Bent Tree Counseling

12/31/2024

Our favorite intern Zab is offering a women's virtual group for sexual betrayal recovery. Here is the information & sign-up if you are interested!

Betrayal & Beyond explores the truth and nature of sexual addiction, and how women are wounded by the addict’s behaviors. For women who have suffered betrayal, their healing comes from understanding the role of trauma, establishing healthy boundaries, exploring the depth of forgiveness, and learni...

11/04/2024

Our owner Rikki Hudson Permenter, recently wrote an article for Porch and Parish - check it out here

It's intense out there. You're not alone!

08/26/2024

This. This is why we only accept Blue Cross... and even then we don't love it. We lose money on EVERY SINGLE SESSION and sometimes they will even recoup or clawback (literally just draft it from our bank account) the little that they did pay weeks and months after you've finished therapy. We want counseling to be accessible to everyone - everywhere but DANG they make it hard!

https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2024/08/24/nx-s1-5028551/insurance-therapy-therapist-mental-health-coverage?fbclid=IwY2xjawE5auRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHRVzzL56xwV9kBoS_7wE_i-wGIDgtEw71YotbNOw9e4tsa3JxZAkCAy3lw_aem_haSoqtjYbJoq6iVUAadjhg

Getting mental health care covered by insurance can be really tough. Reporters spoke to hundreds of therapists who left their insurance networks to find out why.

06/03/2024

Rikki just had a 3:00 free up and is open tomorrow. It is her only available until mid July. Text her directly if you want it.

03/27/2024

Our staff is in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica getting additional training on brain spotting, EMDR, and body regulation. We're excited to bring this knowledge back home to you.

01/18/2024

Check out Rikki in January's Porch and Parish!

12/08/2023

We have some interest in a monthly social skills group for ASD teens... If we can get a handful more we could make it happen. DM us if you're interested.

09/18/2023

Rikki Hudson Permenter had a cancellation for tomorrow at 10 - if anyone wants it ... send her a text!

09/01/2023

Counseling Friends.... use this link to get you a *FREE* PESI ceu. Link is good 9/1-9/30!

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08/01/2023

Schedule with us!

07/09/2023

Yall! She is here and is taking new clients. All our ministers, missionaries, expats, and tcks - THIS IS YOUR GIRL! She specializes in Telehealth with kids and adolescents and We're so excited for your kiddos to meet her.

06/26/2023

Dr. Permenter has a 3:00 open today- it’s not on the scheduler. Last available until July. Text her if you want it.

06/15/2023

Meet our Staff
Hi, I'm Rikki and I'm the owner of Bent Tree Counseling.
I know that choosing a counselor is one of the most important parts about counseling. Read through my bio and see if I seem like someone you could connect with.

Dr. Rikki Permenter is licensed with the State of Louisiana as a Licensed Professional Counselor - Supervisor and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She also holds a credentialing as a National Certified Counselor.

Dr. Rikki Permenter is a graduate of Louisiana State University with a Bachelor of Science in Family, Child, & Consumer Science. She is also a graduate of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary with two masters, a Masters of Arts in Marriage & Family Counseling and a Masters of Theology. She is also holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology & Counseling from New Orleans Baptist.

Dr. Rikki Permenter is originally from Zachary, Louisiana. She loves (in no specific order) yoga, the beach, Burt's Bees chapstick, we**ie dogs, Jesus, and Community Coffee - Between Roast only. She's backpacked Central America, lived in Texas for a minute, and on Maui for a year. She loves to travel and has been to 12 countries since graduating college. If she isn't at CC's borrowing their internet you can find her at a Silliman football game, watching The Office on Netflix with her husband (check him out here, or here, or here) , hanging out with her we**ie dog (because she is hilarious), or chasing around the cutest girls on the block, Hudson James & Magnolia Ruth.

Dr. Rikki Permenter has been practicing since 2009. She started out with an internship & practicum in Chalmette, Louisiana at The Gathering Counseling. After graduating with her masters she began her post-masters internship seeing clients at New Orleans Baptist, Spectrum in Denham Springs, Zachary Community Church, and in Private Practice in Baton Rouge. After licensure she continued seeing clients in Private Practice in Baton Rouge. Seeing clients at each of these various sites gave her experience in working with a wide range of clients. She has seen clients from various socioeconomic statuses, various ethnicities, various ages, and clients with severe mental illness.

06/15/2023

Meet our Staff
You need to meet Megan Lewis!

Megan Lewis is a Provisionally Licensed Professional Counselor and Provisionally Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with the state of Louisiana. She is also a Trust-Based Relational Intervention Practitioner.

She graduated from Auburn University (War Eagle!) with a Bachelor of Industrial and Systems Engineering and earned a Masters of Arts in Counseling with a specialization in Marriage and Family from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

Megan applies a systemic approach to helping individuals, couples, and families as they work through life’s challenges. Before working at Bent Tree Counseling, she worked at Leeke Magee Christian Counseling Center and Crossroads primarily serving kids from hard places, adolescents, trauma-survivors, and individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, and relational challenges. She has a particular interest in serving individuals and families serving cross-culturally.

Megan is originally from the Jackson, Mississippi area, but she lived in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, and Europe before settling down in New Orleans, Louisiana. She loves coffee, Gilmore Girls, board games, walks by the lake, and exploring new places! In addition to her mid-term assignment in Europe, she’s also been a part of numerous short-term trips across Southeast Asia, South America, and Central America. She’s visited more than 15 countries and is eager to begin traveling again soon. On a typical weekend, you can find her watching Friday Night Lights, visiting family, chillin’ with friends, or hanging out in nature.

06/15/2023

Meet our Staff

This is our office manager Emery!

06/15/2023

Meet our Staff
It's Ashley!
I enjoy walking with people as they move toward the freedom that comes from knowing and believing the truth. Sometimes we have a lot of “stuff” that gets in the way of that, and we need to take a closer look. All of our experiences impact us, and some of those leave deep wounds that interfere with how we view ourselves, others, and God.

I have experience in working with anxiety, depression, relational issues, parenting, marriage, trauma, addiction, severe mental illness… you name it. I received a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 2019. My training integrates the research from psychology and counseling with the truth of scripture, so my methods include anything that aligns with scripture and is backed by research. I am passionate about those in counseling getting good care.

I also love serving those in ministry. I have lots of experience counseling pastors and missionaries, and their families. I have spent a few years overseas in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, and helping those who serve others for the sake of the gospel is one of my favorite things.

06/15/2023

Meet our Staff
Here is Brittany - check her out!
Brittany was raised in Clinton, Louisiana and currently resides there.

She earned her bachelors degree from Southeastern Louisiana University in 2007. After the birth of her children, she spent several years as a substitute teacher. There she found her love for working with students and helping them with real-life issues they experience, both in and outside of the classroom. Brittany returned to SELU in 2019 and completed her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in December of 2021.

Brittany began her practicum & internship experience working with young adults at SELU’s University Counseling Center. She also worked with elementary and middle school students through RKM’s school-based health clinics. Brittany has experience working with clients with a wide range of issues such as adjustment difficulties, relational conflicts, self-esteem, self awareness, grief, anxiety, depression, and behavioral issues. She has also taken advanced coursework to specialize in Grief Therapy. Brittany utilizes techniques uniquely tailored to each client, including play therapy with her adolescent and child clients.
Brittany lives on her family farm with her husband and three precious daughters. She loves being involved with them in sports, rodeoing, and helping them develop an appreciation for the everyday simplicity and hard work involved in tending to their farm. Her family operates a custom hay production business during the summer and fall months that supplies several farmers and equine enthusiasts with hay throughout the year. Brittany is also a local artist - although she mush prefers to call herself a “domesticated, college educated, artsy, craft addict.”