Instructors
Hal Barkley, Ph.D., LPC, LMFT is currently the Director of the graduate level Counseling Program at SMU (Plano). Dr. Barkley has been a resident of Carrollton and employed by Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD for 35 years. He has also maintained a limited private practice for the past twenty-six years and taught as an adjunct professor at SMU for six years. Dr. Barkley received hi Ph.D. in Counseling from the University of North Texas and his undergraduate degree from Texas Tech University. He is a Clinical Member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists and is a Certified Sex Therapist with the American Association of Sex Educations, Counselors, and Therapists.
Robert Good, LPC has received a M.A. and Th.M. from the Dallas Theological Seminary and did post-graduate work in Counselor Education at the University of south Florida. He is a co-founder of Stonebriar Counseling Associates with offices in Frisco and Plano, Texas where he is a licensed professional counselor and Certified Anger Resolution Therapist. A counselor and seminar speaker, Mr. Good has written extensively; topics include Counseling Intervention with Couples, Relationship Networking in the Business World, Estate Planning, and Financial Planning for the Family.
Thomas L. Hartsell, Jr., J.D. is an attorney/mediator and a fulltime faculty member at Southern Methodist University teaching courses in the graduate Counseling and Conflict Resolution Programs. He has extensive experience representing mental health professionals in connection with licensing board complaints.
Jodi Hassler, LPC, RPT, CCH has been a psychotherapist for 12 years in Dallas, Texas. Before she began practicing psychotherapy in 1993, she was an elementary school teacher. As a psychotherapist, she has worked extensively with individuals, couples and families. One of her specialties is working with children as a Registered Play Therapist. Jodi is a member of the American Counseling Association, and the Association for Play Therapists. She is a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist.
MaryAnn Kildebeck, LCSW, CCBH has been a psychotherapist for 10 years, providing therapy for adolescents and adults as a licensed psychotherapist. Formerly a teacher working with preschool children and high school youth, she chose psychotherapy as a second profession.
Gay Thomas McAlister, Ph.D., LPC, RED is currently Associate Director of Supervision of the graduate level Counseling Program at SMU (Plano), serving as practicum supervisor. Dr. McAlister received her B.S. in Elementary and Special Education and M.ED. Supervision from Lamar University and her Ph.D. in Family Studies from Texas Woman's University. Dr. McAlister also holds certifications in Elementary and Special Education, all levels, Supervision, Educational Diagnostician and Driver Education.
Linda L. McCarley, LMSW, ATR-BC, RPT-S is a founder/director of the Art Therapy Institute, a past president of the North Texas Art Therapy Association and serves on the Educational Program Approval Board of the American Art Therapy Association, which has about 4,000 members.
Janell Myers, Ph.D., LPC, LMFT has been a mental health practitioner for over 20 years. She holds a Masters in Psychology and a Ph.D. in Counseling and Addiction Studies. She has served as an Adjunct Professor of Counseling, Psychology, and Human Development at Amberton University, and in Counseling and the School of Addiction Studies at the University of North Texas. Dr. Myers was the director of several mental health and chemical dependency in-patient, out-patient, and residential treatment programs before starting private practice with offices in Plano and Lake Highlands, specializing in family therapy, difficult adolescents, and all addictive disorders. She is also a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor, a Master Addiction Counselor, and a state-approved supervisor for LPCs and LMFTs. Her interests are angry adolescents and families affected by addictions. Dr. Myers has been a trainer and speaker at local, national and international conferences. She has a passion for sharing her expertise with those working the in the mental health and addictions fields.
Beau A. Nelson, MA, LCSW is President of Behavioral Health Consulting Solutions, a consulting business specializing in working with mental health professionals to manage and market their practice. He has worked for private behavioral health businesses as a clinician and in marketing and business development. More on his consulting activities is available at selfpaypractice.com. Mr. Nelson has a private practice specializing in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy in North Dallas. He is trained as a Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapist and provides individual, couples, and group counseling. More information about his practice is available at improveyourmood.com. In addition to consulting and counseling, he also teaches at local universities, lectures for a variety of professional and other organizations, and offers supervision to students deepening their practice of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy.
Tony Picchioni, Ph.D., LPC, LMFT is the Chair of the Conflict Resolution and Counseling Programs at SMU (Plano). Dr. Picchioni received his Ph.D. in Counseling from the University of North Texas. He has also done extensive post-graduate work in Dispute Resolution at The Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School, Pepperdine Law School and CDR Associates in Boulder, Colorado.
Lauren Wallach, Ed.D, LPC. has completed the coursework and dissertation on Breaking the Cycle of Violence, from Nova Southeastern University in 1998. Through her Peer Mediation Program curriculum, she has trained hundreds of children, teachers and parents in the art and value of mediation. She has presented mediation as a key to breaking the cycle of violence to peers during Texas Counselors Association conferences, Galaxy Center’s Violence Symposiums, The YWCA’s Week Without Violence Conference, as well as many local PTA and Teachers Organization meetings.