meet our staff - bernis riley

Dr. Bernis Riley
Psy.D., LPC-S - Clinical Director

I am Dr. Bernis Riley, co-founder and Clinical Director of SoulCare Counseling. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor and a Certified EFT Therapist with a Doctorate in Psychology. I am also trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing).

All couples have disagreements, but what happens when you and your spouse disagree? Does it go in circles as you attack and defend, or does one of you get quiet while the other gets frustrated? If so, you’ve probably tried to change this, but you can’t. You’re stuck in a negative cycle that keeps you disconnected so that you can’t communicate, resolve conflict, or discuss problems without falling into your cycle. This negative cycle is the problem.

But there is a way out of the negative cycle, and I can help you find it using Emotionally Focused Therapy. EFT helps you stop the negative cycle by creating a safe emotional connection. You can schedule a free thirty-minute consultation with me by clicking the button below. Or you can call or text 817-808-2606, or email bernis@soulcarecounselingdfw.com. Teletherapy is available for couples who have completed a couples intensive with me, which, by the way, is a great option for getting real traction in your relationship.

 
meet our staff - mark riley

Dr. Mark Riley
D.Min. - Executive Director

I am Dr. Mark Riley, co-founder and Executive Director of SoulCare Counseling. After 44 years as a pastor, I retired to serve at SoulCare Counseling as executive director, and I love taking care of all the behind-the-scenes administrative work for the practice. I also answer the phone and email.

We are designed and created by God for connection and, because of that, disconnection is the enemy. In a marriage, when emotional disconnection creeps in, it causes arguments and protective actions that spiral out of control. The only solution is repair and reconnection.  That is what our counselors do at SoulCare. Hundreds of marriages have been saved since we first opened in 2007.

If I can help you with scheduling, answering questions, or any administrative issue, you can contact me here. You can call or text 817-808-2606 or email mark@soulcarecounselingdfw.com.

 
meet our staff - kelly heard

Kelly Heard
LMFT-A

I am Kelly Heard, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist - Associate under the supervision of Shaun Burrow, Ph.D., LMFT - Supervisor and LPC - Supervisor.  I hold a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and am a member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.

Do you feel misunderstood and unappreciated? Are you caught in cycle of nasty fights or silent cease fires? Are you lonely in your marriage? Do you feel anxious or depressed as a result?  Do you feel tanged up in your distress and unable to figure out how you got in and how to get out? Would you like your marriage to get better and stay that way?

I can help you unravel yourself from the negative patterns holding your happiness hostage. I have advanced training in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), which prioritizes the ability to turn toward significant others in times of distress. EFT is based on the science of attachment theory and it is backed up by decades of research that prove it really works. To schedule a free thirty-minute consultation, just click here. You can call or text 945-223-8188 or email kelly@soulcarecounselingdfw.com. Teletherapy is available. 

 
meet our staff - stacey sunny

Stacey Sunny
LPC-A

I am Stacey Sunny, Licensed Professional Counselor Associate under the supervision of Dr. Bernis Riley, LPC-S. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Psychology degree from the University of Texas at Dallas and a Master's Degree of Arts in Licensed Professional Counseling degree from Dallas Baptist University. I have worked with sexual trauma and assault at the Turning Point Rape Crisis Center in Plano.  I am trained in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR).

No one wants to experience pain and suffering, yet we can learn and grow from those experiences.  In our broken world, you may be like so many people who feel broken and hopeless, who struggle to find their purpose in life.  The good news is that there is hope and there is a Savior who died for you and loves you.  Whatever issues you are struggling with, God's word assures us, and my own experiences have confirmed, that we can learn and grow and reach the full potential God has for us.​

If you carry feelings of abandonment, hurt, bitterness that poisons you, I want to help you understand yourself and extend compassion and grace towards yourself.  Positive growth and self-discovery is possible.  It would be my honor to work with you towards processing emotions and experiences to develop awareness and help you build a brighter future.  I look forward to working with you online. You can schedule a free thirty-minute consultation online by calling or texting me at 430-558-6459 or you can email me directly at stacey@soulcarecounselingdfw.com. No matter where you are in Texas, I can counsel you through teletherapy.

 
meet our staff - callie hall

Callie Hall
LPC-A

I am Callie Hall, Licensed Professional Counselor Associate supervised by Dr. Bernis Riley, Psy.D, LPC-S. I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Nevada at Las Vegas, and a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Grand Canyon University. I have experience providing behavioral health services to at-risk youth, and a unique background and training working with foster and adoptive families.

You are created for connection. Each of us wants a place where we belong and feel most ourselves. Sometimes, even in families and romantic partnerships, loneliness and feelings of inadequacy can creep in causing you to feel insecure in your relationships. You rehearse your perceived mistakes and fall into a cycle of isolation and negative emotions which lead to negative, and sometimes toxic, interactions with others. The more you fail, the more you internalize your failures and feel hopelessness and discouragement, convincing yourself that nothing will ever get better and you are bound to repeat the same cycles over and over. Are you tired of this negative cycle and ready for positive, lasting change? 

It would be my privilege to walk through the process of emotional healing with you, using Emotionally Focused Therapy. I want to help you break free of hopelessness and experience a sustaining joy and peace in who you are, your purpose in life, and the value you bring to your relationships. To schedule a free thirty-minute consultation, click here, call or text (817) 715-0129, or email callie@soulcarecounselingdfw.com. Teletherapy is available.

 
meet our staff - Brad Ashley

Brad Ashley
Masters Level Intern

I am Brad Ashley, Graduate Student Intern under the supervision of Dr. Bernis Riley, Psy.D., LPC-S. I am pursuing a Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University.  I hold a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from Texas A&M University as well as a Master of Business Administration degree.  I hold memberships in the American Association of Christian Counselors and Chi Sigma Iota Counseling Honor Society.  I am Gottman Level 1 Certified and a trained SYMBIS (Save Your Marriage Before It Starts) facilitator.  My specialty is working with men and couples where there is relationship trauma with a primary focus on helping men grow in sexual integrity, deal with shame, and overcome anxiety and depression. 

Is this you? You desire to be a man of integrity but just can’t seem to find freedom from compulsive sexual behaviors. Maybe your marriage is in crisis mode due to the consequences of your behavior.  You’ve tried to work through it yourself and mend the damage, but you’re stuck. There are reasons why you’re stuck, and it’s not just an issue of lust. The key is to find the “why” behind your unhealthy coping mechanisms and deal with the issues that have led you to this point. Ultimately the relationship goal is to develop empathy, learn how to guard your wife’s heart, and rebuild the trust that has been lost. Healing, freedom, and redemption are possible; it won’t be an easy journey but it’s a journey that is well worth it. You can discover who God says you are and become the man, husband, and father you were designed to be.

Proverbs 23:7 says, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” Two strong forces make you the man you are: your thoughts and your emotions. To address these two forces, in a safe, non-judgmental atmosphere of the counseling room, we will use two proven therapeutic strategies: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Emotionally Focused Therapy. CBT realigns erroneous beliefs with correct beliefs. EFT addresses the primary emotions that trigger erroneous beliefs and unhealthy coping strategies that sabotage intimacy. When appropriate we will integrate your marriage and family into the treatment plan. I am ready to help you find the healing and wholeness you desire. To schedule a free thirty-minute consultation, click here, or call or text (817) 808-2606, or email brad@soulcarecounselingdfw.com.

 
meet our staff - Paulina Lopez

Paulina Lopez
Masters Level Intern - Bilingual

I am Paulina Lopez, Graduate Student Intern completing a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy to become a Licensed Professional Counselor. I am supervised by Dr. Bernis Riley, LPC-S. I am earning my degree from The King’s University and as a practicum student, I am fulfilling the 300 hours of face-to-face counseling required by my degree program. I am passionate about seeing couples experiencing healthy connection as God intends for our relationships and marriages!

You are created for wholeness and connection. Unfortunately, as we walk through life different experiences can leave us feeling broken, hopeless, and insecure in our relationships with ourselves and others. We may find ourselves in unhealthy cycles and dynamics that leave us feeling isolated, confused, and frustrated. But I believe that God can redeem even the darkest parts of our stories and that we can each experience health and wholeness in Christ! 

If you are at the end of your rope, through using Emotionally Focused Therapy, we will collaborate to get you unstuck from the cycle of conflict that is causing you distress and holding you back from living out everything God has planned for you. It would be an honor to journey with you toward wholeness!  To schedule a free thirty-minute consultation with me, click here, or you can call or text me at (682)730-2852. Or you can email me at paulina@soulcarecounselingdfw.com. Teletherapy is available. I am bi-lingual and can do counseling in Spanish as well.