Counseling with a Purpose
NOW ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS
It is with great excitement that we have decided to open our services to the community. Over the years we have been only serving first responders and their families. Recently we decided to expand to others in the community. Our group of therapists truly care about their clients and work passionately to make sure each person starts feeling better. We understand trauma, families and helping to get your life back on track.
Therapists located at 809 W. Maryland Ave SUITE B. Phoenix A
Dr. Kerry Ramella LPC, Ph.D.
Owner and Clinical Director of PSCS. Dr. Ramella provides clinical oversight to our clinicians as well as treats First Responders. She brings 30 years of clinical and mental health experience to the practice and provides a wealth of knowledge to the field. She earned her PhD in Psychology and often consults with the International Association of Fire Fighters, Community Bridges and a number of Fire Departments in the nation.
Emily Priest LCSW
Emily is one of our therapists, but not accepting new clients at this time.
Emily Priest is a Licensed Master of Social Work Clinician. Her work experience ranges from working with at risk children and teens, to young adults experiencing general life issues, to individuals and families who are at end of life.
A majority of Emily’s work experience consists of working with children and teens who have been affected by trauma. She has worked with children and families who are involved with the foster care system, as well as with teens who are involved with the Juvenile Criminal Justice System. She has experience working with children/teens who display significant behavioral symptoms that may be difficult to manage.
In addition, Emily has worked with individuals who are experiencing immediate mental health crisis’s, such as suicidal/homicidal thoughts, psychosis, and needing immediate inpatient substance abuse treatment. She has worked with individuals who are at end of life or are caring for a loved one who is at end of life.
Emily specializes in treating depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, general life issues and trauma. She utilizes a strengths-based, genuine and non-judgmental approach, with the end goal for client’s to eventually be able to manage their own lives independently. Her approach is unique and tailored to you, your needs and your goals.
Please book an appointment below or contact us to have a free 10 minute consultation to find out if we can help.
Melissa Ziervogel LAC
Melissa Ziervogel is a Licensed Associate Counselor and has experience working with adolescents, teens and adults. She holds a Master of Arts in Counseling degree from Argosy University and has been working in the field of crisis since 2010.
Her desire is to help those who are facing a range of difficulties in their lives and her focus is to help you realize your strengths and to provide an atmosphere that allows you to learn new approaches to those difficulties. She has been very successful using Solution Focused Therapy as well as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in treatment.
Melissa has experience in treating individuals who are suffering from depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts and self-harming behaviors as well as family relationship troubles and those who are near end of life or taking care of those near end of life. She also has experience in treating persons who have been sexually victimized and domestic violence survivors.
She is now accepting new clients and has immediate availability during the week and on Saturdays. Call or text for more information. 602.466.9456
Wendy Philpot LAC
Wendy Philpot is a Licensed Associate Counselor with a Master’s in Professional Counseling. She has over 13 years working in the Behavioral Health field. Much of her extensive experience is working with people in crisis support, but she also loves working with people who need help with anxiety, depression, and grief.
She is solution driven, and utilizes aspects of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational and positive psychology. Her goal is to create a space that will help you to take a closer look at what is holding you back from change or creating issues in your life.
Whether it’s an increase in anxiety and stress or if it’s just the state of the world we are in and the difficulties it has created for you, Wendy will help you to find solutions and support you on finding new ways to cope.
Currently she is accepting new clients on Saturday’s from
10am to 2pm.
Please call or text 602.466.9456 to schedule.
Bernie Peralta LCSW
Bernie has been practicing counseling since 2012. Bernie believes in treating the whole person in order to help individuals engage in physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellness. He believes therapy should provide a confidential, nonjudgmental space for a person to explore and understand their experiences on a deeper level. Bernie has experience treating individuals with anxiety, depression, acute/complex trauma and several other mental health conditions.
Bernie also specializes in working with diverse, cultural populations. Bernie has extensive experience providing counseling to the Hispanic community. Bernie is bilingual, offering counseling in both English and Spanish. Bernie has experience providing counseling to active military/veterans, at-risk youth, immigrant youth, young adults, families, elder adults and disabled adults.
Bernie utilizes Accelerated Resolution Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Mindfulness Meditation, Motivational Interviewing, Positive Psychology and other Strength-Based approaches in treatment.
Bernie lives to maintain a positive mental/physical/emotional wellness in his personal life through traveling, art/music, exercise, learning, gratitude and self-reflection.
Currently he is accepting new clients on Tuesday's and Wednesday's 2:30pm - 5:30pm.
Please call or text 602.466.9456 to schedule.
Sarah Hanley LAC
Sarah Hanley is an amazing Licensed Associate Counselor, who provides professional counseling for children, adolescents, and adults facing a wide range of life difficulties, changes, stress, or trauma. She focuses on achieving balance in life, by processing and focusing on one’s emotional response.
Sarah has been in the behavioral health field for over 5 years with specialized experience in the treatment of children, utilizing play therapy; adolescents and adults in life transitions, depression, and anxiety; crisis support.
Sarah works together with her clients to create an open, collaborative, growth oriented environment where clients can process and unravel difficulties. In session, clients can expect a safe space where constructive ideas can be identified and practiced.
Throughout therapy Sarah uses a multitude of strength-focused interventions while incorporating other methods such as; Solution focused therapy, Narrative therapy as well as mindfulness in a non-judgmental environment.Sarah graduated from Arizona State University with an education focused in child/human development and received her Master’s in Professional Counseling from Grand Canyon University.
Sarah is currently accepting new clients:
Friday’s 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Sunday’s 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Please call or text 602.466.9456 to schedule.
Debbie McMenemy Therapist Intern
Debbie is an integrative therapist. She believes that an individual’s beliefs guide and impact their abilities to create solution for their healing. She works to create change through empowerment and helping others to bring forth their inner strengths, as well as helping them to identify their capabilities and resiliencies as they may identify them. Providing an environment that promotes healing and comfort allows individuals the ability to experience and explore the problems they may be facing with an open mind.
Her desire is to help you begin a successful journey toward healing by building an individual’s mind, body, and spirit connection. She will afford her clients the opportunity to achieve an overall sense of well-being and relief from their difficulties. She has received her Master's of Science degree and now works under the direct supervision of the Clinical Director Dr. Kerry Ramella. Debbie works from a solutions focused therapy and enjoys helping clients to design goals and look towards the future to provide a sense of desire to move forward and be successful. Eliminating irrational thoughts and recognizing strengths manifests a sense of empowerment allowing an individual to take the steps forward.
Life in general can be a struggle at times, it is her passion to assist clients in designing a toolbox that best fits their needs when life feels less than optimal for them.
Debbie is currently accepting new clients:
Thursday's 9:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Friday's 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Debby Black Therapist Intern
Debby is a Therapist Intern who brings with her a wealth of experience working in Mental Health and Wellness. She is passionate about helping others work through their difficulties using a variety of therapeutic interventions. Debby is continuing to enhance her skills at Grand Canyon University, with a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She brings with her an extensive background working in law enforcement and executive leadership, with an emphasis in crisis management, community mental health and organizational resiliency.
She provides individual counseling for adults facing a wide range of difficulties including managing stress, anxiety, depression, and trauma. She believes in utilizing a strengths-based approach, believing that individuals have the capacity to achieve their goals while working intentionally with a skilled and empathetic therapist. She will help you to develop new ways of thinking through a Solution Focused and Cognitive Behavioral Therapeutic approach. You will experience her compassion for healing while she encourages a positive, whole health approach to mental health counseling incorporating mindfulness and helping to foster self-care practices.
Debby has immediate availability both in-person and telehealth
Thursdays 8am - 3pm
Brian French LAC
Brian earned a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology at Argosy University in San Francisco in 2005 and is a Licensed Associate Counselor through the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health. He has been working as a firefighter for the past 14 years and has been working in Mental Health and Wellness for over 20 years.
He provides couples counseling and utilizes Emotionally Focused Therapy and attachment theory based techniques to help couples foster change, believing in exploring attachment patterns to find new ways to engage and explore more positive ways to reconnect and foster more emotional connection with our partners.
He also provides individual counseling and has a wide range of experience treating substance abuse, anxiety, depression, anger, compassion fatigue and those feeling stuck. He utilizes motivational and cognitive techniques to help create new ways of thinking and feeling.
Types of Therapy We Provide
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
A short-term goal oriented approach to looking at how our thoughts cause an emotional response and that can lead to the way we behave. The idea is to look at the thought processes we are using. Question how they got there and find ways to change them. These changes in the way we think about things will begin to create different emotional responses and then assist with creating new positive behaviors.
Solution Focused Therapy
This is a very direct and collaborative approach to finding ways to overcome obstacles in your life. Through dialogue and questions that illicit a deeper look at where the problem is coming from and the most direct way to create a new outcome, behavior or emotion.