About Steven Makulinski
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist · MA, MS, LMFT
Steven Makulinski is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Hearts Aligned Therapy in Rockwall, TX. With advanced degrees in both counseling and family science, Steven brings a depth of clinical expertise and genuine compassion to his work with individuals, couples, and families. His therapeutic approach is grounded in the belief that meaningful change happens within the context of safe, trusting relationships — both in the therapy room and in everyday life. Steven's path to becoming a therapist was shaped by a deep desire to help people strengthen their most important relationships. He has extensive experience working with couples navigating communication breakdowns, trust issues, and major life transitions, as well as individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, grief, and anger. His work with families spans parent-child conflicts, blended family challenges, and the systemic dynamics that shape how families function. Trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), the Gottman Method, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and structural family therapy, Steven integrates multiple evidence-based approaches to create a treatment plan tailored to each client's unique needs. He is passionate about helping clients not just manage symptoms, but truly understand themselves, heal relational wounds, and build lives aligned with their deepest values. Steven also offers a faith-integrated counseling option for clients who wish to incorporate their Christian faith into the therapeutic process. This approach weaves biblical principles and spiritual practices into evidence-based therapy, providing holistic support that addresses the emotional, relational, and spiritual dimensions of healing. Outside of the therapy room, Steven is active in the Rockwall community and is committed to making quality mental health care accessible to individuals and families across the region. He offers both in-person sessions at his Rockwall office and telehealth sessions for clients throughout Texas.
Therapeutic Approach
Steven Makulinski takes an integrative, client-centered approach to therapy that combines the best elements of multiple evidence-based modalities. At the core of his practice is the belief that healing and growth occur within the context of a safe, authentic therapeutic relationship. He prioritizes creating an environment where clients feel genuinely heard, respected, and supported as they work through their challenges. Steven's therapeutic framework draws primarily from Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for relationship work, helping couples and families identify and transform negative interaction patterns by accessing the deeper emotions and attachment needs that drive them. For individual clients, he integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to address unhelpful thought patterns and build practical coping skills, along with mindfulness-based techniques for emotional regulation and present-moment awareness. For families, Steven uses structural and systemic approaches that view the family as an interconnected system, recognizing that individual behavior cannot be fully understood outside the context of family relationships. His goal is to help families strengthen their communication, clarify healthy boundaries, and create an environment where every member feels valued and heard. Steven believes that therapy should be collaborative, practical, and empowering. He works with clients to set clear goals and provides concrete tools and strategies that can be applied in everyday life. Whether a client is seeking help for a specific problem or pursuing broader personal growth, Steven meets each person where they are and walks alongside them on their journey toward healing and alignment.
Areas of Specialization
Education
Master of Arts (MA) in Counseling
Dallas Theological Seminary
Master of Science (MS) in Family Science
Texas Woman's University
Licenses & Credentials
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
Texas
Let's Work Together
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