Outside of her professional role, Dr. Peavy-Mays enjoys partnering with her husband to refine her carpentry skills, unwinding with Hotworx yoga or Pilates, bike rides, and doting on their three beloved dogs. She’s an aspiring avid runner, training for marathons with her local runner’s collective, and cherishes quality time with family and a close-knit circle of loved ones.

Outside the Office

Her career has included work in a variety of clinical settings, including psychiatric hospitals, intermediary care facilities, forensic mental health programs for both youth and adults, and community-based mental health care at The Harris Center for Mental Health & IDD. She has received specialized training in individual counseling (for adolescents and adults), anxiety, depression, grief, domestic violence (both victims and offenders), trauma and crisis intervention, anger and stress management, conflict resolution, and mindful eating for weight management.

Dr. Peavy-Mays approaches both her work and life with a blend of humor, compassion, and curiosity. She holds particular interest in conducting psychological evaluations for diagnostic clarification, bariatric surgery clearance, and a range of other psychological assessment needs— with an emphasis on building a safe, trusting therapeutic relationship. Her approach to therapy incorporates traditional evidence-based methods such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) along with complementary practices, including mindfulness, somatic therapies, breathwork, and mindful nutrition —guiding clients toward deeper emotional and physical awareness. As a professional in bariatric psychology—and a bariatric patient herself—Dr. Peavy-Mays brings both clinical insight and personal experience to her work. She understands not only the scientific underpinnings of obesity but also the lived experience of navigating the emotional and physical complexities of weight management.

She is an approved provider for the Harris County Community Supervision and Corrections Department (HCCSCD), where she offers anger management and parenting classes. She is also trained as a Batterer’s Intervention and Prevention Program (BIPP) facilitator and previously held program credentialing through the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Beyond her clinical practice, Dr. Peavy-Mays has taught undergraduate courses in general psychology, workplace psychology (human relations), and health psychology. She is a published co-author of Feed the Brain: A Guide to Eating for Optimal Mental Health, a resource that explores the powerful connection between nutrition and mental well-being.

Dr. Tonya Peavy-Mays is a Provisionally Licensed Psychologist supervised by Dr. Krystal Simmons and Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor. She holds a doctorate in Clinical Psychology from California Southern University and also completed doctoral-level training through an APA-accredited program at The American School of Professional Psychology in Washington, D.C. She obtained master’s-level training from Texas Southern University in Clinical Community Psychology and Walden University in Clinical Psychology. She is currently a Bariatric Science Fellow, pursuing national board certification through the American Association of Bariatric Counselors. 

Dr. Peavy-Mays brings a wealth of clinical experience, having worked with children, adolescents, and adults from diverse backgrounds. She completed her pre-doctoral internship through a consortium agreement between Dr. William July, PhD & Associates and the Behavioral Hospital of Bellaire, where her training emphasized immigration evaluations and counseling, psychoeducational group facilitation, and individual therapy. 

Provisionally  Licensed Psychologist
Licensed Professional Counselor- Supervisor
Evaluations (children, teens & adults)
Therapy (teens & adults)

Tonya Peavy Mays PsyD, PLP, LPC-S