human firstAbout me
(Named after Metallica. Literally.)
Therapist. Dreamer. Human. Professional overthinker. Proudly Team Edward.
Allica Cardona, NCC, LPC Associate · Texas LPC Associate License #103895 · Supervised by Elizabeth McCoy, LPC-S · Texas License #79021 · Telehealth only
I’m really curious about people. Who you are, how you got here, what matters to you, and who you’re becoming. I like the complicated parts, the still-figuring-it-out parts, and all the little things that make someone entirely themselves.
person before professional
I’m a little hard to fit into one box, and I think I like it that way.
I can be quiet and observant, loud and ridiculous, deeply sentimental, hella dreamy, or completely grounded depending on the moment. I love finding meaning in things, noticing the little shit, making people laugh, and letting myself care deeply about the things that matter to me.
I think people are wonderfully multidimensional. We can hold softness and intensity, certainty and curiosity, seriousness and silliness all at once. I know I do.
the wonderfully specific bits
I’m an OG Twihard, and I’m so serious when I say Twilight played a concerningly important role in my development as a human being LMFAO. I was IN IT. And honestly? I still am. Team Edward forever. This is simply part of the lore at this point.
Tiaras, glitter, sparkly shit, princess vibes... yes. All of it. I like feeling dreamy! I like pretty things! I like a little magic! There are enough things about being an adult that are deeply unfun. I see absolutely no reason I need to outgrow the things that make life feel a little more enchanted.
Music has always been a really big part of me. I play instruments, I make music, and I LOVE finding a song or an artist that just lights my soul on fire. Sometimes I can’t find my own words for what I’m feeling, and then somehow a song says it. Music gives me somewhere to put the things I feel when talking about them feels a whole lot harder.
I’m a Pisces and, listen... some of that shit is a little too accurate. I’m a dreamer. I feel things deeply. I’m intuitive, imaginative, and always looking for meaning in things. Do I occasionally have to pull myself out of Delulu Land and return to Earth? Absolutely. AND I like that part of me. Life is more fun with a little dreaming involved.
Nature just does something to me. Being surrounded by trees, water, plants, wildlife, all of this life happening around me... I feel more grounded. More connected. More alive. I don’t really care if I’m hiking or just sitting there staring at everything. Sometimes I just need to be somewhere beautiful and let my brain go quiet for a little bit.
I could talk about African elephants forever. They’re beautiful, ridiculously intelligent, deeply social, emotional, protective, playful... just incredible animals. I’m especially drawn to that combination of gentleness and strength, and the way they connect with and care for each other. Seeing them in the wild one day is absolutely on my life list.
the story behind the work
I’ve always been fascinated by people. Why do we do what we do? Why do we think the way we think? What shapes us? Psychology gave me a way to keep asking those questions.
Then the therapy room made it click. I loved hearing people’s stories, getting curious with them, and watching someone discover a part of themselves they didn’t know was there. There’s something powerful about realizing, wait… I can actually choose this.
the part of me that understands
I’m still becoming, too. I’m Hispanic, queer, and the first person in my direct family line to pursue an education beyond high school. My own life has made me think a lot about identity, culture, expectations, belonging, and what it means to build a life that actually feels like yours.
And I don’t think any of us ever really arrive at some final version of ourselves. We grow. We change. We learn things, unlearn things, outgrow things, and sometimes surprise the hell out of ourselves. Who you are today might not be exactly who you are five years from now, and I think there’s something really beautiful about that.
I don’t have myself completely figured out, and I don’t expect you to either. There’s always more of ourselves to meet.
what I believe
That is The Hidden Meadow.
I named my practice after the idea that people are a little like a meadow you stumble across on a trail: some parts familiar, others still waiting to be discovered. That curiosity shapes how I show up with every client.
The Story Behind the Meadowhuman first, therapist too
I don’t leave my personality at the door when therapy starts. The curiosity, humor, warmth, expressiveness, and occasional “what the fuck?” you’ve seen on this page are coming with me.
And you don’t have to leave yourself at the door either. You can laugh, cry, ramble, change your mind, disagree with me, not know what you’re trying to say yet, or show up having a weird fucking day. You don’t have to become some polished “therapy version” of yourself here.
Therapy is a relationship. I want you to feel like you’re having a conversation with someone who’s genuinely present and invested in the work we’re doing together. I’ll ask questions, share observations, and stay curious about your values, identity, and what feels like yours.
My approach is collaborative, curious, and person-centered. Together, we explore how your identity, experiences, emotions, values, relationships, and choices connect. Sessions might include reflective conversation, practical skills, and, when it fits, creative exercises, metaphors, music, or writing as another way to get curious.
And I bring the therapist part, too: assessment, clinical judgment, practical skills, accountability, and sometimes a question or challenge that isn’t easy. You keep a say in your goals and choices; I contribute professional knowledge and guidance, not just agreement. This is a real therapeutic relationship, with boundaries—not friendship or unlimited access.
the professional bits ✦
This field is always changing. People are always changing. We learn new things, find new ways of understanding what we’re experiencing, and discover different ways of helping.
I don’t expect myself to know everything or become a master of every approach. I do expect myself to stay actively involved in the work I’ve chosen to do. That means continuing to learn, asking questions, seeking out training, and knowing when there’s more I need to understand.
People are different, and there isn’t one road that works for everyone. If there are different ways to get somewhere, I want to know what the maps look like.
“I don’t need to know everything. I want to stay curious, learn what I can, and turn what I learn into a little more good in the world. ✦”
field notes from the hidden meadow ☾
where curiosity met action
Allica Cardona, NCC, LPC-Associate
Texas LPC-Associate License #103895
Supervised by Elizabeth McCoy, LPC-S
Texas License #79021
Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Marshall University
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Texas A&M International University
where curiosity found community
American Counseling Association (ACA)
Member
Chi Sigma Iota (CSI)
Professional Member | Former President, Mu Upsilon Chapter
American Association of Suicidology (AAS)
Professional Member
Central Texas Eating Disorder Specialists (CTEDS)
Member
Give an Hour
Pro bono participation through separate eligibility and agreement procedures; not an open public appointment option
On repeat
“Great Expectations” by Sienna Spiro
Making lately
My dreams come to life with The Hidden Meadow.
Can’t stop thinking about
How we should be a matriarchy.
Finding joy in
Looking at TikTok edits of Robert Pattinson, clearly.
Learning about
Orb weaving spiders. One builds her web outside my window every night, and sometimes I just sit there and watch her work.
Current side quest
Finding and successfully petting the frog that lives in my backyard.
Come as you are.
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