Our Behavioral Team
> Mary Ann Spears- Howell, Ph.D, L.P.C.
> Bertha Rodarte- Luna, Ph.D, P.L.P.
> Erin Murphy, Ph.D Candidate, LMFT-A, LPC-i
At Texas Bariatric Specialists we specialize in offering a highly skilled professional psychological staff at our world class health facilities in San Antonio, New Braunfels, Seguin, Austin, Temple, Killeen, Corpus Christi, Del Rio, Laredo, and soon to be Boerne.
As part of our world class health services we provide consultations and psychology visits within our offices. The difference is being able to access a full team dedicated to treating obesity; as opposed to running around town. A behavioral specialist is going to asses prior eating habits before and after surgery and aide in the development of healthier ones. Patients who see a behavioral specialists have improved outcomes and exceed
patients that don’t. We believe that this difference will allow our patients to succeed in their long term goals and achieving what was once thought as impossible.
At Texas Bariatric Specialists, our mission is:
Seán G. Connolly, Ph.D. is a psychologist and clinical director at Algos Behavioral Health Services, Inc. He has been in private practice since 1980, and has been licensed as a psychologist and health care provider since 1975. His primary focus in this clinical practice is health psychology, and the complex relationship between various medical conditions and one’s emotional and psychological health. Most prominent involvement is with chronic pain, clinically severe obesity patients seeking weight loss surgery, and brain injuries. He completed undergraduate work at the National University of Ireland, graduate work at Our Lady of the Lake University and St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, and his doctorate from the University of Arizona. He spent over six years on the faculty at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Dallas before returning to San Antonio. He is from Ireland and has lived in San Antonio, on and off for over 40 years. Dr. Connolly is married and has three grown children.
Mary Ann Spears- Howell, Ph.D, L.P.C.
Mary Ann Spears- Howell, Ph.D, L.P.C. is a Licensed Professional Counselor with over 20 years of experience assisting adults with a wide range of emotional and personal development issues. She has extensive experience in helping individuals with depression, anxiety, stress management and problems in living. She is also an experienced career development counselor. Dr. Spears-Howell earned her Ph.D. in Counseling from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas. She currently specializes in therapy and pre-surgical psychological assessment for bariatric surgery and chronic pain patients as well as individuals applying for Social Security’s Department of Disability Services.
Bertha Rodarte- Luna, Ph.D, P.L.P.
Bertha Rodarte- Luna, Ph.D, P.L.P., earned her degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin. She completed her internship and post-doctoral fellowship at the South Texas Veterans Health Care System in San Antonio, with a concentration in sexual, combat, and interpersonal trauma. During her internship and post-doctoral year she focused on PTSD, eating disorders, primary care issues, chronic pain, Bariatric surgery evaluations, and serious medical conditions among other things. Dr. Rodarte-Luna has received extensive training in cognitive theoretical models such as CBT, CPT, PE, relational therapy, and attachment theory principles. She also has an interest in multicultural and gender issues within therapy.
Erin Murphy, Ph.D Candidate, LMFT-A, LPC-i
Erin Murphy, Ph.D Candidate, LMFT-A, LPC-i, earned her Master’s Degrees in
Communication Studies and Marriage and Family Therapy from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas and is in her final year of doctoral work at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas in Marriage and Family Therapy. She currently specializes in relational and couple therapy with focus on gender, sexual dysfunction, trauma, and relational communication patterns. She also has training and interest in addiction and trauma.
