Vagner Oliveira, Student Intern

Vagner, a counseling student at Dallas Theological Seminary, is pursuing a Master of Arts in Counseling. He and his wife, Katie, have served in ministry and missions in Brazil, Finland, Japan, and the U.S., helping people heal and grow in their faith. Vagner
has worked with children, youth, couples, and families, offering teaching, pastoral care, and counseling in diverse cultural settings. His approachable style creates a safe space for people facing challenges.

In his practicum, Vagner focuses on counseling children and teens using play therapy and family systems theory, while also exploring marriage counseling to strengthen relationships. His multicultural background helps him connect with diverse individuals. He
blends counseling methods like Adlerian, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Family Systems, Play Therapy, and Person-Centered Therapy, integrating biblical truth with practical tools for healing.

Originally from Brazil, Vagner lives in Texas with Katie, and they are adopting a child. Passionate about serving humbly, Vagner aims to help others experience God’s love through counseling and spiritual support.

Alvin Matthew, BS, Student Intern

Alvin Mathew is a counseling practicum student from Dallas Theological Seminary, where he is pursuing his M.A. in Counseling. He holds a B.S. in Psychology from Texas Woman’s University and is a Certified Prepare/Enrich facilitator. Alvin’s counseling theories and methods include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Narrative Therapy, and holistic approaches to care. He is passionate about supporting both couples and individuals in their growth and healing. Alvin also brings experience serving as a ministry leader with young adults. In his free time, he enjoys playing the drums, reading, spending time with friends and family, and being outdoors.

Shengjie “Diana” Swindler, M.A., LPC-Associate Supervised by Andrea Schultz M. ED., LPC-S, RPT-S

I provide a compassionate space for children, adolescents, and adults to find healing and growth. With a special passion for supporting clients through life’s challenges, my experience includes helping individuals who have experienced trauma and domestic violence.

My approach is integrative and person-centered, blending trauma-informed care, culturally sensitive practices, and other evidence-based methods tailored to your unique needs. I also offer Christian counseling.

Bilingual in English and Mandarin, I offer therapy in both languages and also provide professional translation services. This background gives me a deep understanding of interracial and immigrant family dynamics. I believe in the resilience of every person and feel honored to walk alongside you as you discover your strength and potential.

RuthAnn Riggle, CACLC, Pastoral Counselor & Certified Life Coach

I am deeply passionate about guiding others toward discovering their identity and freedom in Christ. As a
Pastoral Counselor and Christian Life Coach, my approach centers on guiding individuals through a
transformative process. I help clients identify and overcome deceptive thought patterns that keep them from
reaching their true potential. With the Holy Spirit's guidance, I am dedicated to partnering with my clients to
uncover and replace self-doubts, regrets, negative self-talk, and shame with God's truth and hope. I am
committed to providing a welcoming, safe, shame-free environment where transparency and true
transformation can flourish. I will partner with you to facilitate and organize the building blocks of success in
your life, family, and relationships.

Tobi F. Adewale, M.A., QMHP-CS, LPC-ASSOCIATE SUPERVISED BY ANDREA SCHULTZ M.ED., LPC-S, RPT-S

A conduit of grace, full of optimism; a catalyst for change, driven by compassion– this sums up who I am, and what I stand by! Being a counselor is not just a profession. It’s a calling! I believe God orchestrated my personal life experiences along with my professional background to lead me to where I am now– an instrument of hope, healing, restoration, and transformation. It gives me great joy and fulfillment to know that I have been called to help others heal from negative experiences and past traumas, improve their health and functioning, and restore lost hope. Allow me the honor to journey with you on your path to self love, self awareness, self discovery, and self actualization. As an advocate for your mental health and wellness, I will endeavor to provide you with the tools and skills necessary for you to learn, grow, and live life more abundantly!

Rachel Ellington, MA, LPC, LCDC

For the first several years of my career, I worked in maximum security juvenile corrections. This taught me a lot about the resistance that can happen and how difficult therapy can be, especially when its court ordered. However, if you are a person who wants to move forward, who wishes to get better, who works to live happier, you deserve a standing ovation. The first step towards self-discovery is always the hardest. Whether you feel lonely, depressed, stressed, or just sort of a mess, I would love to support you. I am passionate about helping people overcome their mental health and substance use challenges to achieve their personal and professional goals.

“A failure is not always a mistake; it may simply be the best one can do under the circumstances. The real mistake is to stop trying.” – B.F. Skinner

Christie Dixon, MA, LPC-Associate, EMDR Trained Supervised by Heidi Voet, LPC-S

Christie is an EMDR-Trained Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (LPC-A) emphasizing a solution-focused approach with a blend of motivational interviewing, dialectical behavior therapy, REBT, experiential and art therapy techniques. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from The American University and her Secondary Teacher’s Certification from The University of Texas at Austin, and later completed her Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Amberton University. As a therapist at HopeWorks, Christie brings years of experience working with families and individuals in need. In addition to being a therapist, she has worked as a family coach, emotional sobriety coach, crisis intervention team leader, and workshop developer. Through her local church, she has led recovery and marriage support groups, worked extensively with adoptive families, provided pastoral care as a lay minister, and started a program for low-income moms. Prior to HopeWorks, Christie worked at a recovery outpatient provider for men struggling with chronic relapse where she provided individual, group, and family counseling. Christie specializes in working with clients who have been affected by trauma, addiction (such as drug, alcohol, gambling, or sex addiction), chronic relapse, failure to launch, co-dependency, attachment or adoption-related issues. In addition, she has extensive experience working with parents who have a child in crisis. She has also helped individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, personality disorders, mood disorders, eating disorders, sexual abuse, ADHD, and oppositional defiant disorder. Christie sees both adolescents and adults in person or through telehealth. She also works with families and parents of both young children and teens.

Christie helps her clients improve the quality of their life through a practical and directive approach emphasizing acceptance and action. She believes that clients are more inclined to try something new if they experience immediate relief or small improvements when they first enter therapy. By addressing the clients’ current problems and introducing new tools for responding, Christie helps her clients experience practical success, encouraging them to try more changes. This provides the impetus to go deeper and explore underlying issues that might be keeping them stuck. Christie emphasizes a practical focus as her clients explore their past which allows them to experience hope and relief. She utilizes a creative and individualized approach with each client as she demonstrates validation, safety, and deep empathy. Through gently challenging self-defeating behaviors and beliefs, Christie helps her clients experience and develop a healthier set of coping strategies which endure and allow for long-lasting freedom.

Christie is the mother of four children ranging from 15 to 25 years old and has been married to her husband for 32 years. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and finding new nature hikes to take with her two dogs.

Carlene Maxie, MSW, LCSW

For the first several years of my career, I worked in maximum security juvenile corrections. This taught me a lot about the resistance that can happen and how difficult therapy can be, especially when its court ordered. However, if you are a person who wants to move forward, who wishes to get better, who works to live happier, you deserve a standing ovation. The first step towards self-discovery is always the hardest. Whether you feel lonely, depressed, stressed, or just sort of a mess, I would love to support you. I am passionate about helping people overcome their mental health and substance use challenges to achieve their personal and professional goals.

“A failure is not always a mistake; it may simply be the best one can do under the circumstances. The real mistake is to stop trying.” – B.F. Skinner