Manuel Cantu, MA

MA, LPC-Associate

SUPERVISED BY: Jinnelle Veronique Powell, MS, LPC-S

Manuel is currently accepting new clients and provides services under the supervision of Board Approved Supervisor, Jinnelle V. Powell at a discounted/reduced fee. He was born and raised in South Texas and earned his Bachelor’s in Communications at the University of Texas at Austin. During his time at UT, Manuel volunteered with various organizations serving at-risk communities and even co-organized a youth conference for children in border towns to visit UT and hear from professionals of color. His passion for serving marginalized populations is what inspired him to switch from a career in marketing and pursue a path in mental health. He taught substance abuse prevention in schools, worked as a marketing strategist for a child protection agency, and served as a professional youth mentor. In 2020, Manuel completed his Master’s in Professional Counseling at Texas State University and earned his clinical hours as a bereavement counselor with Hospice Austin. His approach to therapy is informed by Person-Centered and Existential theory, both of which emphasize client empowerment and normalize the ups and downs of human emotion. He specializes in grief/loss and trauma but has helped clients across the lifespan dealing with a variety of unique challenges. In his free time, Manuel loves to play with his dog Finley and enjoys traveling because he learns something new about himself (and others) every time. One of his favorite trips ever was helping rebuild homes in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. His counseling hero is Viktor Frankl, who Manuel cites as helping him turn his own grief into something that could help others. Manuel’s life motto is: “What is to give light must endure burning.” (Frankl)