A Non-Profit Counseling & Therapy Provider

Texas Family Institute

To assist individuals, families, and our community cope with problems and challenges that life brings in a more healthy and powerful way.

Welcome

Texas Family Institute has been helping families in the Big Country since September of 2002. Our counselors have helped people from all walks of life and with many life issues.

What a challenge…this life that you’ve been given! You may be at a place where the challenge, or challenges, of life just seem to be too much for you to handle. If you admit you don’t have all the answers, you are not alone. Many people have come to TFI and found help to deal more powerfully with the challenges of life. The first thing you have to decide to do is not quit. Don’t give up on you or on your life. Counseling really will help.

Our counseling specialties include:

Made up of professionally trained, licensed counselors and social workers. We function harmoniously to help you meet the challenges that life brings to you in a better and more powerful way.

Programs & Services

Don’t give up on a joyful life or on having healthy relationships. Let us help.

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Individual / Couples / Family Counseling

TFI has counselors and therapists that work with couples and families all the time to develop...

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Seminars & Workshops

We keep you posted on when new Seminars and Workshops are coming up.

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You Can Trust Our Counselors and Therapists

We function harmoniously to help you meet the challenges that life brings to you in a better and more powerful way. We provide help to individuals, families, couples, and children with individual counseling, family counseling, couples counseling, seminars, workshops, and group counseling.

We recognize the many and varied challenges that our society presents and we are dedicated to finding solutions to problems and meeting the needs that confront all of us on a daily basis. Our scope of assistance ranges from helping children with the problems of growing up to the difficulties faced by those dealing with aging issues — and everything in between.

We believe in you . . . and, we believe in the value of investing in you by assisting you in taking action concerning the circumstances that confront you. We truly will stand with you and look at the situation(s) you are facing to come up with a plan that will address your particular needs. We want to be part of your solution. Let us help you move forward.
As a nonprofit organization, we have resources we can draw from in order to assist those who may not be able to receive assistance otherwise. We receive funding from private foundations, grants and public/corporate donations that go toward helping those without adequate resources to get professional help.

Make an Appointment

If you or someone you love is in need of a safe and confidential place to talk please allow our specialized staff to be there for you. 

Contact
Office: (325)676-8963
Email: stephanie@texasfamilyinstitute.org
Fax: (325) 676-2915
Our location

100 Chestnut St. Suite 101 Abilene, TX 79602

Contact Us

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Meet Our Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors consists of a group of volunteer community citizens who believe in our mission and want to support us. We appreciate their dedication and the support they bring.

America Farrell

Chair

Rebecca McMurray
Debbie Lillick

Secretary

Susan Stuckey
Devid Belcher, MD
Diane Leggett

Treasurer

Les Bruce
Misty Colmery
Cindy Spicer
Nikki Nasworth
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“People are just as wonderful as sunsets if you let them be. When I look at a sunset, I don’t find myself saying, ‘Soften the orange a bit on the right-hand corner.’ I don’t try to control a sunset. I watch with awe as it unfolds.” -Carl Rogers

Darian "Kenzie" Gilchrist

LPC Associate

I am passionate about providing compassionate and effective support to individuals facing emotional and psychological challenges. With a strong foundation in psychology and counseling, I am dedicated to helping clients develop healthier coping mechanisms, gain self-awareness, and achieve their personal growth goals. I strive to create a safe and nonjudgmental space where clients can openly express themselves, while actively listening and tailoring therapeutic approaches to their unique needs. I specialize in depression, anxiety, suicidal ideations, psychosis, and grief. My counseling approach is Client Centered, along with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and I encourage curiosity, intuition, creativity, humility, empathy, altruism, and being in-charge of your own thoughts and behaviors.

Intake Paperwork

If you have scheduled an initial appointment with Kenzie or plan to do so in the future and would like to save time, please feel free to download his intake paperwork, fill it out, and bring it with you to your appointment.  If you’re not sure how to answer a question, just leave it blank, and either Kenzie or one of our helpful receptionists can instruct you.  We look forward to meeting you soon!

Kenzie Gilchrist's Intake Paperwork

“Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing we will ever do.”

 -Brené Brown

Kay Wheeler

LPC

Kay completed her Master’s in Counseling from Texas Woman’s University in 2015 and is a Licensed Professional Counselor who specializes in depression, stress and anxiety, and grief. Kay is a proud member of the Texas Counseling Association.
 
Counseling Approach:
 
I strive to be a healing and helpful presence as you work through owning your story. Your life and your experiences matter, and I hope to provide a safe space for the learning process of healing and coping. I utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help reframe any cognitive distortions that muddle your view of yourself and the world, as well as a person-centered approach to provide empathy and unconditional positive regard. I hold a judgment free space for all walks of life.

Intake Paperwork

If you have scheduled an initial appointment with Kay or plan to do so in the future and would like to save time, please feel free to download his intake paperwork, fill it out, and bring it with you to your appointment.  If you’re not sure how to answer a question, just leave it blank, and either Kay or one of our helpful receptionists can instruct you.  We look forward to meeting you soon!

Kay Wheeler's Intake Paperwork

Dennise Polnack, LPC

LPC

Dennise received her Master’s in professional counseling from Grand Canyon University in April of 2018. Previously, Dennise taught for 4 years and also has received her Bachelors of Education in Interdisciplinary Studies from Angelo State University in December of 2010. Dennise is a fully licensed professional counselor (LPC) who holds a strong belief that having a connection with God or a higher power is an important part to one’s recovery process. Dennise uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Person Centered Therapy along with other therapeutic techniques combine to help her clients. She counsels children, adolescents, and adults. If you or someone you know is needing help with hardships that life tends to bring, call today and set up an appointment and Dennise will walk with you through a new journey in life that brings hope and peace. 

Dennise Polnack's Intake Paperwork

Debra Lammons

MSSW, LCSW

After many years as a nurse, a cancer diagnosis led me to change careers mid-life, and as an LCSW, I now assist others in overcoming their own life transitions and obstacles. Major life transitions, such as divorce, loss, moving, retirement, empty nest, debilitating illnesses, and trauma can cause upheaval, grief, and a tremendous amount of stress. I believe that life changes, even the difficult ones, can with intervention result in personal growth, and allow for greater self-discovery and awareness. Helping you to solve your life’s problems and stressors is my goal.

As a cancer survivor, I have personal knowledge and commitment to working with people and families that have been impacted by life-altering conditions and diseases, chronic pain, infertility, depression & anxiety. Additional special interests include grief, survivors of abuse, substance abuse, codependency issues, and anger management.

Specialties

Debra specializes in trauma, anxiety, depression, grief and anger management. 

Debra Lammon's Intake Paperwork

Amanda Keith

LCSW

Amanda has a BFA from McMurry University in Theatre Arts. Theatre and a drive to support people who have experienced trauma is what led Amanda to social work. She completed her Masters in Social Work at the University of Southern California in 2013. Amanda is now a Liscenced Clinical Social Worker and has experience in domestic violence and sexual assault shelters, working for the State of Texas as a probation counselor, and currently at Serenity House in Abilene as a substance use residential treatment counselor since 2018. Amanda joined the TFI team in 2020, and is grateful to be back in Abilene and serving the community.

Specialties

Amanda specializes in trauma, anxiety, depression, and other mental health and life issues. Amanda enjoys working with individuals, teens, the LGBTQ+ community, and providing group therapy and psychoeducational lectures whenever possible. Amanda has provided professional trainings about trauma, multicultural awareness, and LGBTQ+ issues for multiple nonprofits and organizations including the NASW of Texas and AISD. 

Counseling Approach

Amanda uses a variety of evidence-based and trauma-informed interventions to meet clients where they are at and engage them in their own healing process. Amanda is passionate about providing a safe place for clients to move through their healing process and find reconnection in their lives and relationships.

Amanda's Intake Paperwork

David E. Stuckey

LCSW

I am a native Texan, born to a small town, Southern Baptist pastor’s family on June 27, 1947. I am also a born counselor and therapist! As a teenager, other teens and even adults came to me to confess, get advice, or simply talk things through. I admit, as a teenager, it was not a happy thing because I was just interested in girls, football, and theater. Oh well!

I went to Hardin-Simmons University and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education: Drama and Speech and became certified to teach the learning disabled. While teaching special education (for six years), I discovered that many of these children came from families that needed help. So I departed Abilene, headed for San Antonio and Our Lady of the Lake University where I earned a Master of Social Work. I came back to Abilene, became the Chief of Alcoholism Services for Abilene Regional Mental Health-Mental Retardation Center. I then became Chief of Mental Health Services and worked for ARMH-MRC for ten years before starting a private practice of psychotherapy in 1988.

In 1992, while maintaining a private psychotherapy practice, I was called into the ministry to minister to those bound by mental challenges and bridge the gap between psychotherapy and faith. My wife and I began a ministry, Fullness of God Ministries, which later became Church of the Fullness of God.

While jogging around the track one morning in 1995, in the best physical shape I had been in many years, I had a medical event that changed my life. I lost my vision, among other unpleasant things, and ended up in the hospital. The final diagnosis was a rare form of cancer for which they had no real treatment for at that time. I ended up having to close my psychotherapy practice in 1998 and was limited in my ability to work. In about 2010, I became one of the thousands called “disabled.”

September 2013 came with me in the hospital – again! However, I was given a new doctor, a new diagnosis, and a new hope. Today, I am working full time – full time! Why did I tell you all of that? To let you know that I know about life and the curve balls it can throw at you.

We all have challenges; and what I have to share, besides all the therapeutic knowledge I have learned, is about living with and through adversity – continuing to hope when it appears that all hope is lost. I do know some things that the knowing of which can make a difference in your life and bring a totally different vision of a future worth living in.

Let me assist you in living this life of possibility that is your life – Today!

My Specialties

Aging Issues | Codependency | Anxiety | Marital Conflict | Adult Survivors of Alcoholic Families | Bi-Polar Issues | Life Coaching | Transformational Workshops | Disability Issues | Eating Disorders | Depression | Trauma Issues | Rapid Trauma Resolution | Alcohol and Drug Dependency | Faith Counseling | Caretakers of Aged and Disabled

My Counseling Approach

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and also am a certified Rapid Trauma Resolution Therapy Practitioner. I am eclectic in my approach. I use many different theories, depending on you and your particular challenges.

Intake Paperwork

If you have scheduled an initial appointment with David or plan to do so in the future and would like to save time, please feel free to download his intake paperwork, fill it out, and bring it with you to your appointment.  If you’re not sure how to answer a question, just leave it blank, and either David or one of our helpful receptionists can instruct you.  We look forward to meeting you soon!

David Stuckey's Intake Paperwork

Rebecca McMurray

BA, MA, LMFT

Rebecca has been associated with Texas Family Institute in Abilene, TX since 2004. Her counselor specialty is behavioral problems with children and adolescents. Her general practice areas are individual and family. She favors cognitive behavioral therapy, art and educational therapy.

Intake Paperwork

If you have scheduled an initial appointment with Rebecca (or plan to do so in the future) and would like to save time, please feel free to download her intake paperwork, fill it out, and bring it with you to your appointment.  If you’re not sure how to answer a question, just leave it blank, and either Rebecca or one of our helpful receptionists can instruct you.  We look forward to meeting you soon!

Rebecca McMurray's Intake Paperwork

Michael Finley

BS, MS, LMFT

Michael has been associated with Texas Family Institute since 2008. He specializes in the following:

For Adults

Marital Conflict | Depression | Anxiety | Family Conflict | Death and Dying Issues | Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

For Children

Depression | Divorce Recovery | Death of a Family Member | Oppositional Defiant Disorder | Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Credentials

Licensing: Texas Licensed Marriage & Family Therapy

Member: American Association and Texas Association of Marriage and Family Therapists

Education: 
Masters of Marriage & Family Therapy, ACU, 2007
Bachelors of Sociology, University of Utah, 2003

Intake Paperwork

If you have scheduled an initial appointment with Michael or plan to do so in the future and would like to save time, please feel free to download his intake paperwork, fill it out, and bring it with you to your appointment.  If you’re not sure how to answer a question, just leave it blank, and either Michael or one of our helpful receptionists can instruct you.  We look forward to meeting you soon!

Michael Finley's Intake Paperwork