Leadership

Bluebonnet Counseling Association Officers

Please contact Norma Mercado, LMSW at mercadonv7@gmail.com

BIOS

President - Norma Mercado, LMSW
Norma has recently focused her efforts in the non-profit and higher education sector. Before this, she served as the Family and Social Services Coordinator for the Bastrop Independent School District, where she played a vital role in supporting highly mobile students and overseeing the social work department. Her advocacy was instrumental in establishing the Family Resource Center, which works to remove barriers by offering essential resources and services to students and families. With expertise in macro social work, Norma specializes in community engagement and advocacy, excelling at identifying needs and developing solutions by leveraging the strengths of individuals and communities. Her work fosters empowerment and drives sustainable, positive change

President Elect - Katie Gross, Ph.D., LPC-S, NCC
Katie has been a counselor in the Bastrop, Lee and Fayette area since 2011. She started her counseling journey at the Children’s Advocacy Center serving children and families experiencing trauma. Currently Katie serves as the La Grange ISD LPC providing crisis management, special education counseling, behavioral threat support, and evaluations. Katie has earned a doctorate in Counseling from Regent University where her published work focused on anxiety in children. Her passion and expertise both lie in childhood trauma and working with family relational problems. Outside of her career, Katie has been elected to her town’s city council and is an active member in a variety of volunteer organizations.


Past-President - Krystal Grimes, M.S., LPC 
Krystal Grimes, M.S., LPC is the Chief Strategist and Founder of AMMA Services, LLC., and HEAL Alliance (A social change agency based out of Bastrop, Texas). Krystal is recognized regionally and internationally as a safe space creator and mental health strategist. Through an intrinsic ability and desire to support others, she has positioned herself as a convener and facilitator for healing and equity initiatives, catalyzing inclusive and brave spaces for dialogue and innovation. Her work goes beyond individual healing, as she recognizes the interconnectedness of mental well-being and social equity. She advocates for systemic change, urging policymakers and institutions to prioritize belonging and inclusion by addressing the underlying socio-economic disparities that perpetuate health disparities.