Our Staff
Administration
Brooke Nickerson-Henderson
Brooke Henderson, M.S., LMSW, Associate Executive Director of Legacy Counseling Center, Masters in Social Work from Texas A&M-Commerce. Mrs. Henderson started her career at Legacy as the Program Director for Legacy Founders Cottage in April 2011. Prior to her position at Legacy she was the Site Supervisor and Medical Case Manager at Health Services of North Texas an outpatient HIV/AIDS Clinic in Plano, TX. She managed the day to day operations of an all-inclusive clinical facility which offered psychosocial evaluations, medical case management, housing services, mental health care, pantry services, and clinical providers. Ms. Henderson has been a staple in the community for more than fifteen years and is passionate about serving and helping the patients. In fact, she has dedicated a majority of her career to serving individuals with HIV/AIDS.
Jason L. Brock
Jason L. Brock, born in St. Louis, MO, holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management with Applied Science in Education coursework. Jason’s background includes being a former educator, grant management, program development, and advocate for PLW HIV/AIDS. Jason works tirelessly fighting for equality locally and nationally. Jason understands the importance of education and advocacy for those in need. His goal is for others to become better educated and help people overcome the stigma associated with receiving proper care and treatment. In Jason’s new role with Legacy, he is looking forward to making an impact in his community and in the South to assist in ending the HIV and STI epidemics. Working with Legacy will align with Jason’s values because he recognizes the importance of everyone having access to quality health care and services essential to maintaining a quality standard of living.
Tammy McCormack
Tammy McCormack, Office Manager, received her Nursing Assistant Certification in April of 2004, and began volunteering at the Legacy Founders Cottage, before being hired as a Nurse Assistant in October of that same year. Tammy worked at the Cottage from 2004 until May of 2011, when she was promoted to Office Manager at the Legacy Counseling Center. Tammy brings to this position an extensive secretarial background spanning over twenty years. Tammy also has a ministry where she speaks at Church Youth functions across the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex, educating youth from 13-18 years old, as well as their parents about HIV/AIDS.
Dr. Ratonia Runnels
Dr. Ratonia C. Runnels is the new Grace Project Program Coordinator at Legacy Counseling Center. Dr. Runnels has 23 years of experience working to promote healthy living and positive lifestyle choices among women and girls living with HIV. She holds a Master of Science and PhD in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin. Currently an Associate Professor in the Texas Woman’s University Department of Social Work, her background includes community outreach, substance abuse counseling, case management, professional training, and consulting. Dr. Runnels also mentors women in the areas of leadership, advocacy, public speaking, strengthening relationships, life skills, and health maintenance. Her research focuses on mental health and support services for women living with HIV. She has been a welcome addition to the Grace Project Conference over the last five years by involving the women in her research and participating in the conference program.
Karen Combs
Karen started at Legacy Cares as Administrative Assistant in December 2021. She brings with her, a wealth of knowledge of the inner-workings of the therapeutic environment, her love of caring for those in need and her fantastic organization skills. Karen grew up in the Dallas area. Prior to working at Legacy Cares, Karen spent over 20 years in the Mortgage Financial Industry. Additionally, she has fifteen years of geriatric care services. Karen enjoys walks by the lake, photography, arts and crafts, travel and spending time with family and friends.
Counseling
Derek Adleta
Derek Adleta, Psy.D., LMFT, has been counseling diverse populations for many years. Dr. Adleta treats adolescents and adults living with symptoms that include depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, substance abuse, grief, stress, conflict and a multitude of other issues. Upon completion of his higher education in California, Dr. Adleta counseled in the Los Angeles area at Open Paths Counseling Center and the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center mental health clinic. Upon relocating to Texas, Dr. Adleta worked for Mansfield ISD where he provided crisis and short term counseling at eight schools to K-12 students and their families. Currently, while providing counseling at Legacy Counseling Center he also has a limited private practice. Dr. Adleta formerly served on the Board of Directors of Mental Health America of Greater Dallas. He is also a clinical member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy and Dallas Metro Counseling Association.
Jo Anne Spears
Jo Anne Sheehan Spears, LCSW, has been working as a clinical social worker since 1985, seeing a varied group of clients in Houston and Dallas. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas in Austin and her Master’s degree from the University of Houston. She is currently working as a social work manager for the Baylor Health Care System in hospitals across the Metroplex in the Caring Hearts volunteer program. She also maintains a private practice as well as seeing clients at Legacy Counseling. Some specialties of hers are Women’s issues, post adoption issues, rape crisis, incest recovery, HIV+ issues and coping with chronic medical conditions. She also deals with depression, anxiety, self-esteem and couples counseling to improve communication. In Houston, she worked at Catholic Charities in adoption and foster care and in Dallas she has worked at the Southern Methodist University’s Women’s Center as well as the Baylor Hospital System providing counseling, guidance and leadership to people and programs. She loves clients who are willing to work hard to change their lives and their behaviors and firmly believes that laughter IS the best medicine.
Gail Atwater
Gail Atwater, LCSW, received her B.S. in Psychology from Duke University and her MS in Social Work from UT Arlington. She has facilitated support groups with Cancer Support Community of North Texas, VITAS hospice, and My Guardian Angel for children affected by grief and loss and also managed the Early Stage program at the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Dallas. She has a background in research at Duke University Medical Center and has also done adjunct teaching at the UT Arlington School of Social Work. Gail brings her over 20 year interest in helping individuals in recovery to Legacy in supporting the Intensive Outpatient Substance Abuse program as well as seeing individual clients.
Kelly Briggs
Kelly Briggs is a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and Coordinator of the Intensive Outpatient Substance Abuse Program at Legacy Counseling. Kelly worked at Nexus Recovery Center for two and a half years prior to Legacy as a Counselor Intern in Admissions as the Utilization Review Coordinator. Once she was fully licensed, she transferred to the Women’s Program as a Counselor. Kelly started her career in Substance Abuse at Homeward Bound. Kelly worked at Homeward Bound on the HIV Inpatient Program for 5 years where she started out as a tech and moved her way up to Case manager where she case managed clients both on the unit and at the HIV Sober Living House. Once Kelly became an intern, she was able to transfer to the Women’s Unit at Homeward Bound as a counselor. Kelly has a total of 9 years working in social services and helping underserved populations.
Her professional goals are to increase substance abuse and mental health awareness in underserved communities and cultures and change the stigma often associated with therapy. She feels strongly about empowering men and women who are affected with HIV/AIDS who have substance abuse and/or mental health issues and provide them with knowledge and coping skills to become independent and self-sufficient members of society so that they can lead successful and productive lives. She wants to help motivate and empower men and women to take their power back from addiction and mental health issues so they can live happy and productive lives.
Wes Perdue
Wes has worked in the field of substance abuse and mental health for more than 20 years. Over those years, Wes has had the opportunity to serve in many roles, from direct service and program management, to clinical director and executive director, and also private practice. His areas of specialty include working with the LGBTQ Community, at-risk youth and their families, and substance abuse.
As a clinician, Wes believes his responsibility is to guide clients through a process of exploration, discovery and evolution.
Angel Mendoza
Angel Mendoza, M.A., LPC, LCDC (#84859) is a Bilingual Therapist who creates a safe and welcoming space where patients can feel heard. In his clinical practice, Angel applies Motivational Interviewing (MI), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Reality Therapy principles to elicit behavior change.
Angel has practiced as a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor since 2013. He worked at Valley Hope in Grapevine, Texas until 2016 as one of the residential treatment counselors. Here, he facilitated gender-specific groups, provided psychoeducational lectures in addition to treating patients with a Substance Use Disorder. From there he went to Dallas County Treatment Center where he provided Medication-Assisted Treatment to patients with an Opioid Use Disorder in an Outpatient setting until 2018. He worked at the North Texas Behavioral Health Authority as an OSAR counselor screening patients and referring them to State-funded agencies until 2019. Before joining the team at Legacy Counseling, he worked as a therapist at Integrated Psychotherapeutic Services providing treatment to patients with a Substance Use Disorder in an Outpatient setting.
Christen Bishop, M.A., LPC
Christen Barnum-Bishop, M.A., LPC (#78568), obtained a Bachelors of Science in Psychology (2013) and Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (2017) from The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.
She has worked with a wide range of clients in a variety of settings including corrections, community mental health, and private practice. She has a passion for providing counseling services to the LGBTQIA+ community, and specializes in depression, anxiety, and anger management. She utilizes a relational approach to therapy where she creates a safe space for clients to explore thoughts and feelings while receiving unconditional support and empathy. Christen incorporates techniques from solution focused, existential, gestalt, CBT, and DBT in her counseling approach to help clients make positive changes in their lives and meet their individual therapy goals. She also uses humor in sessions and is always up for a good joke!
In her spare time, Christen enjoys playing strategic board games, taking care of her many house plants, and spending time with her family, stinky brown dog, and squeaky cat.
Brian Kennedy, M.S., LPC-Associate
Brian Kennedy enjoys getting to the heart of people’s needs. His skilled background in counseling and journalism allows him to read what people want to do in their life stories. He is an educator first and foremost and has excellent guiding communication skills which give clients peace of mind as he walks alongside them through their journey. His commitment to people’s needs and understanding of them is what sets him apart.
At the moment, Brian assists clients with various issues such as depression, anxiety, stress, substance use, trauma, and LGBTQ+ issues. He believes individuals want to live a more manageable life and are doing the best they can with the tools that they have. He can provide you with the tools to do that. Change can be difficult, but the process can be easier with someone by your side to help you through it. He wants to support you as you work to overcome whatever struggles life has thrown at you.
Brian works with adults and teens/adolescents who are experiencing difficulties with mood, motivation, depression, anxiety, loss of identity, family/relationship issues, and more. His goal is to foster understanding and assist you in your aspirations towards your defined happiness and living your best life.
The search to find the right counselor can be overwhelming and leave you feeling vulnerable. The process can be easier with someone like Brian. He’s open, understanding, and empathetic so that you feel more comfortable expressing your concerns.
Parris Greer, MA, LPC-A
Parris’ academic training has provided him with sound instruction in ethics, accurate diagnosis, intervention techniques, and theory. Additionally, he has 18 years of hospital and clinic experience providing care to clients as a triage technician, trauma and neurosurgery nurse technician, lab services that included phlebotomy, lab testing, medical assisting, and various administrative duties. Furthermore, he has dedicated the past 7 years of his life to self-improvement through higher education with a passionate hope to provide counseling services to populations of people that he has committed my life to serve. He is a Master’s Graduate Degree Counselor Trainee from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Additionally, he is a proud native of Detroit, MI, but believes that his life changed when he moved to Dallas County 22 years ago. He received my Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from Argosy University in 2018. Conqueringly, he has served as a spiritual leader in 2 Affirming congregations here in Dallas and has participated in community services initiatives in various parts of the City of Dallas. His goal is to become a Licensed Professional Counselor for the State of Texas, and in time complete a Doctoral program in an associated field. Parris believes that education saved his life. His hobbies include, photography, song writing, music and video production, and various forms of musical performances. He enjoys live entertainment, creative arts, sunrises by the Lake, and travel. He enjoys meeting new people and learning about their perceptual experiences regarding this “journey,” called life!
Kourtni Bluj
A second-year Master’s student, Kourtni is completing her degree in Mental Health Clinical Counseling. After obtaining her Bachelor’s in Psychology from Texas Woman’s University she chose to remain local and serve her home community. While completing her degree, Kourtni works with children on the Autism spectrum providing behavior therapy. She has found her passion is giving support to others and is eager to finish her degree to start her road to licensure. Her hobbies include an array of self-care activities, from painting to face masks, as well as spending time with her family and two fur babies.
Founders Cottage
Shamika Glass
Shamika Glass’ bio coming soon.
Homebase for Housing
Jefferlyn Harper-Harris
Jefferlyn Harper-Harris, Housing Specialist, has a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts with a major in English. She comes to us with 7 years of direct experience in serving HIV/AIDS participants and a combined 15 plus years of work experience with vulnerable populations to include disabled adults, frail elderly, homeless adults and child welfare. She has worked in both, public and private sector entities and most recently, for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Additionally, Jefferlyn has worked as a quality improvement coordinator for Wisconsin’s largest managed care organization (MCO) advocating for member’s rights, assisting members in navigating through the fair hearing and appeals process and ensuring member retention. Also as a quality assurance surveyor for the MCO, she inspected community based residential facilities and assisted living facilities to ensure compliance with contract and state regulations. Her strengths include high standards of professional integrity in brokering services, a genuine passion for helping individuals/families in crisis and a keen ability to identify individual strengths and informal supports in an effort to help participants achieve self-sufficiency.
Andrinika "Andi" Austin
Andrinika “Andi” Austin comes to Legacy with years of experience in various areas of social services. She is originally from Louisiana and is a graduate of Nicholls State University with a Bachelor’s in Arts and Humanities, minor in Psychology and Social Work. A strong background in mental health of 13 years, she has worked with several agencies to rehabilitate individuals with mental illness. In 2005 she started work in housing homeless and displaced victims of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. There she found her passion in helping others. Throughout the years, she has worked with A Small World in the River Region of New Orleans working with children and adolescents with disabilities and psychological disorders. She has 10 years of experience at A Beam of Light, LLC providing home health services for disabled individuals. In 2010, she started a group of individuals that fed the homeless who congregated throughout New Orleans after local legislature closed the free mental health clinics throughout the parishes. In Texas, she has worked with Adult Protective Services with the Department of Family and Protective Services and Metrocare as a member of the Assertive Community Team providing intense case management. Currently Andi is a Housing Case Manager of the Master Leasing Program where she continues to pursue her passion. “If I can help somebody as I travel along, then my living shall not be in vain.”
Master Leasing Program
Beatra Whitaker
Beatra Whitaker, B.S.W., is an Illinois native and graduate of Illinois State University. 15+ years of Case Management experience Caring/Advocating for people to live their best life. Previously assisted with establishing the 1st HUD Homeless Housing program at Chestnut Health Systems in Bloomington IL, serving dually diagnosed individuals and families. The opportunity to bring hope to the homeless population is a passion that drives my commitment to Legacy Counseling Center and our community.
Jonte Ross
Jonte Ross is a native from Lake Providence, Louisiana. He attended a private HBCU at Huston-Tillotson University in Austin, Texas and obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice. Over the last ten years, Jonte has worked in multiple fields with various populations including geriatrics, homeless, youth, dual diagnosis, adults, and young adults. He also worked with the City of Dallas and DPD as a Crisis Intervention Case Manager then transitioned into a Homeless Outreach Specialist.