Dr. Abigail Powell
PhD · LP · CMNCS
“I grew up around pilots. I speak aviation before I speak clinical.”
One of fewer than 10 psychologists in Texas with specialized aviation mental health training — built for the unique demands, culture, and pressures of your career.
Doctor of Philosophy
with aviation training
documentation
coaching nationwide
Why Aviation
Dr. Powell didn’t choose to specialize in aviation mental health by accident. She grew up in an aviation family and is married to a Navy SEAL turned pilot. She knows what a duty day feels like on the family side — the stress of a looming check ride, the disruption of a base change, and the constant, underlying pressure to protect the medical certificate at all costs.
When she entered clinical practice, she saw a massive gap: pilots were avoiding therapy because traditional therapists didn’t understand the FAA. A pilot would mention feeling burned out, and a well-meaning clinician would immediately diagnose them with Major Depressive Disorder — a diagnosis that could ground them for months or years.
“I built this practice to solve that problem. I speak pilot, not just clinical. I understand the operational reality of your job, and I know how to provide the care you need without jeopardizing the career you’ve worked so hard to build.”
What Sets Her Apart
She Didn’t Just Study Aviation.
She Lived It.
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✈️Grew Up in an Aviation Family Aviation wasn’t a specialty chosen from a textbook — it’s been her world since childhood, giving her a cultural fluency few clinicians can match.
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🎖️Married to a Navy SEAL Turned Pilot She understands military aviation culture, the weight of service, the transition to civilian flight, and the identity complexity that comes with each phase.
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🧠FAA-Informed, Not FAA-Fearful Every treatment plan is written with the regulatory landscape in mind — documenting your progress in ways that protect your certificate, not threaten it.
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🌱Root-Cause, Whole-Person Approach As a CMNCS, she integrates nutrition science with clinical psychology — addressing mood, energy, and focus from the inside out.
The Approach
Built around the nervous system demands of aviation — not adapted from a generic clinical model.
Nervous System Regulation
Flying demands intense vigilance, rapid decision-making, and emotional compartmentalization. Dr. Powell works on strategies to down-regulate hypervigilance after a tough rotation so it stops following you home.
FAA-Compatible Documentation
Every note and treatment plan is written with the understanding that the FAA may one day request those records. She documents your resilience, your proactive steps, and your fitness to fly — not your vulnerability.
Whole-Person, Root-Cause Care
As a CMNCS, she goes beyond symptoms — assessing how nutrition and lifestyle directly influence mood, energy, and cognitive performance. Critical for high-performance aviation professionals.
Credentials & Training
What is CMNCS?
Certified Mental Health & Nutrition Clinical Specialist
CMNCS is not a separate license — it’s an advanced certification built on top of Dr. Powell’s clinical psychology foundation. It reflects a root-cause philosophy: addressing the biological and lifestyle factors that drive mental health outcomes, not just the symptoms.
For pilots, whose performance depends on mood stability, cognitive sharpness, and stress resilience, this integrated approach is uniquely powerful.
- Assessing how diet and lifestyle influence mental health
- Incorporating nutrition-based interventions alongside therapy
- Recommending targeted supplements (within scope) to stabilize energy, mood & focus
- A whole-person model designed for high-performance professionals
Texas Practice & Beyond
Some services are license-bound to Texas. Others are available to aviation professionals across the country.
Clinical Services
These services fall under Dr. Powell’s Texas psychology license and require you to be physically located within the state of Texas at the time of the appointment.
Coaching & Consultation
These services fall outside clinical licensure and are available to aviation professionals across the United States — wherever you’re based.
Not sure which service is right for you? The free 15-minute consult is the fastest way to find out.
Book a Free ConsultReady When You Are
Your Career Shouldn’t Have to Compete with Your Wellbeing.
Schedule a free, confidential 15-minute consultation with Dr. Powell to discuss your needs and see if her practice is the right fit for where you are right now.
Confidential · FAA-Informed · No Judgment
IN THE MEDIA
Check out some of the podcasts, articles, videos, & news segments Dr. Abigail Powell is featured on
EP7 - Cockpit Casual: The Podcast
The Podcast is a weekly debrief from ferry pilots Steve Giordano and Bob Allen
Services
Resources
About Us
Dr. Abigail Powell, PhD, LP, CMNCS
-Aviation Psychologist in Texas, Florida, and Arizona
"I grew up around pilots. I speak aviation before I speak clinical."
@TheAviationTherapist
(972) 884-0729
Legal
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