-informed mental health services to children, adolescents, adults, and families throughout Texas. She earned her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, where she also completed her master’s and bachelor’s training in rehabilitation and counseling services.

Dr. Mercado has experience working across educational, community mental health, behavioral health, and counseling settings serving diverse and underserved populations. Throughout her career, she has provided counseling services, crisis intervention, psychoeducation, and emotional support to children, adolescents, college students, individuals with disabilities, and families navigating life transitions and personal challenges.

In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Mercado has contributed to counselor education and research through university teaching, conference presentations, and published scholarly work focused on caregiving stress, disability, and underserved populations. Her background includes experience facilitating psychoeducational groups, supporting students in academic and emotional settings, and promoting mental health awareness through workshops and presentations.

Dr. Mercado’s therapeutic approach is collaborative, personalized, and grounded in empathy, professionalism, and evidence-based care. She utilizes approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), strengths-based interventions, expressive techniques, and trauma-informed care to support emotional healing, resilience, and personal growth. She believes meaningful change begins with trust, connection, and creating a safe, supportive environment where clients feel heard, respected, and empowered throughout their healing journey.