News and events

June 2023: Healing House Celebrates FIVE YEAR BIRTHDAY!

We opened the doors to our Dallas office in 2018 with a heart for building community and providing the best services possible for our new clients. Coming directly from her job in agency work, Anna sought to build a practice where boundaries were respected and counselor self-care was encouraged so that our Healing House team could provide the most compassionate services to our clients and lead by example. Five years later, we’re happy to say that Healing House stands by these values.

Each of the counselors on our team helped build the practice we are today. We’ve survived a pandemic, added an Austin location, and grown into a team of 11 people. Our services have expanded into trauma conscious yoga and trauma informed bodywork. Many of us have become mothers, fathers, friends, and made professional shifts. Through it all, we’ve supported ourselves, one another, and our community and that’s something we can be proud of. The relationships we’ve made along the way mean the world to us, and we are so thankful to be a part of the Dallas and Austin counseling community!

April 2023: Jessica and Lakeita are back from maternity leave

Is it just us, or is the Dallas team not complete without our two original DHH counselors, Jessica and Lakeita? We are welcoming back both Jessica and Lakeita to the Dallas office after their maternity leaves! Both Jessica and Lakeita are currently taking new clients.

Dallas Healing House Welcomes New Counselor to the Team

We are delighted to welcome Michelle Nemeth, LPC-Associate to our team in Dallas! Michelle is passionate about working with those in eating disorder recovery, trauma, and individuals wanting to work on self-esteem and self-worth. She is trained in EMDR and currently pursuing her Certified Eating Disorder Specialist Certification.

Michelle describes her therapeutic approach:

“What can you expect from me as your therapist? Support. Compassion. Humor. Tissues when needed. In session, I use a combination of talk therapy and EMDR, and will incorporate art activities, mindfulness, and music when appropriate. Although I may gently challenge you at times, I will never push you beyond what you’re comfortable with. Above all, you can expect non-judgment and a safe environment when you’re with me.”

Learn more about Michelle by heading to her bio page!

Trauma Informed Bodywork Now Available in Dallas Office

Rachel Tweed, Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Massage Therapist is now offering trauma informed bodywork in the Dallas office. Trauma Informed Bodywork is a body-based modality focused on healing through the power of touch and trauma-informed coping and processing skills. Bodywork can accompany your counseling process or can be a stand alone service. Read more about Trauma Informed Body Work here.

Healing House Welcomes New Counselor to the Team!

Lizzie Somabut, LPC-A is our new go to counselor for young adult clients and older adolescents seeking support for stress, anxiety, depression, body image, self-esteem, and friendship & relationship distress. As a school counselor and during her time working in eating disorder facilities, she has some serious experience in working with emerging adult populations!

Lizzie describes her therapeutic approach: “My approach to counseling is to provide warmth, empathy, and connection so that clients feel safe enough to take the next step - together.” We want to extend a warm welcome to Lizzie and we look forward to seeing all the meaningful work she does with Healing House clients.

Healing House & Fitness Ambassadors: Grief During the Pandemic - March 2021

Dallas Healing House joined Fitness Ambassadors for the second workshop in the Your Mind Matters series. Lakeita led the group in a discussion about coping with grief one year into the pandemic. The group discussed signs of grief, how to cope with grief, and ways to build connections during the pandemic. If you would like to begin your own grief processing, contact us.

We will end the series with Jessica discussing boundaries in food and exercise on April 14th. Get your tickets here!

Jessica Starts a Virtual Group - January 2021

Dallas Healing House presents a virtual group starting this January! Our virtual group offering makes this group easy to access for all Texas residents. Group therapy provides a safe space to explore and make changes to what you notice about yourself, and these changes inevitably impact your life outside of the group. Our counselor Jessica has a background in supporting those seeking changes in their relationship with their self, others, their body, food, or alcohol. She will support members as they shift patterns and cycles of codependency and find their way to personal growth. 

Find out more about our Road to You group here. 

As always, stay connected on Instagram @dallashealinghouse and @jessicamarie_lpc

Lakeita Discusses Collective Action with KERA - August 2020

Lakeita spoke with Syeda Hasan from KERA about avoiding burnout in the time of activism. Lakeita talked about self-care and setting boundaries while engaging in activism. They discussed the importance of balance and taking breaks. Listen and read the full article here.

Self-Care For Healing Professionals - August 2020

On August 2nd, Anna and Rachel led a group of helpers through a presentation on self-care for healing professionals with the North Texas Art Therapy Association. Anna and Rachel covered information about the nervous system and the importance of mindfulness for mental health practitioners. Participants were able to practice massage and yoga techniques focused on grounding, relaxation, and regulation. It was a restorative way to spend a Sunday afternoon and to connect with other professionals!

Anna Leads Virtual Hang Out with Dallas Girl Gang- March 2020

We are staying connected, despite the pandemic! Anna recently met up with Dallas Girl Gang for a virtual talk on self-care during the COVID-19 shut down. Anna answered questions from some wonderful women around Dallas and led a discussion on coping, connection, and the new normal during these uncertain times.

Dallas Healing House cares about staying engaged with our community, and we will continue to find creative ways to provide quality services to our clients! See more on our telehealth options here.

DHH Leads Workshop on Instagram Live for HerHQ - April 2020

We recently lunched with the ladies at HerHQ and got a chance to virtually connect with their community! Anna educated IG live viewers on what happens when our brain is under extreme stress, and Rachel shared information on wellness and boundary-setting. HerHQ followers participated in breathing exercises, self massage, and nervous system regulation techniques. We tested our technology skills with Instagram Live. At Dallas Healing House, we are glad to continue providing education and connection throughout the pandemic by taking our workshops to the internet!

Be sure to check out Instagram for the full video! 

@herhq

@dallashealinghouse

Massage On The Mat For Neighborhood Goods - January 2020

On January 10th, Dallas Healing House teamed up with Neighborhood Goods for a morning of Massage on the Mat! Anna Zapata, RYT led the group through a series of relaxing and restorative poses while Rachel Tweed, LMT provided the participants with individual massage and assisted stretching. It was a great way to wind-down and recenter after a busy week! The view of downtown Dallas was an added bonus! 

DHH Volunteers For The Holidays - December 2019

On December 13th the Dallas Healing House team spent some time helping out at Jonathan’s Place in Garland. Their mission is to provide safe, loving homes and promising futures for abused and neglected children, teens, and young adults. The facility is a beautiful campus complete with an emergency shelter, cottages, and a spacious cafeteria space. The team helped to clean and organize toys and toiletries in the playroom and warehouse. The staff was welcoming and the DHH team was able to get into the holiday spirit of giving!

DHH has a Newsletter- November 2019

The DHH team recently launched our first newsletter. Each month we are sharing news and highlights from the Dallas Healing House team. This month we featured our newest team member, Dasha Semenyuk, LPC, and highlighted the work of our Counselor of the Month, Anna Zapata, LPC, RYT. We are committed to serving our community and keeping everyone involved in what’s happening at DHH. If you would like to receive our monthly newsletter, please contact us.

Rachel Completes EMDR Weekend 2 Training: October 2019

Back in July of this year, I began my training in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy at the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center. The center itself is a beautiful and calming space that provides healing services for child survivors of abuse in Dallas County and it is the only one of its kind in the Dallas area.

The training was led by Rick Levinson, LCSW from Austin and took place over two weekends. Each weekend consisted of 3 days with consultation sessions between. The focus of Weekend 1 was the history of EMDR and the overview of research about the technique. We were able to learn the basic protocol and practice with support from the team of consultants.

After the first weekend, trainees took part in practice and consultation around basic protocol. Consultation groups provided a chance to get to know other trainees and bring case presentations for review. Connecting with the EMDR team was such a wonderful and unique experience. Rick and his team are knowledgeable and provided us with in-depth feedback and understanding of EMDR and its administration.

Weekend 2 took place this past weekend and built on the basics from Weekend 1. Rick and the team introduced us to the world of treatment planning and application to a variety of populations. We learned more about resourcing, working with children, and using the therapy with recent traumatic events (among many other applications!). The practical portion was longer, and we had even more time to practice the protocol and receive more consultation from the team.

Over the next few months, consultation will continue. In total we complete 10 hours of group consultation where we bring in cases and questions. The next step after we are fully trained will be certification, which includes more session experience, CEUS, and consultation.

Authored by: Rachel Tweed, LPC

Lakeita Speaks at Talk Therapy - October 2019

Lakeita was the featured speaker at Talk Therapy this October. Talk Therapy was developed by Annie Tam, LPC and owner of Mend Counseling as a way for mental health professionals to network and help newer members of our profession understand the ins and outs of being in our field. 

Lakeita talked about her background and experience in rape crisis work before joining Dallas Healing House. She described her training in EMDR, her trauma lens, and the things she finds important in a work environment. Lakeita highlighted the importance of a supportive workplace and colleagues to prevent burnout and discussed what she learned from her process of becoming a fully licensed counselor. 

Contact Lakeita to learn more about her specialities and schedule openings!

Turn up the Pink Event, Charleston House- October 2019

Lakeita, Rachel, Dasha, and Anna attended the “Turn up the Pink” Event at the Charleston House. The event gave participants a chance to learn more about screening for breast cancer and hear some amazing stories of survival and early detection. 

Charleston House offers gynecological services alongside other wellness services for women throughout all stages of life. Dr. Kamilia Smith is passionate about educating, advocating, and empowering her clients.  We loved seeing her passion for women’s health! 

Dallas Girl Gang #Realtalk Event- September 2019

Anna, Rachel, and Dasha attended the Dallas Girl Gang #Realtalk event on business, mental health, and everything in between! Dallas Girl Gang is a group of women who support each other online and in person, giving Dallas women a community in which to connect and grow! We loved the inclusivity, warm atmosphere, and real topics discussed by the panel.

If you’re looking to nurture your social wellness and build new connections, check out the Dallas Girl Gang events coming up.

Training on the Instinctual Trauma Response Method of Trauma Treatment - August 2019

Our counselors Anna, Rachel, and Jessica went to a training on the instinctual trauma response method of trauma treatment put on by North Texas Art Therapy Association on Sunday, August 4. JaeJeung So LPC-S, ATR-BC, CTT introduced this art based trauma processing method as a means of resolving distressful symptoms of complex and single occurrence trauma.

The counselors learned about the foundation of ITR and components of the method before practicing the method in pairs. Many counselors in the trauma and art therapy community attended the training. We are excited to bring back these new and innovative treatment approaches to our clients!

EMDR Training Weekend 1 - July 2019

Our team is in training! Rachel Tweed, LPC, LMT recently began her journey towards becoming an EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) trained counselor. Rick Levinson, LCSW led the training at the Dallas Children's Advocacy Center.

EMDR is an alternative method of approaching traumatic experiences that taps into the brain's natural ability to heal. The goal of EMDR is to access and metabolize disturbing material stored in the memory networks of the brain. Utilizing eye movements, the related disturbance of a memory is eliminated and clients are able to experience a positive shift in self-perception.

Dallas Healing House is lucky to have multiple counselors trained in EMDR including our owner Anna Zapata, LPC, Lakeita Roberts, LPC, and Yige "Eager" Chen, LPC-Intern (who just completed her training last month!).

MASSAGE ON THE MAT: Thursday, June 20 at 7:00 pm

Come join us at Dallas Healing House for our restorative yoga class with individual massages throughout! Practice yoga and meditation led by our yoga teacher, Anna Zapata, RYT while receiving massages from our licensed massage therapist, Rachel Tweed, LMT. Take a breather and join us for a night of relaxation and restoration. 

The event is $20 and spots are filling up fast! Make sure to book your spot by clicking on the link:  Buy tickets here

DHH VISITS MINNIE’S PANTRY - March 2019

In March some of the DHH team spent time with Minnie's Pantry, a food pantry in Plano. They are 100% community supported and they have served over six million meals to families in the area. Minnie's goal is bring light to the issue of food insecurity both locally and nationally. Our team ran food and connected with their families in the process. It was a rewarding way to connect with the community and learn more about local resources.

UT MENTAL HEALTH & COMMUNICATIONS SYMPOSIUM - February 2019

Dallas Healing House travels to Austin for the University of Texas Mental Health and Communications Symposium

Our owner, Anna Zapata traveled to Austin, TX last weekend to present at the UT Mental Health and Communications Symposium with Kristen Diou, owner of Grapevine Children’s Counseling. The pair discussed how mental health is portrayed in movies and television and how it affects the way we think about counseling and mental health. The pair co-hosts the podcast, Pop Culture Therapists where they discuss mental health dynamics in different TV shows and movies.

A big thanks to Mike Mackert at UT for having our team! We love any opportunity to bust stigmas about therapy and mental health (and will never pass up the chance to take an Austin vacay).

DHH HAPPY HOUR FOR HELPERS - JANUARY 2019

Dallas Healing House hosted a happy hour on January 31 with free massages for helpers in the community. Mental health professionals, teachers, students, and social workers kicked their feet up to engage in a night of fun and relaxation! We were so grateful to connect with wonderful professionals in our community and give back!  Rachel will be starting a newsletter for participants and be on the lookout for monthly self-care gatherings hosted by DHH! 

DHH COUNSELORS VOLUNTEER AT DALLAS LIFE - December 2018

The DHH team helped the homeless residents of Dallas Life in downtown Dallas Christmas shop for their children and wrap gifts. Dallas Life is a recovery program for homeless individuals and is the largest homeless shelter in North Texas. Dallas Life’s mission is to end the cycle of homelessness and guide residents towards living an independent life. 

Our DHH counselors had a wonderful time connecting with Dallas Life Staff, other volunteers, and Dallas Life residents. ALLl of our counselors’ backgrounds include working at agencies and non-profits, so we love any opportunity to assist community agencies and reconnect to our roots! If you’re looking for new volunteer opportunities in 2019, check out Dallas Life. 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS AT DHH - December 2018

The Dallas Healing House Counselors got into the holiday spirit last week by decorating their office tree. You’ll notice the glitzy gold tree in the waiting room with you this December! No matter what holidays you practice (if any), we hope you have a good December.

Check out more photos on our instagram account @dallashealinghouse.

DHH TEAM CONTINUES TO GROW! - December 2018