COUNSELING CENTER TEAM
LPC
Adam Mason, MAMFC, LPC-S
I am an ordained minister of Christian counseling in the Southern Baptist church and a licensed professional counselor/supervisor in the state of Texas. I have a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Counseling from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. I also have a Master of Arts in Religious Education with an emphasis in administration from Southwestern and a Bachelor of Arts in Social Service from Howard Payne University. I regularly attend continuing education related to my field, and have specialized training in the area of Spiritual Direction. I have a passion to guide men and couples toward Spiritual formation. My formal education has prepared me to work with individuals, marriages, families, and groups. I approach counseling from a biblical perspective, utilizing techniques from two distinct methodologies: the cognitive-behavioral approach, and Spiritual Direction. These techniques include, but are not limited to, active listening, assessments, homework, psycho-educational discussions, reading assignments, prayer, and therapeutic confrontation. The cognitive-behavioral approach focuses on thoughts and behaviors, and sees emotions as the result or consequences of our thoughts. The purpose of counseling is to reach specific goals for individual and relational growth, which are mutually agreed upon by both the client and the counselor. Goals should be consistent with biblical truth. Spiritual Direction focuses on experiencing an authentic encounter with the Trinitarian God embracing both His mystery and His personhood. The goal of Spiritual Direction is the intentional shift from self-obsession to God-obsession.
713.335.6460
adam.mason@HoustonsFirst.org
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Greg Curnutte, MAMFC, LPC
Greg is the Associate Minister of Counseling Services at Houston's First Baptist Church. He has a Masters in Family and Marital Counseling and a Masters in Christian Education. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor. Greg’s interest is in working with individuals: teens, singles, college, men, and women. Greg works with couples in marriage and premarital counseling, as well as with families. He is certified in the Prepare/Enrich marriage program (for premarital counseling). Part of his focus is counseling men who struggle with sexual addictions. Greg counsels from a biblical foundation, primarily using cognitive/behavioral techniques. Greg oversees various support groups, Celebrate Recovery, and the First H.O.P.E. job ministry.
713.335.6465
greg.curnutte@HoustonsFirst.org
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C. Huston McComb, Jr., MA, LPC, Counseling Ministry Associate
Huston has been counseling since 1995. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor and is certified as a National Certified Counselor. He was ordained to the gospel ministry in 2003. Huston has a Masters of Arts Degree in Professional Counseling from Lindenwood University. He is currently working on a second Masters Degree in Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Huston works with both men and women and specializes in the areas of sexual addiction and abuse. He also has an extensive background in marital counseling and enjoys helping couples see God’s plan for their relationship. Huston has a passion for evangelism and he prays for opportunities to share the message of Christ through his counseling. His counseling philosophy is built upon Biblical principles, and based upon prayer, integrated with sound psychological principles. Huston and his wife, Debbie, have been married for twenty-two years and have two teenage children.
713.335.6462
Huston.McComb@houstonsfirst.org
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Mary Ring, MAMFC, LPC-S, LMFT-S, RPT-S
Mary has a Masters in Marriage and Family Counseling and in Religious Education. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with supervisory status. She also has certification as Registered Play Therapist Supervisor and is certified as a TheraPlay Therapist. She works with people of all ages from birth through adults. Her desire is to empower individuals and families with the spiritual truths God has given them and to teach them how to integrate those truths into every aspect of their lives. Having fulfilling relationships is one of God’s most precious blessings.
713.335.6466
mary.ring@HoustonsFirst.org
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Cheryl Rogers, MS, LMFT, LPC
Cheryl specializes in working with married couples and other relational dynamics. She is also certified through the Prepare/Enrich program for pre-marital counseling. Her experience includes working extensively with women’s issues such as depression, anxiety, and relationship concerns. Her belief is that clients have the capacity to resolve their own problems and make their own decisions; however, from time to time, everyone needs assistance and direction. Cheryl counsels from a Biblical perspective and believes that God desires for us to live through His power in restoring relationships. Cheryl is married and has 3 children.
713.335.6467
cheryl.rogers@HoustonsFirst.org
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Dr. Milton S. Magness, LPC, CART, CSAT
Dr. Magness is in private practice (www.HopeAndFreedom.com) but serves as a consultant to the counseling center for men and couples where compulsive sexual behavior is a factor. He is a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist and is the president of The Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health (SASH), formerly known as the National Council on Sex Addiction and Compulsivity. Dr. Magness was a pastor for twenty years prior to becoming a therapist. He holds two master’s degrees including a Master of Arts in Psychology and also has a Doctor of Ministry. In addition to his work as a psychotherapist, he is the author of Hope & Freedom for Sexual Addicts and Their Partners, published by Gentle Path Press. He is also the author of numerous audio books that are found at www.RecoveryOnTheGo.com
713.335.6474
milton.magness@HoustonsFirst.org
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Enie Bourland, MA, LPC, LMFT, CCSAS
Enie is licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist and a Licensed Professional Counselor. She has a Masters degree in Counseling (Marriage and Family). She is also a Board Certified Professional Christian Counselor and a Certified Clinical Sex Addiction Specialist (CCSAS). Enie counsels both women and men, addressing their individual issues and works with couples on relational problems. Enie leads a therapy group for spouses dealing with their husband's sexual acting out. She also leads a weekly ladies Co-Dependent group. She desires for clients to realize their potential by focusing on God’s principles, revealed through His word. Enie and her husband of 35+ years are parents to a young adult daughter. Counseling is limited to adults over 18 years.
713.335.6472
Enie444@aol.com
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Steve Crain, MA, LPC
Steve is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a Masters of Arts from Houston Baptist University in Professional Counseling. His primary focus, at this time, is on pre-marital counseling. He reviews somewhat exhaustive client profiles and discusses such issues as conflict resolution, communication, finances, family issues, parenting, leisure activities and couple closeness. Steve is interested in helping young singles to process life strategies from a biblical perspective. He is currently working with his wife Holly in the Summit, Single Parent Ministry. Steve, also volunteers his time to meet with professional ministers in a safe environment to discuss confidential needs or issues. He is available to teach or lead a small group on an as needed basis.
Lara McFeely, MA, LPC
Lara is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a Masters of Arts in Professional Counseling. She is interested in helping individuals identify and work through barriers to living a full and abundant life in the Spirit. She counsels from a Biblical perspective and desires to walk along side others through their struggle of faith. Lara is a certified PREPARE/ENRICH engaged couple’s counselor. She enjoys working with adults and teens dealing with issues such as identity, self-confidence, grief, addiction, co-dependency and past abuse. She desires to instill hope in the power of God to change patterns and heal lives. Lara leads a monthly support meeting for family members of patients with dementia. She believes in the value of each individual as a unique expression of Almighty God.
713.335.6476
lara.mcfeely@HoustonsFirst.org
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Pat Johnson, MA, LPC, LMFT-Associate
Pat has a Master's of Art in Marriage and Family Therapy Liberty University and is a Licensed Professional and a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Associate. She counsels from a faith perspective that views situations with hope and sees each individual as having significant worth and potential, while relying upon biblical principles and truths, the Holy Spirit, proven psychological methods, and prayer. She counsels using a systems/family approach that emphasizes God’s grace, solutions to problems, experience, and insight. She believes that individuals, couples, and families have strengths and resources that can be accessed to assist change. Pat is called to help clients find healing/transformation, fulfill their purposes, increase their intimacy with God and others, and enhance their joy in living, reaching their God-given potentials. She works with children, adolescents, and adults.
713.335.6462
pat.johnson@HoustonsFirst.org
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LPC-Interns
Betsy Contreras, MA, LPC-intern, Bilingual Counselor
Betsy is a Spanish Bilingual, Licensed Professional Counselor Intern with a Masters of Arts in Psychology. She is also in the process of working towards her certification as a Registered Play Therapist. Her great aspiration of being a Christian Counselor is to help the person to become the treasure God has created in him/her. Her work with children, individuals, married couples and family units is through a biblically base and holistic therapy in order to help them fulfill their purpose in Christ and walk closer with Him.
713.335.6467
713.957.8338
betsy.contreras@HoustonsFirst.org
Download English Informed Consent Form here
Download Spanish Informed Consent Form here
Dan Johnson, LPC-Intern
Dan is a Licensed Professional Counselor Intern and has a Masters of Education in counseling from the University of Houston. His passion for counseling is to see struggling individuals, couples, and families restored to wholeness, both spiritually and mentally. Dan desires to see men live life with passion in their relationship with God and others. Coming from a career in ministry, he also has a passion for church staff and the issues they may encounter. He will work from a Christ centered approach using interpersonal and cognitive/behavioral methods. Dan is certified in the Prepare/Enrich marriage program.
713.335.6462
dan.johnson@HoustonsFirst.org
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Jennifer Griffith, MACC, LPC-Intern
Jennifer is a Licensed Professional Counselor Intern with a Master’s in Christian Counseling at Houston Baptist University. She is a certified PREPARE/ENRICH engaged couple's counselor. She has a passion for working with families and strengthening the covenant of marriage. Her interests include trauma, abuse, relationship issues, and premarital counseling. She counsels from a cognitive behavioral approach and believes strongly in working with the client to find a “best-fit” environment for therapy that is appropriate for each individual need. Coming from a competitive sports background, Jennifer also has a heart for athletes and the issues they encounter.
713.335.6473
jennifer.griffith@HoustonsFirst.org
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David Martin, MA, LPC-Intern
David is originally from Spain. He holds a Licensure in Psychology (equivalent to a Masters degree) from the University of Malaga (Spain). He is a Licensed Professional Counselor-Intern. He is called to work with children, families, couples, and individuals using a biblical perspective. He is a member of the Infant Mental Health team in Early Childhood Intervention (ECI). He desires to see lives transformed through relationship with Jesus Christ so that God may be glorified and enjoyed. David is bilingual (English/Spanish).
david.martin@HoustonsFirst.org
Download English Informed Consent Form here
Download Spanish Informed Consent Form here
Katie Comer, MA, LPC-Intern
Katie is a Licensed Professional Counselor Intern. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Houston-Clear Lake. Katie enjoys working with a wide range of ages and clinical populations including people dealing with eating disorders, body image related struggles, depression, anxiety, phobias, and those healing from a history of domestic violence or sexual abuse. Katie is a certified Prepare/Enrich counselor and enjoys working with couples as they prepare for their journey into marriage. Katie is most passionate about working with teenage girls and young women, and she believes God has called her to help women break free in areas where they are stuck. Katie uses an eclectic approach adjusting person-centered, emotion-focused, and cognitive behavioral techniques to meet the specific needs of her clients. Katie believes that while counseling techniques can help people build skills to deal with various struggles, true healing and passionate living involve a relationship with the Lord.
713.335.6462
katie.comer@houstonsfirst.org
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Karen Hull, MA, LPC-Intern
Karen holds a Master of Arts degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Liberty University. She is also a published author whose book, The Mommy Book: Advice for New Mothers from Women Who’ve Been There, was featured in the Focus on the Family broadcast and magazine. Karen and her husband Jon have been married for thirty-one years and have two daughters, a son-in-law, and two granddaughters. Karen counsels from a foundation of biblical truth. Her theoretical orientation is eclectic, combining spiritual formation, cognitive-behavioral, narrative, family systems, and emotionally focused couple and family approaches. She is also a certified PREPARE/ENRICH engaged couples counselor. She is currently available to counsel individuals (including adolescents), couples, and families.
713.335.6462
karen.hull@HoustonsFirst.org
Download Informed Consent Form here
Caroline Marcos, MA, LPC-Intern
I am a Christian counselor specializing in Art Therapy and a Licensed Professional Counselor Intern in the state of Texas. I completed a Masters of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy with an emphasis in Art Therapy from Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont California in August 18, 2005. I’ve worked in various settings which allowed me to work with foster children and community children and their families, conducting individual and family therapy. I focused on dyadic work with mothers and adolescent girls. I also worked as a 'Rehab Therapist where I conducted group therapy with behavior and emotional disordered adolescents at Starlight Adolescent Community Treatment Facility. During my graduate degree I did practicum training for 9 months at a School Based Mental Health. On this mental health team, I traveled to elementary, middle schools and high schools in the San Mateo County, where I treated special education children utilizing art therapy in group and individual therapy. Since I’ve moved to Houston in 2007 and have been here contracting through City Artworks with whom I was able to work with children on dialysis at Texas children and in charter schools until April of 2009. I approach counseling from a biblical perspective, utilizing techniques from the cognitive-behavioral approach and expressive art therapy. These techniques include, but are not limited to active listening, assessments, homework, psycho-educational discussions, reading assignments, prayer, and therapeutic confrontation. The cognitive behavioral approach focuses on thoughts and behaviors, and sees emotions as the result or consequences of our thoughts. Art therapy is an approach that utilizes drawing, painting and collage work for the purpose of expressing oneself when words fail. Art experience is not necessary and the process is facilitated by me. The purpose of counseling is to reach specific goals for individual and relational growth, which are mutually agreed upon by both the client and the counselor. Goals should be consistent with biblical truth.
Wesley Wynn, MA, LPC-Intern
I have a Master of Arts degree in Professional Counseling from Liberty University. I am recognized as a Licensed Professional Counselor-Intern by the Texas Board of Examiners of Licensed Professional Counselors. I am also recognized as a Qualified Mental Health Professional with the Mental Health and Mental Retardation Authority of Harris County. My education and experience has equipped me to counsel teens, adults, and groups. I have two years experience as both a Jr. High and Sr. High Youth Pastor in Katy, TX. I worked as a research assistant with The Children’s Learning Institute at the University of Texas-Houston for two years. I engaged both individual and group counseling for one year at the Krause Youth Residential Treatment Center. I am currently employed as a Rehabilitation Clinician with MHMRA of Harris County where I primarily provide psycho education and life skills training to individuals with psychosis and depression. My various positions have allowed me to gain experience in counseling those concerned with chemical dependency, physical/emotional abuse, ADHD, conduct disorder, oppositional defiance, suicidal thoughts, depression, psychosis, anxiety and mood disorders. As a counselor, I provide a safe environment where individuals can be honest and open without fear of judgment. It is most beneficial when those attending come with the willingness to explore and make changes in their lives. I believe in the application of biblical principles and the practice of spiritual disciplines such as prayer and forgiveness. My approach can best be described as cognitive-behavioral or rational-emotive, which involves identifying how our thoughts influence our emotions and behaviors. This process is collaborative and may require some activities, or homework, outside of the session.
Counselors in Practicum
Dr. Bradley Smith
Bradley holds the following degrees: a Masters in Ministry, a Masters in Divinity, and a Doctorate of Ministry. He is currently a practicum student completing a Masters in Counseling from Houston Graduate School of Theology. His areas of interest include spiritual formation, cross-cultural issues, grief counseling, addictions, and brief solution focused therapy for individuals and couples. He has written on cross-cultural marriage and evangelism among Asian Americans. Bradley served in the U.S. Army Reserve for 2 years. He is an ordained pastor and has served in churches in Missouri and Hawaii, and currently serves as senior pastor for Asian American Church of Houston. He has served as a missionary in Japan, a church planter in Hawaii, and a bereavement chaplain and counselor for the largest private owned funeral service in the state of Hawaii. He has also worked with adolescents in family settings, and in an inpatient drug rehab program. He holds membership in the Evangelical Church Alliance (ECA), Federation of Fire Chaplains (FFC), American Counseling Association (ACA), and serves as a Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Chaplain. Bradley and his wife Narumi have been married 15 years. He enjoys sports, playing guitar, and studying history.
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Mary Griggs
I am a Christian counselor with a Master of Arts degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Houston Graduate School of Theology. I am a practicum counselor working toward a professional license with the Texas Board of Examiners of Licensed Professional Counselors. I am certified in PREPARE/ENRICH. My background in ministry in the church includes many years as a Bible study leader and mentor, director of outreach ministries and a licensed Evangelist with the African Methodist Episcopal Church. I have facilitated Divorce Recovery classes, worked with women who are dealing with abuse issues and have used my ministry to help aid women in counseling because I feel the Word of God is very important in helping the client heal spiritually as well as emotionally. I approach counseling from a biblical perspective with the goal of helping individuals, couples, and families find the healing and freedom that come from actively applying biblical truth to their lives and relationships. My theoretical orientation is one o that incorporates spiritual formation, cognitive-behavioral, narrative, family systems, and emotionally focused couple and family approaches. The purpose of counseling is to reach specific goals for individual and relational growth. Goals are mutually agreed upon by both the client and the counselor, and should be consistent with biblical truth.
Rebecca Hixson
I am a counselor in practicum finishing my MA in Counseling from Houston Graduate School of Theology. I will be pursuing licensure for Counseling in the state of Texas. I also hold a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Development and Family Relations from Baylor University. Additionally, I am a certified Prepare/Enrich counselor. I completed an internship at Texas Children’s Hospital in child life therapy. I was a preschool teacher for six years. I was a flight attendant for Delta Airlines for 14 years. The flexibility in my schedule allowed me to pursue my love of volunteering in the community. I have worked at homeless shelters in Los Angeles, Big Brothers and Sisters, Child Advocates, and Camp Hug for Children affected by HIV/AIDS. I have facilitated both adult women and young children’s bible study classes. Most recently, I have volunteered at the Salvation Army counseling young women. I counsel from a faith based biblical perspective utilizing an eclectic approach that includes but is not limited to; family systems, cognitive –behavioral, solution- focused, and person -centered theories. I believe every individual is unique and requires a different approach. My goal is to work with the client on a mutually agreed upon plan for growth and healing.
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