Meet the Student Counseling Services Team
The UTHealth Student Counseling Services team serves currently enrolled students at UTHealth’s six schools: Cizik School of Nursing, McGovern Medical School, MD Anderson UTHealth Graduate School, School of Biomedical Informatics, School of Dentistry, and the School of Public Health. We are located in the UT Professional Building at 6410 Fannin Street, Suite 130 and offer comprehensive and confidential mental health services, including psychological counseling, psychometric and diagnostic assessments, and psychiatric care.
We are available for in-person and telehealth sessions Mondays through Fridays, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. To schedule an appointment, call 713-500-5171.
Meet our wonderful UTHealth Student Services team below!
Dr. Marion Zahn, Ph.D.
Role at UTHealth Student Counseling Services: Psychologist and Director of Student Psychological Services
Training background: Dr. Zahn holds a B.S. in Psychology, an M.S. in Educational Psychology and a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Texas A&M University in College Station, TX. She completed her internship at Appalachian State University Counseling Center with an emphasis in mind-body wellness and mindfulness-based approaches to psychotherapy for the treatment of depression, anxiety, and past trauma. She has received additional training in biofeedback, neurofeedback, multicultural counseling, and yoga for depression and anxiety.
Theoretical orientation: As a clinician, Dr. Zahn tailors her therapeutic approach to her patient’s particular concerns and needs, taking into account her patient’s life circumstances, developmental stage, cultural identities and influences, and the contexts in which her patient exists. Trained under the scientist-practitioner model, Dr. Zahn uses mindfulness/mind-body, emotion-focused, and cognitive-behavioral approaches as primary guides. To help her patients activate their natural human tendencies toward growth, she focuses on building and maintaining a strong therapeutic relationship, where her patients can feel free to be with and explore their experiences with a sense of curiosity, compassion, openness, and acceptance. She feels privileged to be able to engage in the therapeutic process with her patients.
Areas of Clinical Interest: Psychotherapeutic process; anxiety; depression; relationship concerns; ADHD; stress management; life transitions; identity concerns; self-esteem; imposterism; burnout and compassion fatigue among healthcare workers and students; chronic illness; the impact of acculturation and ethnic identity on intergenerational relationships; and, race-related stress and trauma.
Years of clinical experience: 17 years
Years at UTHealth: 4 years
Fun fact: Dr. Zahn is a trained yoga instructor.
Leisure/self-care activities: swimming, taking long walks in the evening, spending time with family and friends, sewing and crafting with her two minis, practicing and teaching yoga and meditation, exploring diverse destinations and cultures, and sampling different cuisines.
Favorite quote: “He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.” – Friedrich Nietzche
Dr. Jennifer Bahrman, Ph.D.
Role at UTHealth Student Counseling Services: Psychologist and Editor of the #UTHealthWellnessConnection Blog
Training background: Dr. Bahrman completed master’s degrees in Counseling and Guidance and in Criminal Justice from New Mexico State University before obtaining her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Houston. Prior to joining the UTHealth Student Counseling Services team, Dr. Bahrman served in various clinical and research roles within the UTHealth Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and at Harris County Psychiatric Center (UTHealth-HCPC), and completed both her APA-accredited predoctoral internship and her postdoctoral fellowship at UTHealth.
Theoretical orientation: Dr. Bahrman uses an integrative approach in her clinical work and draws from evidence-based treatments, such as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Motivational Interviewing while providing culturally responsive therapy and tailoring treatment to her patient’s unique needs. She values compassion, empowerment, cultural humility, authenticity, collaboration and empathy in helping her patients meet their goals.
Areas of Clinical Interest: Depression, anxiety, suicidality and crisis management, personality disorders, trauma, stress management and burnout, acculturative stress, ADHD, severe mental illness, Autism-spectrum disorders, forensics, and psychological testing.
Years of clinical experience: 12 years
Years at UTHealth: 7 years (2 years at UTHealth Student Counseling Services)
Fun fact: Dr. Bahrman identifies as an Adult Third Culture Kid (Adult TCK) and lived in six countries by the age of 18.
Leisure/self-care activities: Hiking, interior decorating, event planning, walks with her dog, spending time with family and friends, traveling, and playing tennis.
Favorite quote: “Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.” – Babe Ruth
Dr. Jason Yu, Ph.D.
Role at UTHealth Student Counseling Services: Psychologist
Training background: Dr. Yu received his master’s degree in counseling from St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas and Ph.D. from Texas A&M University. His pre-doctoral internship was at University of Houston - Clear Lake Counseling Services and post-doctoral training as a psychological counselor at University of Houston Main Campus Learning Support Services.
Theoretical orientation: Dr. Yu generally works with the cognitive-behavioral approach while allowing the possibility for psychodynamic work.
Areas of Clinical Interest: Dr. Yu’s clinical practice has focused on mood and anxiety disorders, behavioral management of ADHD, and career development
Years of clinical experience: 18 years
Years at UTHealth: 1 year
Fun fact: Dr. Yu and his family are raising four sometimes-egg-laying chickens in their backyard.
Leisure/self-care activities: Taking on home improvement and construction projects when not spending time at the park with his two little girls.
Favorite quote: “Feet, what do I need you for when I have wings to fly?” – Frida Kahlo, of her strengths.
Donna Boone, M.A.
Role at UTHealth Student Counseling Services: Manager of Clinical Services
Years at UTHealth: 24 years
Fun fact: It is Crazy to say but Donna is a Big Kid who loves “The Most Magical Place on Earth”…..Disney World!!
Leisure/self-care activities: Event planning, traveling, sports, the beach, and visiting the spa.
Favorite quote: “Life is not measured by the number of breaths that we take but by the moments that take our breath away”. – Maya Angelou
Trischelle George
Role at UTHealth Student Counseling Services: Senior Support Assistant
Years at UTHealth: 8 years (6 years at Student Health and Counseling Services)
Fun fact: Trischelle identifies as an anglophile and loves all things British.
Leisure/self-care activities: Photographing sunrises and sunsets, arranging flowers, food, iced coffee, the beach, afternoon naps, sneakers, museums, dogs, architecture, and traveling.
Favorite quote: “It is looking at things for a long time that ripens you and gives you a deeper meaning.” – Vincent Van Gough