Who We Are

Amy
Amy Sander Montanez

LPC, LMFT, D.Min., Life Coach

Amy has been in private practice in Columbia, SC for more than 25 years as a licensed professional counselor (LPC), licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT), spiritual director, life coach, writer/blogger, retreat leader, and speaker. She sees individuals, and is well-known for her helpful and compassionate work with couples. Additionally, she specializes in working with clergy from many denominations and with seminarians. She also teaches in several spiritual direction training programs. One of her greatest joys in life is seeing people grow into their wisdom and strength, living out their God-given potential. This happens, she believes, at that juncture where one’s personal psychology and personal spirituality intersect. Amy is passionate about her work, and invites you to explore her website for more information about her and her services.

Amy’s website, www.amysandermontanez.com

Visit www.messymarvelous.com for recent blogs.

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Sheryl McAlhaney

LPC, MA, MRC, LAC

Sheryl McAlhaney is a highly experienced Licensed Professional Counselor with over 14 years of expertise in the field. She holds an MA in Human Behavior and Conflict Management from Columbia College, as well as a second Master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of South Carolina Medical School, where she also earned a certificate in Neuropsychiatry. Sheryl has devoted her career to helping adults and couples navigate life's challenges. She is an active member of the South Carolina Counseling Association and the American Counseling Association and was recognized for clinical excellence in Rehabilitation Counseling by the University of South Carolina Medical School in 2010-2011.

Visit Sheryl at her website New Day Dawning.

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Cathy Cooper

Ph.D., LPC

Cathy Cooper has more than 20 years’ experience working with children and adolescents. She is a licensed professional counselor. Having received a master’s degree in music education with an emphasis in music therapy, she also utilizes the arts in her approach to working with clients.  She specializes in effectively developing positive relationships with young people that help support them through their emotional and social development.  Children and adolescents need the support of an accepting, understanding, present, and experienced therapist to learn more effective ways of coping with the many stressors today’s youth experience. In addition, Cathy works with women of all ages.

To schedule an appointment with Cathy, please call our office.

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Debbie Cohn

MSC, BCC

Debbie Cohn is a Board Certified Coach (BCC) trained at the Institute For LIfe Coach Training, USA. She is a qualified group psychotherapist with the Institute for Group Analysis in London, UK. She has spent many years in the “helping professions” working with individuals and couples. She has extensive experience conducting groups and is a group facilitator at Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands specializing in domestic violence and sexual assault, women’s issues, and bereavement. She earned a Masters of Science degree in psychology from Birkbeck College, University of London.

Debbie also brings a wealth of her own "life experience" from working the past 40 years as a marketing and advertising professional, a woman business owner, fund raising specialist, wife, mother, grandmother and community philanthropist.

Visit Debbie at her website, www.cohnlifecoaching.com

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Mary Ellen Haile

Mary Ellen became a Registered Nurse in 1985 and received her Master of Nursing in 1992. After a hospital-based nursing career since 1985, she has found a passion for private practice, serving people to help them reach goals toward living their best lives. She has a strong belief in and commitment to the holistic person, considering biological, psychological, sociological, spiritual and environmental influences as equally important in the lives we lead.

Serving as a Board Certified Nurse Coach and Wellness Consultant, Mary Ellen assists clients to determine their biggest dreams and to develop resilience in managing their heaviest burdens. She facilitates the work to identify values, commitment, and barriers. She then guides her clients toward incremental, sustainable lifestyle changes, teaching different tools to achieve success.

This transformative work is accomplished by combining the science and skills of nursing, the art of coaching, and personal experience. Known for her calm demeanor and leadership skills, she gives clients a non-judgmental, safe space of deep listening, powerful conversation, and devoted time to create goals, action steps, and an accountability plan.

Mary Ellen enjoys teaching groups of all sizes and specializes in mindfulness and self compassion. She is building a repertoire around grief and loss, to include divorce, job changes and burnout, health challenges, and support for family and friends of loved ones with dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Please visit Mary Ellen’s website: MEHailewellnessconsulting.com.

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Karen Garrison

Office Manager

As our name reflects, our core belief is in treating the whole person to include lifestyle, life experience, personality, relationships, and spirituality