Sydney McQuade

Areas of Specialization

Certifications + Training

Sydney shifted from solo private practice to growing a trauma-focused group practice in order to support the goal of adding a compassionate, client-centered and highly ethical multidisciplinary practice to the communities she loves so much. Over time Sydney has worked to learn multiple evidence-based and client centered approaches so she can positively support and create impact as a clinician while partnering alongside clients on their journey.  

Sydney primarily works with adults and older adolescents (often college-aged) in the trauma recovery space, both in our outpatient office setting and in a disaster recovery space. Sydney is also passionate about working with young high achieving professionals, both through trauma work and also helping these folks navigate all the other waves life can bring. Sydney cares immensely about healthy work environments, compassionate care, effective communication and ethical guidelines and has worked for these characteristics to be the heartbeat of Counterbalance Counseling & Psychiatry’s presence in the lives of clients and the communities they serve.  

Sydney is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC-Supervisor) in the state of Texas and a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the state of Washington.  Sydney is a certified member of the EMDR International Association and registered as an EMDR Consultant in Training. She employs a psychodynamic approach to counseling in addition to empirically validated approaches such as DBT, CBT, and EMDR.   

Sydney has advanced training in EMDR around the Recent Traumatic Episode Protocol (R-TEP) and Elan Shapiro and Bruit Labb’s Group Traumatic Episode Protocol (G-TEP) and very much enjoys being able to help train clinicians newly interested in EMDR and/or those hoping to become certified.  

Sydney is trained in DBT and uses EMDR and CBT approaches to counseling. She specializes in trauma recovery, mood fluctuations, vulnerability and self-compassion, and interpersonal challenges.

Sydney received her MEd in Counseling Psychology from the University of Houston. 

In her personal time, Sydney stays grounded by expanding her amateur cooking and gardening skills, sitting in the sunshine (no deficit of this in Texas), or listening to the birds. She also enjoys spending time with the people and animals she cares about or visiting the places she loves.