Voyage Houston Magazine: Meet Viviana Coles
Today we’d like to introduce you to Viviana Coles.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Viviana. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was born and raised in Houston and as a Junior at Duchesne Academy, I remember being asked my college counselor Ms. Epps what I enjoyed doing most. I quickly replied with a grin, “Well, I love to talk but that’s not a job.” She then said, “Oh, yes, it is, but it depends on what you like to talk about.” I shared with her that I seemed to always be talking to friends and acquaintances about their problems at home or with their boyfriends and she encouraged me to take Psych 101 and Sociology 101 my first semester of college. I was hooked. Coming from an entrepreneurial family of professionals, I knew I’d be going for my doctorate in Marriage and Family Therapy with an ultimate goal to be the best relationship therapist in private practice in Houston. While in my first year in Graduate school, I opted to become a Certified Sex Therapist “in case any of my clients ever ask me about sexual issues.” Once I moved back home in 2007 after completing my doctoral courses, I put that I was a Certified Sex Therapist on my business card and within the next year, I brought on my first intern to help with my client load. I currently have six associates working with me at 2 locations with plans for online expansion, I created the Texas Sex Therapy Institute to help other mental health professionals become Certified Sex Therapists. I am currently a featured relationship and sex expert on Lifetime’s “Married at First Sight” where I am able to use my experience and training in a very unique way. I’m writing two books and developing online programs for couples in need of practical and effective relationship help.
Has it been a smooth road?
Thanks to my incredibly supportive parents Gabriel and Silvia, my educational pursuits have gone smoothly. They allowed me to always put my coursework first which permitted me to finish my undergraduate work in three years and my Master’s in two years. Getting through my Doctoral studies was another story. I met and married my husband, we had our daughter, and it took becoming pregnant with our son to really light a fire under me. My goal was to complete my Doctorate in Marriage and Family Therapy before he was born because I knew how difficult it would be to do it once he was here. So, in June of 2011, I walked across the Commencement stage at 7.5 months pregnant (I even received special permission to fly) looking like a ripe blueberry. More recently, my husband continues to help me juggle my TV life with our home life. He is beyond supportive of this new facet of my career even though it takes me away a few times a month. And when we are feeling the distance, a date night is always in order.
If you have any further questions about this topic or to schedule a session with one of our clinicians, please CONTACT US.
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