About Deonka Howard
Focus areas
Couples Conflict Resolution
Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT)
Therapy
Couples Therapy
Family Therapy/ Marriage Therapy
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
Divorce Counseling
Stress Management
Clientele seen
Children (<13)
Adults (25-64)
Couples
Teenagers (13-17)
Individuals
Young adults (18-24)
Families
Treatment approaches
Family Systems
Structural Family Therapy
Play Therapy
Trauma Focused
Sandplay
Art Therapy
Identity
Gender
FemaleEthnicity
Black or African American
Languages spoken
English
Getting to know Deonka Howard
Couples & Adults
I am currently accepting new adult clients (18+) for in person and virtual sessions.
As a therapist, I work with individuals navigating challenges such as anxiety, trauma, bipolar symptoms, ADHD, and depression. I hold a Bachelor's degree from Dillard University and a Master's degree from Xavier University of Louisiana. With experience supporting individuals, couples, and families, I am deeply committed to helping clients achieve breakthroughs that lead to personal growth and healing.
I practice using an Adlerian approach, which allows me to understand each client's unique lifestyle, relationships, and past experiences. By incorporating evidence-based principles, I work collaboratively with clients to address mental health concerns and foster meaningful change. My goal is to support individuals who are ready to engage in self-improvement and build a more fulfilling life.
I am part of the Healthy Avenues Medical Group family, where I am part of a multidisciplinary team that allows individuals, couples, and families to access different types of behavioral health support within one location. My goal is to help clients strengthen their relationships, develop practical coping skills, and create meaningful, lasting change, both individually and together.
What should a new client know about working with you?
Starting therapy can feel unfamiliar, especially when you are sharing personal concerns with someone new. I work to create a welcoming, nonjudgmental environment where clients can feel comfortable being open, honest, and themselves.
When working with couples, I believe both partners deserve to feel heard and respected. My role is not to take sides, but to help couples understand their patterns, improve communication, work through conflict, and build healthier ways of relating to one another. I approach couples therapy with the goal of creating a balanced and supportive space where both individuals can participate meaningfully in the process.
Sometimes relationship concerns are also connected to individual challenges. One benefit of receiving care at Healthy Avenues Medical Group is access to a broader behavioral health team. When clinically appropriate, partners may have the option of working individually with different therapists within the practice, including both male and female providers, while continuing couples therapy. This can provide additional perspective and individual support while helping maintain a thoughtful, balanced approach to the relationship work.
I also enjoy working with children, adolescents, and young adults and understand that their well-being is often connected to the family and environment around them. My background in Family Functional Therapy allows me to consider the individual as well as the family relationships and circumstances that may be influencing their challenges.
Healthy Avenues also offers access to psychiatric providers as part of its multidisciplinary team, allowing clients and families to connect with additional behavioral health services when needed. My goal is to help individuals, couples, and families feel supported, understood, and equipped with practical tools to build healthier relationships and a stronger quality of life.
What is your typical process for working with clients?
Our first sessions are focused on getting to know you, understanding what brought you to therapy, and identifying the goals you would like to work toward. I will learn about your current concerns, history, strengths, relationships, and circumstances so we can develop a clear understanding of what support may be most helpful.
For couples, I begin by understanding each partner's perspective and the relationship patterns that may be contributing to conflict or disconnection. Together, we will identify shared goals and work on communication, emotional connection, conflict resolution, and healthier ways of navigating challenges.
When individual concerns are affecting the relationship, we can also consider whether individual therapy may be helpful. Because Healthy Avenues Medical Group has a multidisciplinary behavioral health team, clients may have access to additional individual therapists and psychiatric providers within the practice when clinically appropriate. This allows treatment to be coordinated while still respecting the individual needs of each person.
Once we establish treatment goals, I tailor interventions to your needs.
Throughout treatment, we will regularly evaluate progress and adjust our approach as needed. My goal is to make therapy collaborative, practical, and focused on meaningful change, whether you are working individually, as a couple, or as a family.
Is this doctor in your insurance network?
Enter your insurance carrier and plan
choose insurance
In-network insurances
Aetna
BlueCross BlueShield
Cigna
Medicare
UnitedHealthcare
Out-of-pocket fees and assistance
Initial session: $100 for 60 minutes
Ongoing session: $75 for 60 minutes
More information on payments and coverage
Cash Pay:
Initial Appointment - $100
Therapy 30min - $50
Therapy 45min - $60
Therapy 60min - $75
Family/Couples Therapy - $100
Office location
Deonka Howard, PLMFT also offers online video visits for patients
Education and background
Practice names
Education and training
- Xavier University of Louisiana, Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
NPI number
1689187312
How soon can I make an appointment with Deonka Howard?
Generally, Deonka Howard has appointments available on Zocdoc within 1 week. You can see Deonka Howard's earliest availability on Zocdoc and make an appointment online.
Is Deonka Howard accepting new patients?
Deonka Howard generally accepts new patients on Zocdoc. You can see Deonka Howard's earliest availability on Zocdoc and schedule an appointment online.
Does Deonka Howard accept my insurance?
Choose your insurance plan to verify if Deonka Howard is in-network.
Can I make an appointment with Deonka Howard online?
Yes, you can make an appointment online with Deonka Howard using Zocdoc. It’s simple, secure, and free.
What practice does Deonka Howard work with?
Deonka Howard works with Healthy Avenues Medical Group.
Where is Deonka Howard's office located?
Deonka Howard has 2 office locations in New Orleans, view full addresses on Deonka Howard's profile.
What are common reasons for patients to see Deonka Howard?
Deonka Howard frequently sees patients for New Patient Visit, Pain Management Consultation, Psychotherapy, Psychotherapy Intake / Initial Visit, and Sleep Problems. You can see other visit reasons for Deonka Howard on their profile.
What languages does Deonka Howard speak?
Deonka Howard speaks English.