Angela M. Pfeiffer, Ph.D

Clinical Psychologist

Life sure seems to have gotten harder lately.  So many of us feel stressed, anxious, depressed, overwhelmed.  Many of us are having difficulties with careers, parenting, partners, families, or even physical pain.  And as we all know, our kids are trying to manage so much that it is taking a toll on their mental and physical health too. This is where I come in.  

If you are looking for an experienced therapist / psychologist to help you get back to a place of peace, I am here for you.  I've been a licensed mental health provider since 1995, and I've been helping people in Sugar Land, Missouri City, greater Houston area with problems like these for over 20 years!   

My clients have described me as experienced, personable, nonjudgemental and even fun!  Through years of training and experience, I am grounded in psychology and counseling theory as well as scientific research on what is effective in helping people make the positive changes they are seeking.  

My goal is simple:  to help teens and adults lead happy, well-balanced lives.  I help people break through  obstacles (both internal and external obstacles) that are holding them back or blocking their progress towards specific goals.  Sometimes that goal is "simply" to find a sense of calm or peace.

So if you are looking for a therapist to help you shift from a difficult place to a more rewarding or peaceful place, I hope you will consider giving me a call or sending me an email!

Who I Work With

I very much enjoy working with adults and teens who are motivated to understand and improve patterns in their lives. Many of the people I work with are bright, driven, and engaging people who because of various current or past life issues find themselves not experiencing life they way the wish they could.  

In mental health diagnostic terms, this means I specialize in the following:

  • Anxiety, panic
  • Chronic Pain / Pain Reprocessing Therapy
  • Professionals Struggling with Work-Life Balance, Work Transitions or Adjustments
  • Depression
  • Divorce adjustment
  • Life transitions, such as divorce, career changes, retirement, losses
  • Parenting
  • Professionals Struggling with Work-Life Balance, Work Transitions or Adjustments
  • Stay At Home Parent Stress
  • Stress management


Chronic Pain Management

You may have noticed I specialize in Chronic Pain.  I am certified in Pain Reprocessing Therapy, which is a novel psychotherapy approach empirically shown to reduce or eliminate chronic pain.  The connection between emotional health and physical health is very powerful.  PRT uses psychotherapy and brain training techniques in a unique way to help re-learn how to process sensations as less painful.  I personally have found it unbelievably helpful in relieving my chronic knee pain. If you interested in learning more about PRT, click here.

Parenting Therapy

Since beginning my career at Texas Children's Hospital I found a love for working with parents who wish to help their children feel better and improve the dynamics in their families.  I have worked with parents for over 20 years, and am aware different strategies work for different families.  I have experience with traditional behavior modification strategies, collaborative problem solving strategies, emotionally supportive strategies, and family systems theory 

Treatment Approach

I believe in tailoring treatment to meet the needs of the individual, couple or family.  While much of my training has been in empirically supported cognitive behavioral therapy techniques, I am also experienced in providing therapy in an eclectic format that draws from Family Systems Theory, Meditation/Mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Pain Reprocessing Therapy, and Insight Oriented Therapy.  Some clients seek short term goal oriented therapy to address specific issues.  Others seek longer term therapy that addresses more ingrained, long standing personal or family issues.

Personal Note About Me

On a personal note, Fort Bend County has been a fantastic place for me to raise my family and build my practice.  So I like to give back to this community as much as I can.  I have served in the past on local PTA boards and Community Based Leadership Teams. I have been on the Board of Directors of the Literacy Council of Fort Bend County for over 10 years where I held several leadership roles.  I have also served as President and Executive Committee member for Fort Bend Psychological Association, and on the Membership Committee for Texas Psychological Association.  I am a graduate of the Leadership Forum for Non-Profits through the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce, an avid supporter of Child Advocates of Fort Bend County, and am long time volunteer and supporter of Girl Scouts of America.

I currently live with my husband and cat Gizmo.  My two wonderful children are married with jobs, cats and dogs of their own, and my first grandchild on the way! We all love nature and travel, and get away to hike as often as possible!

My Background

Undergraduate Education

  • Texas A&M University, College Station : 1990
  • Bachelor of Science Degree,  Psychology Graduated with Honors

Internships

  • Houston VAMC, Houston Texas : 1997
  • APA Approved Internship Program Rotations in Ambulatory Medicine, Depression Clinic, PTSD Clinic, Geriatrics, Neuropsychology, Inpatient Psychiatry, Drug and Alcohol Intervention

Graduate School Education

  • University of Memphis, Memphis, TN : 1997
    • Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Clinical Psychology
  • University of Memphis, Memphis, TN : 1993
    • Master of Science Degree, Clinical Psychology

Post Doctoral Training

  • Texas Children's Hospital, 1997-2003