Our Staff
Our highly trained and licensed therapists help people who want to grow from feeling stuck, who can’t seem to stop negative patterns, who are are still deeply affected by grief or trauma, those who have tried unsuccessfully to let time heal their wounds, and just can’t seem to “let things go.”
Unlike so many other mental health facilities, our therapists take a collaborative approach to the therapeutic process – working with the client, the family, and each other to deliver the best, most therapeutic treatment possible. Because we use ground-breaking approaches that encourage a more successful integrative direction in therapy, our clients have been shown to get better faster.
“THE MISSING LINK”
M.C. (Mary) Ward, LPC
Clinical Therapist/ Owner
I established and named my company New Pathways based on the present scientific understanding that surrounds new pathways in the brain. With this therapy, I have consistently witnessed people moving forward and experiencing “New Paths to Life.”
For that reason, my therapy is called Neuro-Path Integrative Therapy, and it is now a fine-tuned composite of learned techniques and enhancements from years past, as well as ground-breaking works from the present.
As a clinical therapist, I have utilized many approaches to helping clients. But after several years of practice, it became clear to me that talk therapy alone was not enough. My clients would benefit some. They may do new approaches we discussed, but eventually in the hustle and bustle of life they would stop or forget. Neither I nor they were benefitting enough…which left me frustrated.
“Realizations do not guarantee change. However, we need realizations to start the process of change.” — M.C. (Mary) Ward, LPC
After years of providing therapy I hit a dead end, felt burnt out, frustrated.
I began seeking more knowledge and experiences that focused on how our brains work and store experiences – how our senses, emotions, and thoughts transform into experience. It became more and more clear that the brain is an interconnected universe consisting of several components which interact with each other as a whole. This affects who we are as a whole. This realization changed my entire direction of therapy.
Although talk and revelations are part of that process, they are only a part. By using techniques that include visual/tactile, binaural stimulation, while surfacing past experiences with feelings and thoughts, we have a better chance of helping people shift into newer, more positive experiences. We can contribute to new shifts, new changes, new pathway activity in the brain. In my work with clients, this has consistently been shown to be true.
Simply put, clients move forward and do much better in a much shorter period of time.
Best of all, clients feel better when they leave the office. Overall, they don’t leave feeling burdened, overwhelmed, or “heavy.” With this kind of therapy, people experience change. Unlike talk therapy alone, my clients find they don’t have to work so hard to change. In reality, change often happens automatically. As one client said, “I don’t understand this…I just change.”
—–
Dawn M Lloyd, MS LMFT
Through the power of the therapeutic relationship, I can help you identify your problem areas and create new thought patterns which will assist you in accomplishing your goals and dreams. I look forward to working with you to change your thought patterns and fully embrace all that you want in your life!
I have been working as a therapist for over 20 years and have gained much from my clients’ and my own personal experiences. Through the years, I have learned that there is not a one-size-fits-all modality for therapy. I will work with you using a variety of techniques including mindfulness, CBT, Client-Centered, Solution-Focused, Cognitive Challenging, and Play Therapy – to name a few.
I provide individual, family and couple’s counseling via telehealth, ages 15+. The issues that I have experience working with include:
- Asperger’s Syndrome
- Anxiety
- Coping Skills
- Depression
- Divorce
- Marital and Premarital
- Parenting
- Relationship Issues
- Self Esteem
- Spirituality
- Trauma and PTSD
- Women’s Issues
The treatment approaches used in therapy include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Family systems
- Mindfulness-Based
- Person-Centered
- Relational
- Solution Focused
- Strength-Based
- Structural Family Therapy
- Trauma Focused
Jann C. Ledbetter, M.Ed., LPC
My counseling practice is based on helping children, adolescents and adults find a new beginning in their lives. We will work togther to gain self-awareness, insight into problems, coping skills and resiliency to face the hallenges that life can bring and be able to live a more productive and healthy life.
I use an eclectic approach that leans heavily on person-centered, cognitive behavioral and play therapy to address unresolved issues and traumas that have caused a disruption in the life of a child or adult. I use an induvidualized approach for addressing each client’s needs.
My specializations include working with children using play therapy techniques to address their needs whether it may be behavioral issues, adjustment to divorce, anxiety, depression or low self-esteem.
In working with adults, my specialties include helping client’s with their struggles, whether new or from the past, anxiety, depression, relationship issues and parental coaching on how to manage adjustments and other issues their child may be having at school or at home.
I offer individual and family therapy, in the Checotah area, In-Person or Telehealth services are available for children, adolescents and adults in the following areas:
- ADHD
- Adjustment Disorder
- Anger Management
- Anxiety/ Depression
- Divorce
- Grief and Loss
- Parenting Skills
- Play Therapy
- Personal Growth
- Relationship Issues
- Self-Esteem
- Sexual Abuse
- Stress Management
- Woman’s Issues
Treatment Approaches:
- Cognative Behavioral
- Person Centered
- Play Therapy
- Sand Tray Therapy
I have a Bachelors of Science Degree in Education, as well as, a Masters of Education in Counseling Degree. My experience includes 15 years of teaching in a classroom, 12 years as a school counselor, 10 years in school administration and the last 6 years in private practice.
My approach in counseling is one that is strength based, and a team approach. I will help you build upon the strengths that you already have, so that you can utilize these to reach your full potential. I view the counseling experience as a team effort. It is a journey that you and I are on together, as client and therapist, and I am honored to be a part of that journey.
—–
New Pathways Behavioral Health 