Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Lisa Cortez.
Hi Dr. Lisa, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My path really began long before I ever imagined becoming “The Anxiety Dr.” I grew up in a community where mental health wasn’t openly talked about, especially within Latino families. Anxiety was something people carried quietly, often believing they just needed to “be strong” or push through it. This was back in the 90s. I became fascinated with understanding why we suffer the way we do and, more importantly, how we can heal. That curiosity eventually led me into private practice, where I spent many years helping individuals understand and heal from anxiety in a more compassionate, science-backed, holistic way.
Within 3 weeks of opening my doors first in McAllen, Texas, I was fully booked. Over time, it grew to seeing people all over the world. During the pandemic, I decided to move to Houston and open shop here, but because I was fully booked, I didn’t have much opportunity to treat Houston residents. And while I have been very grateful for all the incredible clients I have treated, I also felt something heavy: I couldn’t reach everyone who needed help. I could only work with one persona at a time, and I kept thinking about the people who were still waiting or who might never get the chance to learn my techniques.
Then the podcast happened almost accidentally. I wanted a way to share what I was teaching inside my sessions with more people, and I thought, “If my patients benefit from this, maybe others will too.” I recorded a few episodes, and suddenly, messages started coming in from listeners all over the world telling me their anxiety shifted from just hearing my story and my message. That was the moment I realized I could expand my impact far beyond the four walls of my office.
This first led to a group that started back in 2020, and has now led to the most significant transformation in my career: I decided to retire from private practice at the peak of its success and create something entirely new – Té Sana Wellness, a boutique + makery studio that blends my three businesses together. My wellness tea company, my podcast, and my private practice. It blends Mental wellness, creativity, ritual, and community. I wanted to build a space where people don’t have to wait years to learn the tools I teach. A space where workshops, tea rituals, sound healing, and mindful experiences could reach people who might never step into a traditional therapy setting, at an affordable price. This is not a replacement for therapy.
These are groups and communities. Té Sana lets me share everything I’ve taught my patients for years, now with an entire room of people at once. Workshops, and even fun mindful crafting experiences, like candle making, tea blending, and solid perfume making classes.
So how did I get here?
By listening closely to my patients, my listeners, and my own intuition. By realizing that healing belongs in community, not just in private sessions. And that not everyone can afford $350 weekly sessions. And by choosing to step into a bigger purpose: creating a space where people can learn to calm their minds, reconnect with themselves, and feel supported long before they reach the point of crisis. Mental wellness workshops and fun interactive experiences.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all – and honestly, it’s essential for people to hear that. From the outside, it may look like everything happened quickly and easily, especially because I became fully booked in private practice just three weeks after opening my doors. People always ask, “How did you do it so fast?” But the truth is, that momentum didn’t start in three weeks…it started years earlier.
Long before I ever had my private practice, I gave my time to my community. I volunteered everywhere I could – schools, community centers, local events – anywhere my Latino community would gather. I thought about anxiety, mental health, the power of the mind, and why our emotional well-being deserves attention. I did it for free because I genuinely believed and still do that our community needed awareness.
And as far as my podcast, which is always in the top 100 Mental health podcasts on Apple Podcasts and one of the only Latinas in that category, also didn’t happen overnight. I would go on Facebook Live during the pandemic to help people take care of their mental health. Free meditation sessions several times a week for a few years before I started my podcast.
Those early struggles and the time spent spreading awareness taught me clarity, taught me what people needed. And taught me how many people do not have health insurance or can’t afford weekly sessions.
As you know, we’re big fans of Té Sana Wellness. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Té Sana is truly the heart of everything I’ve learned in private practice, my own journey, and my upbringing – it’s where mental wellness, creativity, and community all meet in one intentional space. We officially open in mid-January 2026. What sets us apart is that we are NOT just another “DIY” workshop studio. Té Sana was designed as an experience, a sanctuary, and an educational space where people can reconnect with themselves through ritual, sensory ground, and mindful creation.
Our products are an extension of that philosophy. We offer wellness teas created with organic botanicals, each blend formulated with a purpose – to calm the mind, support focus, soothe the gut, ease cravings, or bring people back into their bodies. These aren’t just teas, they’re tools. There are moments of pause.
Our skincare line follows the same intention. Every product is created with premium ingredients and essential oils specifically selected for their emotional benefits – oils that help ground, uplift, soothe, or boost motivation. It’s skincare that supports the mind as much as the skin.
And then come the workshops and experiences – the heart of Té Sana. Guests will be able to create their own tea blends, perfumes, candles, intention-based items, and more. But beneath the creativity is something more profound: every workshop incorporates mindfulness, emotional calmness, and the psychology of ritual. It’s hands-on wellness with real therapeutic impact.
We’ll also host weekly wellness gatherings, sound healing sessions, mindful tea rituals, and creative circles – all grounded in the same teachings I’ve shared. The difference now is accessibility.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud that Té Sana represents my community, my culture, and my mission. It’s Latina-owned, experience-driven, and rooted in both ancient practices and modern psychology. Everything we offer has purpose behind it – from the ingredients to the environment ot the conversations people will have inside our walls.
At Té Sana, people don’t just make something – they heal a little, learn a little, reconnect with themselves, and have fun doing it. That’s what makes us different, and that’s why I believe Té Sana will become a meaningful part of Houston’s Wellness Landscape.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
My biggest advice is this: Start before you feel ready, and start by showing up. Don’t let fear, doubt, or the what-ifs keep you from doing what you genuinely want to do. When I started my private practice, I didn’t have a fancy office or matching furniture. When I started my podcast, I didn’t have a microphone or a podcast charting on Apple. I wasn’t the anxiety dr. I knew what I wanted to help and I knew what my heart desired. And when you lead with that, everything else falls into place.
Don’t wait for confidence – take action first.
Serve people genuinely and consistently.
Be willing to pivot when your purpose expands.
Don’t compare your day one to someone else’s year ten.
And always take care of yourself, protect your mental health, and take breaks. Rest is productive.
Pricing:
- $55 Workshops
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tesanawellness.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theanxietydr/
