By Dr. Abigail Powell, PhD, LP | The Aviation Therapist & Coach
There’s a running joke in aviation: pilots will spend thousands of dollars on avionics upgrades and not think twice about it, but suggest they see a therapist and suddenly it’s a completely different conversation.
I get it. I really do. I grew up in this world. My father, grandfather, and uncle were all airline pilots. I’m married to a Navy SEAL turned pilot. Aviation isn’t just a career I work with, it’s the culture I was raised in, the dinner table conversations I grew up listening to, and the lens through which I understand how high-performing professionals think about risk, identity, and vulnerability.
That’s exactly why I became The Aviation Therapist.
Who I Am
My name is Dr. Abigail Powell. I’m a Texas-licensed psychologist (PhD, LP) with specialized training in aviation mental health, and I hold a CMNCS certification. I’m one of the only licensed psychologists in Texas actively serving this community with an FAA-informed practice, which means I understand not just your psychology, but the regulatory landscape you’re navigating alongside it.
My approach is direct and no-nonsense. No fluff, no jargon for the sake of it, no circling around the real issue for six sessions before we get anywhere. Aviation professionals are high-functioning, analytically minded, and time-constrained. I meet you where you are and we move forward.
The Problem Nobody Talks About
The aviation industry has a mental health problem, not because aviators are fragile, but because the system incentivizes silence.
When your livelihood, your medical certificate, and your identity are all wrapped up in the same thing, the cost of admitting you’re struggling feels catastrophically high. So, pilots white-knuckle through anxiety. Controllers push through burnout. Crew members quietly fall apart in hotel rooms and then show up smiling for the next leg.
And the tragedy is: none of it has to get that bad.
Here’s what I want you to hear clearly, seeking support is a proactive choice, not a confession of weakness. The highest-performing professionals in every high-stakes field, surgeons, elite athletes, and military operators, have long understood that mental performance is part of total performance. Aviation is catching up, and I’m here to help lead that shift.
What I Offer
My practice is built specifically for pilots, air traffic controllers, dispatchers, flight crew, and other aviation professionals. Every service is virtual, with flexible scheduling designed around your trips and irregular hours.
Individual Therapy — For Texas-Licensed Clients
Using evidence-based approaches, primarily Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), I work with aviation professionals on:
- Anxiety – performance anxiety, fear of flying, health anxiety, generalized worry
- Burnout – the slow erosion that comes from years of irregular schedules, time zone disruption, and constant vigilance
- PTSD and critical incident stress – processing what the job sometimes asks you to witness
- Life transitions – career changes, medical groundings, retirement, relationship strain from the lifestyle
- Identity and meaning – what happens when aviation is who you are, not just what you do
Intake and sessions are $195. Superbills are available for out-of-network reimbursement, and HSA/FSA is accepted. Because this is a private-pay, out-of-network practice, you are never required to carry a diagnosis. If you don’t qualify for one, you won’t receive one, and your records stay between you and me. No employer. No airline. No FAA.
Aviation Coaching & Medical Consultations: Available Nationwide
Not in Texas, or looking for coaching rather than clinical therapy? I offer nationwide aviation coaching covering:
- Performance optimization – getting sharper, not just managing problems
- Career transitions – changing type ratings, moving to a new operator, stepping into leadership, or navigating a medical certificate situation
- Leadership development – for check airmen, chief pilots, supervisors, and crew leads
- Medical certificate consultation – guidance on how to approach your AME, what to disclose, how documentation works
This is ideal for aviation professionals anywhere in the country who want strategic support without the clinical framework of therapy.
ADHD Fast Track Evaluation: Texas
ADHD is underdiagnosed and misunderstood in aviation. My streamlined ADHD evaluation is specifically designed for aviation professionals in Texas, with FAA-informed documentation and recommendations for your AME built in. Seeking an evaluation creates no obligation to the FAA. Knowledge is power and knowing what you’re actually dealing with is always better than guessing.
The Medical Certificate Fear Is Real And Addressable
I hear this constantly: “I’d love to talk to someone, but I can’t risk my medical.”
This fear stops more people from getting help than anything else. And while I won’t minimize it, the regulatory landscape is real, I will tell you that it’s also far more navigable than most pilots believe.
My practice is FAA-informed, which means I understand how documentation works, what reporting requirements actually apply, and how to approach your Aviation Medical Examiner in a way that protects your career while also getting you real support. That combination is rare. It’s also exactly why I built this practice.
You Don’t Have to Be in Crisis
This is probably the most important thing I’ll say in this entire post.
You don’t need to be falling apart to benefit from support. In fact, the best time to work with a psychologist, just like the best time to do recurrent training, is before things go sideways.
If you’re feeling off but can’t quite name it… if the sleep issues are becoming a pattern… if you’re more irritable in the cockpit than you used to be… if the job just doesn’t feel the same and you don’t know why, that’s exactly the moment to reach out.
Early intervention isn’t weakness. It’s aeronautical decision-making applied to your mental health.
Take the First Step
If anything in this post resonated with you, I’d encourage you to start with my free Aviation Burnout & Anxiety Assessment, a confidential, no-sign-up tool built specifically for aviation professionals that can help you identify whether what you’re experiencing is operational stress, early burnout, anxiety overload, or nervous system dysregulation. It takes under five minutes.
And when you’re ready to talk, the first consultation is free. No commitment, no pressure, just an honest conversation about where you are and whether we’re a good fit.
You’ve invested everything in your ability to perform at altitude. Your mental health is part of that investment.
You’re allowed to take care of it.
Dr. Abigail Powell, PhD, LP is a Texas-licensed psychologist and the founder of The Aviation Therapist & Coach. She offers specialized therapy for aviation professionals across Texas and nationwide coaching and medical consultation services. Learn more or book a free consultation at theaviationtherapist.com.
