Staff
Susan Jones
MA, CRC, LMFT, Executive Director
Susan has more than 25 years of experience in international consulting, counseling and training and development. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist and a certified rehabilitation counselor. Prior to accepting the position at TWUMC, Susan was president of Jones Counseling and Consulting and had served as interim executive director of Interfaith of The Woodlands. “We are blessed to have someone of Susan’s professional caliber to serve as executive director of Grace Point Marriage and Family Center,” said Dr. Ed Robb (senior pastor of The Woodlands United Methodist Church). “She is an individual committed to excellence and is a well-respected member of our community.”
Susan received her Master of Arts degree from The University of Texas at Austin. She works with individuals, couples, and families cope, heal and find hope when dealing with difficult life issues. Her clinical areas of expertise include adjustment, eating disorders, abuse, self injury, infidelity, communication, trauma recovery, crisis intervention, marriage, premarital, couples, bipolar, depression, anxiety, coping with physical disabilities, stress, stepfamilies, and strengthening families. She is person centered and family systems oriented. She respects the dignity, worth and uniqueness of each person. As with all GPMFC counselors, Susan offers Christ-centered counseling, but also works with clients from many different faiths. She has been an invited speaker for Sunday school classes, Bible studies and numerous organizations.
Susan has been a member of TWUMC for 20 years and welcomes the opportunity to join its staff. Susan’s daughter and son-in-law reside in the Washington, D.C. area. She was married for 24 years to the late Dr. Robert L. Jones.
- 281.466.8602
Mary Causey
Ph.D. LPC-S, RPT
Mary has a B.S. in education from the University of North Texas State, a M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Houston, a M.A. in counseling from Sam Houston State University and a Ph.D. in Counselor Education from Sam Houston State University. She has worked in the counseling field since 1999 as a school counselor, counselor educator, counselor supervisor, and a private practitioner. As well as being a therapist at Grace Point, Mary presently works as an adjunct counselor educator and supervisor for SHSU. Her credentials include certification in school counseling, licensure as a Professional Counselor-Supervisor, and specialization as a Registered Play Therapist. As a clinician, Mary works with children, individuals, families, and groups.
- 281.466.8602
Ray Sanders
MA, LPC, NCC
Ray is a Licensed Professional Counselor and National Certified Counselor. He completed his master’s degree in Counseling at Sam Houston State University in August 2005. He also has a Bachelors of Business Administration degree (1984) in Finance from Sam Houston State University. He has been an Approved Volunteer Chaplain since 1994, and became a licensed minister in 2005. He is a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors and generally practice from a biblical perspective, with my client’s permission.
His areas of competence include individual, group, couples and family counseling, career counseling, and financial counseling. He believes that clients have the ability to choose how to resolve their own problems and can make their own decisions with his assistance as a facilitator. He also believes that clients are responsible for their own behaviors, thoughts and feelings. As a counselor, he hopes to develop within his clients’ greater self-awareness through their life experiences that will build confidence, self-esteem, and provide them a greater capacity to effectively navigate the complex challenges of life.
Because he believes that a client’s self-awareness and choices are keys to developing self-direction and independence, his techniques will include person-centered and systems techniques supplemented with cognitive-behavioral therapy, reality therapy, and solution-focused therapy. These techniques will provide methods to solve problems utilizing the client’s own strengths to meet their needs. Even when meeting with an individual, he attempts to incorporate the entire family, when appropriate and possible. Occasionally other approaches will be incorporated when deemed appropriate for the client(s).
Ray’s banking and counseling experiences have given him a unique perspective to provide financial counseling services to his clients and he conducts financial and budgeting seminars in churches across the area. Ray has spoken at several high schools in the area about financial matters as well as at both Texas A&M and Sam Houston State Universities. He is a past presenter of the “Choices” program and has volunteered his time in various other schools helping children learn about the value of education and finances. He most recently spoke at a Texas Bankers Association Conference for Financial Literacy hosted at the Houston office of the Federal Reserve Bank. Presently, Ray serves as Vice President of South Montgomery County/Woodlands Chamber of Commerce. Before coming to Grace Point Marriage and Family center, he served as a part time pastoral counselor.
Ray and his family live in The Woodlands.
- 281.466.8602
Kara Merrill
LPC, Intern
Kara is a Licensed Professional Counselor Intern and a Board Eligible National Certified Counselor. She received a B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies from Texas Tech University in 2004 and completed her Master of Arts in Counseling at Asbury Theological Seminary in May 2007. Kara’s counseling experience includes working with children, adolescents, and families with a wide range of emotional and behavioral disorders. She is also working towards completing her hours to become a Registered Play Therapist. Kara and her husband, Dave, moved to The Woodlands from Wilmore, Kentucky in June 2008. Dave is also employed at The Woodlands United Methodist Church.
- 281.466.8602
Patricia Fairhurst
Ed.S., M.Ed., LPC, CRC, CCM, LLPVRC
Patricia Fairhurst has an Educational Specialist and Master of Education in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Missouri, both awarded in 1981, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Vermont, 1979. She has worked in the counseling field for over 13 years with an emphasis on serving individuals and families with disabilities and special needs. She provides individual, group, vocational rehabilitation, career counseling and consultation with schools and employers in the nonprofit and private sector. Patricia’s goal is to assist individuals and families adjust and cope with the tremendous challenges placed before them. Her hope is that they may discover the hidden treasures and special blessings within their situation. She offers Christ centered counseling while respecting each person’s individual journey. Her credentials include licensure as a Professional Counselor, Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, Certified Case Manager and Louisiana Licensed Professional Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. Patricia is a member of The Woodlands United Methodist Church. She has been married for 27 years and has three children.
- 281.466.8602
Margie Jordan
MA, LPC, Intern
Margie Jordan has a B. S. in Business Administration from Boston University (1977) and is a Licensed Professional Counselor Intern who graduated with honors from Sam Houston State University’s Counseling program with an emphasis on marriage and family counseling. In addition to the education in counseling, Margie is finishing her certificate of Graduate Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary. She is one of the original counselors at the center and did her training with Michael Smalley. She has been an active member of the Methodist church for thirty years and has led numerous Bible studies and Sunday school classes. Her primary interests are in marriage and family counseling although she is trained in individual, couple, family, and group counseling. She has been married for 27 years and has three grown children and brings a wealth of life experiences to her profession.
- 281.466.8602
Tasha Daniels
Front Office Coordinator
Tasha is the sweet and loving voice on the other end of the phone. She handles the scheduling of appointments throughout the day. She is compassionate and diligent for the ministry of our center. Tasha brings her education and experience in the health care industry to the center with grace. She is a wonderful wife and mother.
- 281.466.8602
Dea Taylor
MPH, Billing Coordinator
Dea Taylor has a Master’s Degree in Public Health from The University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, Texas. She worked at NASA enjoying several challenging projects prior to moving with her family to The Woodlands. She provides part time help in the front office and assists with billing at Grace Point Marriage and Family Center.
She and her husband have two children and have lived in The Woodlands for 3 ½ years. Though Dea had an interesting and fascinating job at NASA, she is blessed to be able to be with her children and work outside the home part time. They are active members of The Woodlands United Methodist Church.
- 281.466.8602