Meet Our Team of Expert Therapists
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Rachel Bush, Supervised by Maribel Laguna, LPC-S
Student Clinician
Rachel Bush graduated from the University of Texas in 2014 with a Bachelors in Journalism and spent the next 10 years training and mentoring college students, helping them develop leadership skills and navigate personal struggles. Walking with young adults in a transitory and difficult time of life ignited her passion for counseling, leading to her current pursuit of a graduate degree in clinical mental health counseling at Divine Mercy University. Rachel's integrative counseling approach is rooted in her Catholic-Christian faith, with a profound respect for the intrinsic dignity of every person. Rachel is also trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), a technique that helps process past trauma and distressing memories. With a heart for supporting others through life's challenges, Rachel strives to create a safe, empathetic space where true healing and transformation can happen.
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Rickie Jacob, MA, LPC-Associate, Supervised by Sonia Mijares, LPC-S
Associate Clinician
Rickie is a graduate of Divine Mercy University where he earned is Masters in Mental Health Counseling. Before pursuing a degree in Counseling, Rickie earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Loyola University of Chicago through St. Joseph College Seminary. Rickie has volunteered as a missionary for many years, worked in prison ministry, and served as the Associate Young Adult Director for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Rickie has surrounded himself with various cultural backgrounds throughout his life and is looking forward to continuing work with diverse communities. Through his studies at Divine Mercy University, Rickie has learned to approach each person holistically. He uses the Catholic Christian Meta-Model of the Person (CCMMP) in his counseling approach, integrating psychological sciences, philosophy, and theology, incorporating empathetic listening, and guiding each person as they discover their innate goodness -- so ultimately they can flourish.
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Maribel Rodriguez Laguna, MA, LPC-S, CSAT Candidate, Founder of Cor Sacrum Counseling
Master Clinician
Maribel graduated from the University of Dallas with a B.A. in Psychology in 2004 and from University of North Texas with an M.A. in Counseling Psychology in 2007. Ms. Laguna is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor in Dallas, Texas, where she is the founder and owner of Cor Sacrum Counseling and Consulting. She is also the past board president of the Catholic Psychotherapy Association. Maribel has worked as a counselor in a variety of settings including the Dallas County Juvenile Detention Center, Genesis Women’s Shelter, and Dallas Independent School District Youth and Family Centers. She specializes in vocational discernment, premarital preparation, and marital counseling working closely with diocesan vocational leaders. Additionally, Maribel is a presenter at various Catholic conferences around the country and has been a guest on EWTN’s Cara a Cara.
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Sonia Mijares, MA, LPC-S
Master Clinician
Sonia Mijares graduated from Southern Methodist University in 2003 with a B.A. in English and Psychology in 2003 and from Dallas Baptist University with an M.A. in Counseling Psychology in 2012. Ms. Mijares is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor in Dallas, Texas where she currently resides. Sonia has worked diligently in serving the Spanish and English speaking communities in Dallas in a variety of settings, including The Family Place, Parkland VIP/Rape and Crisis Center, Dallas Independent Youth and Family Centers and Children First Counseling Center in Grand Prairie. She specializes in trauma counseling with a focus on recovery from childhood abuse and domestic violence experiences and is also passionate about working with women to help them with relationship, trauma, and infertility issues affecting their mental health. Additionally, Sonia is one of the few bilingual therapists who is certified in EMDR therapy, which is a therapy modality designed to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories such as post-traumatic stress disorder. Sonia has been a guest on Guadalupe Radio.
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Philip Taken, MA, LPC-Associate, Supervised by Maribel Laguna, LPC-S
Associate Clinician
Philip earned his Masters in Counseling from the University of North Texas and a Masters in Theological Studies from the University of Dallas. He is also a Deacon with the Catholic Diocese of Dallas, ordained in 2022. With over 30 years of marriage, four adult children, and a previous career as a lawyer and corporate executive, Philip brings a wealth of life experience to his work, alongside his deep commitment to his clients. Philip’s clinical perspective is shaped by both his personal journey and his ministry, which includes work in marriage preparation, enrichment, divorce recovery, and healing/forgiveness workshops. He has provided therapy at the University of Dallas Counseling Center, Jewish Family Service of Dallas, and the UNT Counseling Clinic, where he gained experience with a diverse range of clients and issues. Philip’s counseling approach is integrative, blending elements from various therapeutic modalities to meet the unique needs of each client. This holistic perspective is informed by his extensive background in both the professional and spiritual realms, offering clients a well-rounded, compassionate, and thoughtful path toward healing and growth.
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Amy Walsh, MA, LPC-Associate, Supervised by Sonia Mijares, LPC-S
Associate Clinician
Amy Walsh is a graduate of Divine Mercy University where she earned her Masters in Mental Health Counseling. Before pursuing counseling, she earned a Philosophy degree from Boise State University, completed several years of missionary work with FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) on college campuses, and worked as a young adult coordinator for the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Fort Worth. Over the years, she became increasingly passionate about cultivating relationships and “meeting people where they are.” Amy’s counseling approach is informed by her Christian-Catholic faith and her belief that we are not meant to journey alone. Amy also utilizes EFT (Emotionally-Focused Therapy), an approach that emphasizes the role emotions play in healing and self-understanding. She strives to honor each person’s unique story and foster warmth and genuine interaction with everyone she meets. She views each person holistically, believing in their inherent dignity and capacity to thrive.
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Rebecca Leonard, Client Coordinator
Hi! I'm Rebecca, the Client Coordinator at Cor Sacrum Counseling. I am passionate about our mission: excellence in mental health services. My priority is to smoothly and efficiently connect you with the Cor Sacrum therapist who best fits your needs.
I look forward to working with you and getting you scheduled with one of our amazing therapists!
Need help finding the right therapist for you? Contact us via our 'Contact Us' form or schedule a phone consultation and I'll be more than happy to help.
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Nicole McKowen, MA, Director of Operations
Nicole graduated from the University of Dallas with a B.A. in Art History in 2015 and from Texas Christian University with an M.A. in Art History in 2019. Nicole has taught Visual Arts and Art History to grades K-8 and has worked in the educational and curatorial departments at various museums throughout the DFW metroplex. She worked at Maribel’s previous practice, In His Image Counseling, as brand developer, webmaster, client coordinator, and social media manager. Nicole has now brought her various talents and skills to Cor Sacrum Counseling & Consulting where she is the Director of Operations.
Getting started is easy.
Rebecca will smoothly and efficiently connect you with one of our Cor Sacrum therapists.
We make scheduling your first appointment easy.