About us

Our professional team

Dr. Lilia Varela-Rios
Licensed Psychologist


PhD, LPC-S, LCDC, CART, Director

Offering over a century of combined experience, our Licensed Professional Counselors and Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselors are ready to help you reach your life-goals. 

Our agency began servicing individuals and families in the Rio Grande Valley since 2009 through the dynamic lead of the enterprising director, Lilia Varela-Rios. 

Dr. Varela-Rios has over 25 years of experience in the counseling field serving individuals of all ages providing treatment for mental health and substance abuse needs. 

As a clinical psychologist, she has experience performing psychological evaluations for children, adolescents, adults and special populations including, people with disabilities, juveniles in the legal system, etc.

The GGST Team

Meet the lovely people that are an integral part of the Growing Generations family. 

Aaron Pena

LPC, Pre-Doctoral Student

Alex Thompson

LPC, LCDC

Elma Compean

LPC-S, CART

Maria Lopez

LPC, LCDC

Aileen Rodriguez 

LPC-Associate

Lisa Garza

LPC-Associate

Sophia Flores

LPC-Associate

Celinda Polito

M.Ed,LPC-Associate

Magaly Perez-Alanis

M.Ed, LPC-Associate

Eluterio Blanco Jr

Ph.D, MAC, LCDC

Sabrina Rios

M.S. Student Intern, LCDC-I

Samantha Enriquez

M.S Student Intern

Zenaida Vega

Administrative Assisstant

Emily Briones

Billing Specialist/Front Office