DAMFT  
  Dallas Association for Marriage and Family Therapy  
 
 

Board Members

President:
R. Scott Gornto, MDIV, LMFT, CST
972-312-8893
auxanocounseling.com
gorntocounseling.com
scottgornto@me.com
Since 1998, R. Scott Gornto has worked with individuals, couples, adolescents, families and groups. Licensed by the State of Texas as a Marriage and Family Therapist, Scott is the creator of the Auxano Approach® to therapy. A developmental approach to therapy which highlights how marriage and relationship(s) invite us to grow ourselves up emotionally. Scott is a graduate of Baylor University and holds a Master of Divinity degree in Counseling and Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, and he is a graduate of the Clinical Residency Program in Pastoral Counseling and Psychotherapy from the Pastoral Counseling and Education Center (PCEC) in Dallas. Professional affiliations include: Clinical Member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, Board Certified Supervisor by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage & Family Therapist, President of the Dallas Association of Marriage and Family Therapy and Certified Sex Therapist with the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists.



Past-President:
Gloria Martin, M.A. LMFT, LPC
10000 N. Central Expy. Ste 400
Dallas, TX 75231
214-890-4047
discoveringgrowth.com
gloria@discoveringgrowth.com
Gloria has a private practice in North Dallas. She received her bachelor’s degree in Family & Child Services from Auburn University and her masters from the University of Houston Clear-Lake. In addition to seeing individuals, couples, and families, Gloria facilitates three groups for female clergy. She is an AAMFT Approved Supervisor and also provides supervision for those seeking an LPC license. Gloria has been married for 39 years and has two daughters who are married and live in the Dallas area. She enjoys walks in the park, leisurely biking, dinners with friends and reading.



President Elect:
Layla Z. El-Chami, MS, LMFT-A, CFLE
The Salvation Army - Carr P. Collins
5302 Harry Hines Blvd.
Dallas, TX 75235
214-424-7120
Layla Z. El-Chami received her bachelor's degree in Family Studies and Human Services from Kansas State University and her master's in Marriage and Family Therapy from Friend's University in Wichita, Kansas. She relocated to Texas in late 2009 to develop and implement the therapeutic component of The Victims of Violence program at The Salvation Army. Her primary client population includes women and children survivors of domestic violence, active and recovering drug/love/relationship addicts, and women exiting a lifestyle of prostitution. She treats clients from a trauma-informed approach, and utilizes intergenerational family therapy to address childhood abuse and learned behavioral patterns. Layla is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate and Certified Family Life Educator, and is currently building a private practice in Carrollton.



Vice-President:
Rhett Smith, MDIV, MSMFT, LMFT
Auxano Counseling
6101 Chapel Hill Rd., Suite #204
Plano, TX 75093
972-312-8893
rhettsmithcounseling.com
auxanocounseling.com
Rhett Smith is in private practice at Auxano Counseling in Plano, TX, and is also one of the staff therapists at The Hideaway Marriage Experience (marriage intensives) in Amarillo, TX. Rhett has been working in a variety of ministerial and counseling contexts since 1998, providing therapy to couples and families, adolescents, and young adults. Rhett provides therapy on a number of topics, but most often works in the areas of marriage, emerging adulthood, anxiety, social media/technology and faith. He is the co-author of two books (The New Media Frontier and Outspoken) and the author of The Anxious Christian: Can God Use Your Anxiety for Good? (March 2012, Moody Publishers). Rhett is also a contributing writer for the Fuller Youth Institute as well as writing regularly at his blog www.rhettsmith.com. He lives in Frisco, TX with his wife Heather and their two children.



Secretary:
Deidre Wilson, MS, LMFT, LPC
8951 Synergy Drive Suite 227
McKinney, TX 75070
- also -
4515 Prentice Street, Suite 206
Dallas, TX 75206
familyresults.com
deidremwilson@msn.com
972-998-5589
I am licensed by the State of Texas as a Marriage and Family Therapist and as a Licensed Professional Counselor. I received my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Texas Dallas and my Masters of Science with a major in Family Therapy from Texas Woman’s University. I am a Clinical Member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy and I currently divide my time in private practice between my offices in Dallas and McKinney. I have a special interest in working with high-conflict couples and couples recovering from infidelity. I love helping partners bring about change in their relationships as they accept responsibility for the quality of their own lives.



Treasurer:
Stephanie Burchell, PhD, LMFT, CFLE
2317 Routh Street, Ste. C
Dallas TX 75201
drburchell@lifecoursecounseling.com
214-534-6177
Stephanie Burchell, PhD, LMFT, CFLE. Stephanie completed her clinical training at the Family Studies Center at UT Southwestern Medical Center. She earned her Doctorate in Family Therapy from Texas Woman's University in 2007, and her Master’s in Developmental Psychology, with a specialty in Early Childhood Disorders, from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2002. Dr. Burchell is a professional member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), the American Psychotherapy Association (APA), the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR), and the Dallas Association of Marriage and Family Therapists.



Membership:
Maryellen Dabal, MA, LMFT
420 N. Carroll Ave., Suite 140
Southlake, TX 76092
dabalmft.com
dabalmft@gmail.com
817-876-9958
I hold a Post-Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and a Master’s degree in Applied Psychology, both received from Seton Hall University in 2005. My undergraduate degree is from Montclair State University in Montclair, NJ and is in the field of business.

I have had a private practice in Southlake since 2008 and specialize in helping couples through the Marriage Life Cycle. I am certified in the Prepare/Enrich Marriage preparation program for those preparing to start that rewarding journey. I help individuals, couples and families focus on a positive perspective to solutions and challenges as they experience the wonders of marriage. Should the marriage need to end for any reason, I am most recently trained as a Communications Facilitator for the collaborative law process that aids couples in achieving divorce without turning over total control of their assets and the process to the courts.

Add to that my experience of being married for over 20 years, having raised two wonderful daughters and having moved around the country, I believe I have some quality firsthand knowledge of life experience to add to those degrees mentioned above.



Newsletter:
Sidney Starling, M.Ed., LMFT, LPC
sidneystarling@aol.com
214-354-9985
Sidney Starling is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapst in private practice for over 20 years. She offers therapeutic guidance and support through the many difficult challenges that confront us over our lifetime. She specializes in Marital and Pre-Marital Counseling, Grief Support, Individual Counseling, Divorce Recovery/Co-Parenting/Blended Family Issues, Addictions and Recovery and Bi-Polar Disorder. With an undergraduate degree in Business, she also does Business Coaching/Consulting.