Thomas C. Johnson, Ph.D.

Dr. Johnson hails from the state of Louisiana, where he was blessed to grow up in a Christian home. He made a profession of faith at the age of seven in a Southern Baptist Church. He obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology in Louisiana and a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology at the University of Illinois. For several years he worked in mental health and school psychology until returning to graduate school at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA. There he obtained a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Theology. He did postdoctoral work in Connecticut before coming to Amarillo to work as a staff psychologist at the Pavilion, working primarily with seniors and with people with chronic and severe psychiatric disorders. He joined the staff of Samaritan in 1998. He works primarily with adolescents, adults, and seniors doing individual, marital, and family work. He currently attends Citychurch in Amarillo, where he leads an adult Bible study on Sundays.

Emily Wilson, M.Ed., LPC

Emily Wilson is a native to the Panhandle. She was born in Amarillo, grew up in a small town east of Amarillo, and returned as a young adult. She graduated from West Texas State University with a degree in English, and minors in History and Spanish. After a break for children, she returned to West Texas and received a master’s in Professional Counseling.

Emily worked at Catholic Family Service, Inc. in the Maternity and Adoption Division for four years and as Supervisor of the Counseling Division for eleven years.

She works with adults, offering individual and marital counseling.

She is an active member of her church and has taught Christian Education for over thirty years.

Elizabeth Smith, M.A, LPC

Elizabeth holds a Master of Arts Degree in Professional Counseling from West Texas A & M University and completed her undergraduate studies at Baylor University.

She is licensed as a Professional Counselor in the state of Texas. Elizabeth’s practice includes individual, couples’ and family counseling. She sees clients with a wide variety of issues and specializes in issues relating to grief, depression, anxiety, relationships, and marital counseling. She has led support groups for grieving people and is certified by the American Cancer Society as a Life After Loss Facilitator. She has also directed seminars to educate the community about issues of grief and depression. Elizabeth spent two years doing mission work in Ireland, living at the Lucan Youth Centre just outside Dublin. Her ministry there focused on reconciliation efforts with Protestant and Catholic young people.

Elizabeth is an active member of First Presbyterian Church and participates there by leading music with her husband and members of her family. She is an avid reader and loves the outdoors Ð participating in hiking, backpacking, running, and, her new love, snowshoeing!

Sandy Tripp, M.Ed., LPC

Sandy received her Bachelor’s degree from West Texas State University in 1976 in Elementary Education and her Master’s degree in 1993 from West Texas A.&M University in Counseling Education. She became a Texas Licensed Professional Counselor in 1999.

Sandy worked for the Dumas Independent School District for 27 years as an elementary teacher and a counselor at Dumas High School. She began working for Samaritan Pastoral Counseling Center in 1997 on a part time basis until she felt God leading her to retire from the school system in 2003 to become a full time private practice counselor. Since that time she has worked for Samaritan devoting half of her week to the Amarillo office and the other half to the Dumas office. Her clinical areas of experience are adolescents, individuals and play therapy with children.

Sandy has been an active member of First Baptist Church of Dumas for many years and enjoys singing weekly in the adult choir and teaching a High School Sunday School class. Having already raised their two daughters, she and her husband enjoy spending their free time either on camping trips with their RV or spoiling their grandchildren.

Often asked why she retired from one job to take another she replies, "I feel privileged to work in a setting where I can integrate spirituality along with my clients emotional and cognitive approach in an attempt to resolve their struggles. Our God in fact is "the great physician". As therapists at Samaritan we are a devoted family and I enjoy and appreciate the continued opportunity to grow and learn from each one of them.

Nancy Ford, M.Ed., LPC

Nancy received her Master’s degree in 1974 from West Texas State University, a certification in School Counseling in 1980 from WT and her License as a Professional Counselor from the State of Texas in 1994.

Nancy worked for Amarillo public schools for 29 years as an elementary teacher and school counselor. After retiring from the school system, Nancy worked as a child therapist with Texas Panhandle Mental Health Authority and later with Samaritan Pastoral Counseling Center for five years. She then worked as a school counselor for Canyon public schools for six years and returned to Samaritan in August, 2007.

Nancy is very active in First Baptist Church of Amarillo and has been a choir member for over 20 years. She has always been active in volunteer work: AISD Host program, Meals on Wheels, and Therapy Dog Association. She has six step children, 9 grandchildren, 3 great grand children, two special dogs and two ornery cats. One of her joys is art. She paints with oil, pastels and charcoal.

Mark D. Heaney, D.Min., M.Div., LPC

Dr. Heaney recently moved from Oklahoma to the Amarillo area to serve as a counselor and pastoral psychotherapist with the Samaritan Pastoral Counseling Center. Rev. Heaney has been an ordained Presbyterian minister for over 27 years. After graduating from Princeton Theological Seminary, Rev. Heaney served as associate pastor and solo pastor in congregations in Newtown, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma City, El Reno and Stillwater, Oklahoma. He especially enjoyed working with youth and ministering to congregations, which he sees as integrated systems that reflect many of the same dynamics of individuals and family systems. Rev. Heaney honed his pastoral skills by being present with individuals and families at critical junctures in their lives such as births, baptisms, marriages and deaths.

Dr. Heaney received his Doctorate in Pastoral Counseling from Phillips Theological Seminary. His clinical internship took place in Oklahoma City at The Center for Psychotherapy, Education and Spiritual Growth. He was co-founding pastoral counselor with the Stillwater Interfaith Counseling Center, Inc. Dr. Heaney spent a number of years, both in training and as a licensed counselor, combining his ministry as a pastoral psychotherapist with his ministry as a parish pastor. In 2007 he left parish ministry to briefly serve as the Social Service Director for a non-profit hospice. He then went into full time private practice with Inner Peace Pastoral Counseling. Dr. Heaney has worked with colleagues in community mental health agencies, as well as with two psychiatrists in private practice.

"I have practiced counseling within the models of community mental health as well as within the medical model of a physicianÕs office. While I learned a great deal from those experiences, I am very excited to return full time to my roots and training as a pastoral psychotherapist. I feel deeply privileged to be practicing with other professionals who seek to integrate body, mind and spirit in a holistic approach to counseling and therapy. As an ordained minister and a pastoral psychotherapist, I hope to integrate the best of both the spiritual and the psychological in responding to the hurts and hopes of the persons who come seeking help and healing for their life challenges."

Dr. Heaney is married with four grown children and lives in Canyon, Texas.

Patricia Bradford, M.Ed., LPC, MT-BC

Patricia received her bachelorÕs degree in music therapy from West Texas State University in 1986 after completing an internship at the Menninger Foundation Psychiatric ChildrenÕs Hospital. She worked for several years in the San Antonio area before returning to Amarillo to work at NWTHS Psychiatric Pavilion as a music therapist. In 1994 she earned a Master of Education degree in Professional Counseling from West Texas A & M University and began work as a licensed counselor in 1997. After working at the Pavilion for 17 years she has joined the clinical staff at SPCCA. Patricia enjoys working with clients of all ages, but in particular enjoys work with children, adolescents and families.

Patricia states ÒI believe strongly in the value and use of expressive modalities to improve mental health.Ó Patricia promotes the use of music, art, writing and play with all ages to express feelings safely, to manage stress, to gain insight into self and relationships and to promote wellness. Patricia also uses traditional therapy methods to address issues and symptoms as well.

Patricia and her husband, Glenn live in Amarillo and attend Pinnacle Community Church. She plays keyboard and guitar and is very active with the music team at Pinnacle.

Frank Foster, M.A., LPC, LCDCI

Frank holds a MasterÕs degree in Counseling from West Texas A&M University. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor Intern in the state of Texas. His practice includes adolescent, couples, family, and individual counseling in a traditional setting. Frank specializes in Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) and is certified by Equine Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA) as a clinician and a horse professional. Becky Foster, FrankÕs wife, is a certified teacher. She also specializes in EAP and works alongside Frank as the horse professional. Becky has her certification as a horse professional with EAGALA as well. EAP is offered at their Mesquite Ranch facility in collaboration with and as an extension of Samaritan

Frank and Becky currently work with:

- Individual clients

- Amarillo and Canyon Independent School Districts, including AISDÕs Homeless Program and the Gifted and Talented Programs

- Randall County Juvenile Probation Department, including their Next Step, PRIDE (drug intervention), and Youth Center on the High Plains residential programs

- Deaf Smith County Juvenile Probation Office

- Churches, including small groups, youth groups, etc.

- Nonprofit Organizations, including CareNet Crisis Pregnancy Center, Amarillo Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Special Olympics, and others

- Corporations for team building exercises