Meet Our Team

Shermelia’s BIO

Shermelia is a Licensed Professional Counselor- Associate and Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor. She specializes in anxiety, depression, and addiction in adolescents and adults.

Personal Path

Shermelia’s passion for counseling was birthed within the education system as a student and educator for over a decade in high schools and alternative schools. The repetitive nature of adolescent behavioral issues became inevitable due to unmet psychosocial needs. Shermelia’s approach with clients is to address the unmet psychosocial needs, while creating a plan of action to get those needs met, and develop coping skills as growth is taking place. Effective change comes from within and Shermelia is here to help you process it.

Background

Shermelia specializes in anxiety, depression, and addiction in adolescents and adults. Her desire is to help you break the cycle of your past retraumatizing your present and to help you celebrate and strengthen the survivor within you. Consider Bessel van der Kolk’s words,”Beneath the surface of the protective parts of trauma survivors, there exists an undamaged essence, a Self that is confident, curious, and calm, a Self that has been sheltered from destruction by the various protectors that have emerged in their efforts to ensure survival…” Shermelia’s counseling style is eclectic, as she draws from best practices of many counseling theories and techniques.

Education & Associations

Shermelia earned her Master’s of Science in Counseling from the University of North Texas – Denton. She received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Prairie View A&M University. She is also a member of Chi Sigma Iota Counseling Academic & Professional Honor Society International.

Member of ACA- The American Counseling Association

Patricia’s BIO

Patricia Arps -LPC-A, CRC

Licensed Professional Counselor (Associate)

Certified Rehabilitation Counselor

Patricia Arps is a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate with Total Life Counseling, Dallas, Texas.  She possesses over 25 years combined experience in the field of counseling as a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor for the State of Texas and as a Licensed Therapist-Associate with TLC.  Patricia’s counseling specialties include positive self-talk, cognitive distortion reversal techniques, and psycho-social intervention through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Her approach aims to change negative thought patterns, conscious/unconscious beliefs, unhealthy attitudes and destructive behaviors in order to help individuals and couples face life’s difficulties and achieve their goals. She provides collaborative short-term and long-term goals supported by applicable thought-provoking homework. The focus of her therapy is to facilitate the client(s) in reaching targeted long-term healthy objectives so as to enhance their quality of life.

 Education: Patricia received her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center and Master’s at the University of Kentucky majoring in Clinical Rehab Counseling. She’s currently affiliated with Chi Sigma Iota- Rho Zeta Chapter in recognition of scholastic and professional excellence.

Her focus areas are:

Women’s Issues                                                          Low Self-Esteem

Couples Therapy (Traditional)                                                 Anxiety

Depression                                                                  Codependency

Thuraya’s BIO

My name is Thuraya, and I am a senior at Southern Arkansas University (SAU) majoring in Master of Science in Mental and Clinical Health Counseling. I am a native of Baghdad, Iraq and I enjoy a good workout, yoga, reading, and herbal teas. During my internship with Total Life Counseling, I hope to get a taste of the many disciplines in this field and narrow down the population in which I will be able to serve. Additionally, I look forward to connecting with those who have been in this industry for a long time and absorbing all the experience I can by working alongside with them.