The Carry On Team!

Shara Aston Schlitzberger is the Founder and Owner of Carry On Counseling Center, PLLC and a Licensed Professional Counselor. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Speech Communication from Texas A&M University (2002), her Master’s degree in Counseling from Sam Houston State University (2012), and her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Sam Houston State University (2018). 

After 20 years in education as a teacher and school counselor, Shara became a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate in 2021 and earned her LPC license in 2023. She opened Carry On Counseling Center in March 2024 and now focuses on helping clients full-time in private practice.

Shara has extensive experience working with children, teens, college students, and adults. She has served as a school counselor at the elementary, middle school, junior high, and high school levels and continues to support clients in private practice. She also has experience in Christian counseling and facilitating Divorce Care support groups.

Shara is trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), a research-based therapy that helps individuals process trauma and distressing memories so they can experience healing and move forward with hope.

Drawing from both professional and personal life experiences, Shara connects deeply with her clients and values building strong therapeutic relationships. She offers a warm, compassionate, and non-judgmental approach, helping individuals and families improve communication, strengthen relationships, and rediscover hope. Shara believes that everyone sometimes needs support through life’s challenges. She feels called to help others find healing, growth, and the strength to carry on.

Shara works with ages 10 and up and specializes in working with teens, college students, young adults, parents and professional women and men of all ages. She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and EMDR to provide talk-based therapy and help clients process distressing memories/trauma. She works with clients with ADHD, anxiety, depression, family issues, relationships, stress, adjusting to life transitions, losses, debilitating illnesses, college issues, divorce, remarriage, single parents, blended family issues, support for families of addicts/alcoholics and grief from loss of a loved one, job or pet.  Her availability is weekdays Monday-Thursday during business hours 8am-6pm. Shara sees clients either in person in the Pearland office or virtual for Texas residents residing anywhere in Texas. Shara is able to take insurance or cash pay for therapy.

 Emily Straub is a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate, supervised by Xochil Hinshaw, and currently serves as a junior high professional school counselor. She has proudly supported the students and families of Pearland since 2012, building meaningful relationships within the community and helping individuals navigate both academic and personal challenges.

She earned her bachelor’s degree from Texas Tech University in 2011 and her Master’s in Professional School Counseling from Lamar University in 2018. Emily became a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate in 2024 and previously worked at a group practice in Pearland prior to joining Carry On Counseling. Her combined experience in school and clinical settings allows her to support children, teens, and adults with empathy, practical strategies, and a deep commitment to their growth and well-being. Whether clients are navigating life transitions, school challenges, overwhelming emotions, or simply need someone to talk to, she is here to walk alongside them.

Emily believes that everyone needs support from time to time, and that seeking counseling is a sign of strength, not weakness. She views counseling as a powerful tool for gaining clarity, building resilience, and developing healthy coping skills. Her goal is to create a welcoming environment where clients feel safe, valued, and empowered to grow through life’s challenges.

Emily works with clients ages 10 and up. Her specialties include working with clients on relationships, school issues, parenting, anxiety, depression and stress. Emily is currently a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate with plans to be fully licensed as a Licensed Professional Counselor by Summer 2026. She will be cash pay only until she is fully licensed. Her availability will be weekday evenings and she can see clients either in person in the Pearland office or virtual for Texas residents residing anywhere in Texas.