Dr. Brenda Letterino Garcia

Licensed Professional Counselor

Certified Clinical Trauma Professional

I began my career in Dallas, teaching at an inner-city school, developing programs for at-risk girls, and volunteering with a sidewalk Sunday school program designed to bring hope to some of the city's most challenging neighborhoods. From there, I went on to work as Youth Prevention Director and Victim Liaison for a local anti-trafficking organization. In this role, I collaborated to develop a prevention program and worked as a juvenile detention coordinator, taking that program into detention centers, schools, CPS groups, and youth shelters across the state of Texas. As a result of that program, I had the opportunity to work one-on-one with hundreds of survivors of sex trafficking and trauma. In addition, I have trained law enforcement, probation officers, detention staff, educators, counselors, and other professionals.

It was while working with girls in detention centers that I noticed a gap in services for victims. Once girls self-identified as survivors of sex trafficking or sexual abuse, there was little to no trauma-informed follow-up within the system. When girls were released, there was little to no therapy/services available for families without the financial means to cover the cost. Consequently, I began to see the same girls cycling in and out of the juvenile justice system. Frustrated by the service gap and driven to meet the needs of the girls I had grown to love, I completed a master’s degree in professional counseling. While doing so, I worked at a local children's advocacy center with survivors of trauma. Currently, I am partnering with nonprofit organizations in North Texas to provide counseling services for trauma survivors and women in crisis. Also, I serve on the advisory board for an anti-trafficking nonprofit organization in New Orleans, Louisiana where I partner to do street outreach for homeless women who are being trafficked.

For 25+ years, I have worked in one capacity or another with designated groups of at-risk youth and women, developing programs to ensure their success. The Trauma Recovery and Treatment Center and Gospel Trauma Care Initiative were birthed from the same drive to see women and girls who have been victimized by sexual exploitation and/or sexual abuse recognize their worth, realize their full potential, and receive services regardless of their ability to pay.