Our Executive Director & Founder:
My Healing Place is the dream of founder, Khris Ford. Khris is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and an adjunct instructor at the University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work, where she teaches graduate level courses in grief and loss counseling. She is also a bereaved parent, and it is her personal experience of transformative grief following the death of her son, Stephen, in 1989 that fuels her passion for work in the field of grief, loss, and trauma. In the past 15 years, Khris has counseled with hundreds of grieving children and adults, trained over 500 school counselors, social workers, and other mental health professionals, and led dozens of weekend retreats for bereaved parents. Prior to her move to Austin in 2002, Khris served as Director of Program Development and Training for Bo's Place, the family and children's grief center in Houston, TX.
Our Board President:
Judy Ames
Our Other Board Members:
Janie Cook
Steve Cooper
John Ford
Barry McFarland
Cecilia Henderson
Margo Sack
My Healing Place Staff and Interns
Becky Rockwell:
Becky serves as MHP’s School-Based Services Coordinator. She also works as a volunteer co-facilitator for one of our evening adult groups, and as a therapist seeing individual children and adults. Becky graduated from the University of Texas with a Master of Science in Social Work in December of 2006. During her graduate internships, she worked with both children and adults. Becky and her husband, Jeff, are the parents of 3 children and have lived in Austin for 12 years. She enjoys the outdoors, taking walks with friends, being on the lake, and watching her children play sports.
Cheryl Martin:
Cheryl is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Master’s degree from the University of Texas, and a focus in children and families. Cheryl has been working in the field for many years - her past jobs focused on work with abused children and adolescents in residential settings and psychiatric hospitals. Before her career as a social worker, Cheryl also helped her husband run a small electrical contracting company for 16 years. At MHP, she co-facilitates a Tuesday night group with bereaved spouses and also works with individual adults and adolescents. As a bonus, Cheryl is quite adept at bookkeeping and conducts accounting work for MHP. Cheryl and her husband have a teenage daughter. In her spare time, Cheryl volunteers frequently for her church, is a member of a story-circle writing group, likes to run, and enjoys time with her friends.
Cristi Ford:
Cristi is an intern with MHP. She received a Bachelor’s degree in psychology from Baylor University and will graduate from St Edwards University with a Master of Arts in Counseling in August of this year. At MHP, Cristi co-facilitates our motherless daughters group on Tuesday nights and she sees individual children, adolescents, and adults for grief and loss therapy. Cristi currently works for Texas MENTOR, a private foster care agency, as a case manager for up to 25 foster children. Previously, Cristi worked with the Austin-Travis County Youth Advocacy Program. When Cristi needs a break from everything she enjoys reading, walks at Town Lake, playing with her adopted 10 year-old Pomeranian, and listening to live music around Austin.
Anna Varahrami:
Anna received her Bachelor’s degree in psychology from Texas A&M University and her Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Texas. At MHP, Anna serves as Group Coordinator for our 2nd and 4th Tuesday night groups and works as a therapist with individual adolescents. Currently, Anna also works as a Program Manager for Communities in Schools at Gonzalo Garza Independence High School. In the past, she worked as the Director of Programs at For the Love of Christi, where she coordinated and facilitated children and teen grief groups. Anna’s past and present work also includes part-time sales for a French fragrance company and an Italian eyewear company where she sometimes gets the opportunity to travel abroad! In her free time, Anna enjoys traveling, dancing and cooking.
Kara Beaver:
Kara is an intern at MHP and will be completing her Master of Arts in Counseling from St Edwards, with an LPC and LMFT focus, in December of 2009. As an intern at MHP, Kara works with our school-based program, with groups of elementary students who have an incarcerated parent or divorced parents. In addition, she sees adolescents and adults for individual therapy and will soon begin work with families. Kara will also start facilitating one of our new Tuesday night groups for adults who have recently divorced. Her work history includes professional jobs as a graphic designer and project manager. Kara and her husband Travis moved to Austin from Indiana, 6 years ago. She enjoys spending time with her 2 pugs, watching movies, and spending time with friends.
The My Healing Place Staff of Therapists and Interns during Move-in Day
Left to right standing: Cheryl Martin, Anna Varahrami, Becky Rockwell
Sitting: Jill Arechiga, Khris Ford, Kara Beaver (Cristi Ford is not pictured)
My Healing Place is currently looking to expand its Board of Directors. Those interested in serving are encouraged to contact us.