Our History

In His Image Counseling Center began in San Antonio in the early 1990’s, where Sue Baars began her counseling practice. The name “In His Image” came to her as she was contemplating what name to give her private practice. She wanted something that would articulate the focus of her work which was grounded on the psychology of St. Thomas Aquinas and that of her father, Conrad Baars, M.D., and his colleague, Anna Terruwe, M.D. For more detailed information on Thomistic psychology and Affirmation Therapy, visit www.BaarsInstitute.com.

After moving to Dallas in 2002, Sue chose Mother Teresa as the patroness of In His Image Counseling Center. While referrals to the practice have grown, so has the practice itself, with the addition of a number of therapists who all share the same Catholic vision of the human person. The words of St. Mother Teresa inspire the clinicians at In His Image Counseling Center. “We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty.”

Featured in Women of Grace’s Beyond Mindfulness Webinar

Featured on WCAT Radio - Listen here to Sue Baars’ interview about her recently published chapter, “The Importance of Human Formation and Affective Maturity in the Man of Communion.”

Counseling Services

SUE BAARS, PhD, LPC-S, LMFT

CLINICAL DIRECTOR

Dr. Sue Baars is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor and Marriage and Family Therapist in Irving, Texas, where she is the owner of In His Image Counseling Center, PLLC. She was a founding member of the Catholic Psychotherapy Association. Sue has worked in the field of counseling since 1986 in both hospital and outpatient settings and focuses her work on the integration of the Christian anthropology of St. Thomas Aquinas with the treatment of a variety of emotional & spiritual problems, among them Emotional Deprivation Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and scrupulosity. She has presented at conferences for priests and religious as well as laity and has been a frequent guest on EWTN’s Women of Grace. She often introduces the work of her late father, psychiatrist and author Conrad Baars, a pioneer in the field of Catholic psychology.

CLINICAL TEAM

anna wiebold

m.S., lpc-S

Anna received her master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Divine Mercy University and her bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from Christendom College. She has been counseling for over 10 years and has worked in a variety of settings, ranging from intensive in-home family therapy to outpatient individual counseling.

Anna works with adolescents and adults and incorporates a Christian understanding of the human person into her practice. She brings her expertise in psychology and human development together with a Christian perspective, grounded in a belief in the inherent dignity and worth of every person as created by God.

Her approach to therapy centers on helping individuals discover and live from their inherent dignity and value. She promotes healing through truth, self-awareness, hope, and courage, while providing a compassionate and supportive environment in which clients can work toward meaningful growth and lasting change.

Anna has significant experience treating anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and scrupulosity, trauma and PTSD, grief, relationship conflict, and a variety of other concerns. She draws from evidence-based approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), attachment-based therapies, and trauma-informed care. Her goal is to help clients develop a deeper understanding of themselves, grow in freedom and self-awareness, and move toward genuine healing and flourishing.

Anna is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas and provides both in-person and telehealth services throughout Texas. She is also registered to provide telehealth services to clients in Florida and South Carolina.

Texas: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC #76313)

Florida: Telehealth Licensed Mental Health Counselor (TPMC8280) — Florida Department of Health License Verification

South Carolina: Telehealth Registered Professional Counselor Provider (TLC 3004 PC) — South Carolina Telehealth Registration Listing

eleanor moser

m.a., lpc

Ellie graduated from the University of Dallas with a B.A. in English Literature and earned her Master’s degree in Professional Counseling in 2016. She has experience providing individual and group therapy for adults.

Ellie believes every person has inherent dignity and goodness. She helps clients recognize their strengths, navigate life’s challenges, and move toward greater peace, confidence, and joy. Using the Baars Model, she helps clients integrate thoughts and emotions, and she welcomes the integration of faith and spirituality when desired by the client.

Ellie works with adults experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma/PTSD, betrayal trauma, grief and loss, OCD and scrupulosity, phobias, low self-worth, feelings of inadequacy and inferiority, co-dependency, pornography addiction, life purpose and transition, and emotional deprivation. As a trauma-informed counselor, she incorporates EMDR and IMTT to help clients process painful experiences, reduce emotional distress, and build resilience.

Ellie considers it a privilege to accompany clients on their healing journey by providing a safe, supportive space for growth and transformation.

elizabeth andrews

m.a., lmft

Liz graduated from the University of Dallas with a B.A. in Theology and from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota with an M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy.

She specializes in working with individual adolescents and adults, families with children of all ages, and couples. Liz has experience treating marital problems, relationship and family issues, anxiety, depression, OCD, obsessive thinking and intrusive thoughts, low self-image, trauma, parenting concerns, and emotional deprivation.

She has a warm, collaborative approach that highlights and builds on clients’ strengths and guides clients to increased awareness and ability to access skills and strategies that allow them to live richer, more fulfilling lives.

As a marriage and family therapist, she takes a systemic approach to working with all her clients, keeping in mind the importance of relationships and how they affect and shape us. As a couples and marriage therapist, Liz relies heavily on the principles and methods of Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT), a well-researched method of couples therapy. As a Catholic therapist, her understanding of healing is grounded in a profound belief in the dignity of each person as a creation of God.

Deb Karulf

MSW, LCSW-S, DCSW

Deb is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Supervisor in Texas. She has a B. A. / B. S. W. in Social Work, Speech and Drama from Augustana University, and an M.S.W. from the University of Minnesota in Clinical /Psychiatric Social Work with concomitant training at the University’s Marriage and Family Therapy program. Deb completed a Clinical Social Work Fellowship in Adolescent Psychiatry at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA. Deb is licensed in Texas, Minnesota and Missouri.

Deb has dedicated her career to helping people get “unstuck” from life challenges, particularly during times of acute stress and emotional need. She has over 30 years’ experience as a psychotherapist, conference speaker, and provider of professional consultation to therapists, pastors, schools and medical professionals.

Her primary focus is on adolescent, adult, and couples counseling services. Deb has served clients in a variety of areas including outpatient and inpatient settings. She specializes in marital/ premarital and couples counseling, relationship issues, anxiety, depression, issues of grief and loss, emotional deprivation disorder, spiritual concerns, and identity issues related to self-esteem and self-worth. Services are provided within an atmosphere that nurtures and allows for a Christian perspective, as desired by the individual(s).

Deb draws from a variety of useful therapeutic resources, including: systems oriented, cognitive-behavioral, insight-oriented, problem solving and solution focused approaches to counseling. She seeks to tailor her treatment according to an individual’s needs. In her collaborative work with individuals or couples, Deb’s goal is to create a safe, affirming, grace-filled environment that ultimately empowers, equips and enables her clients to heal, recover, restore wholeness, and live a more gratifying and fulfilling life.

Maria Arias

MS, LPC

With more than 30 years of experience serving children, families, and educators, Maria Arias is licensed in Texas and is a Synergetic Play Therapy® Certified Therapist and Supervisor. Maria is also a Certified Montessori Teacher and Licensed School Counselor. Maria is also bilingual in Spanish and English.

As part of a Catholic mental health practice, Maria’s work is rooted in the belief that every child possesses inherent dignity and worth. She believes parents are entrusted by God as the primary influence in a child’s life. Her approach equips parents with practical tools, clear guidance, and confidence to lead their families.

Maria supports children experiencing anxiety, ADHD, trauma, emotional regulation challenges, and other developmental concerns. She views each child as a person to be understood, not a problem to be fixed. Every family begins with a clear goal-setting process that helps identify needs, clarify priorities, and guide the therapeutic journey.

Her unique 12-session program integrates play therapy with parent coaching in a structured, intentional process. Parents are active participants throughout, learning how to better understand their child, strengthen their relationship, and build skills that extend well beyond the program. The goal is lasting change, and renewed hope, grounded in the vocation of the family.

Ali Richter

MA, LPC

Ali earned her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from St. Mary’s University and her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Texas A&M University. Her clinical experience includes private practice, school-based counseling, and community mental health settings, providing her with the opportunity to support individuals and families across a wide range of ages and backgrounds. She believes that each person has a unique story, inherent dignity, and a deep capacity for healing and growth. She strives to create a compassionate, safe, and supportive environment where clients feel affirmed, understood, and encouraged as they navigate life’s challenges.

Ali has experience providing counseling to children, adolescents, and adults facing a variety of concerns, including anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, ADHD, women’s issues, OCD, relationship challenges, and major life transitions. She has a particular passion for helping clients develop emotional awareness and regulation, strengthen relationships, and grow in self-understanding and confidence.

Ali’s therapeutic approach is integrative and tailored to each client’s individual needs. She incorporates evidence-based approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills, Solution-Focused Therapy, Attachment-Based Therapy, Trauma-Informed Care, and play therapy techniques. She believes that therapy is a collaborative process and works alongside each client to identify their goals and take meaningful steps toward healing. As a Catholic counselor, she welcomes the opportunity to integrate the Catholic faith into counseling when desired by her clients, drawing upon the richness of the Church’s teachings and the truth of each person’s God-given identity. She believes that faith can be an important source of hope, strength, and healing throughout the counseling process.

Whether clients are walking through a difficult season, seeking healing from past experiences, or hoping to grow in self-awareness and virtue, Ali considers it a privilege to accompany them on their journey toward greater wholeness and flourishing.

Ali accepts Aetna, Cigna and Carelon insurance.

JOSEPH SANFORD

B.A.

Supervised by Anna Wiebold, MS, LPC-S

Joseph is pursuing an MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling through Divine Mercy University. He is a graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville, where he earned a BA in History with a minor in philosophy. His education has helped inform his understanding of the human person seen through the synthesized lenses of philosophy, theology, and psychology. Joseph recognizes that every person is created in God’s image with innate dignity and goodness, experiences trials and suffering in this world due to sin, but is ultimately called to experience the fullness of life through Christ’s redemption.

Joseph’s approach to counseling is relational. He believes in the collaborative effort of exploring problems and making connections between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to better understand oneself in working towards one’s goals.

Joseph works with clients of all ages and is trained to help individuals navigate a wide range of challenges, including anxiety, depression, trauma/PTSD, OCD, men’s issues, relationship concerns, pornography addiction, life transitions, and questions of purpose and meaning. As he continues to grow and develop as a counselor, Joseph remains committed to expanding his knowledge and skills in order to provide the highest quality care. He is dedicated to meeting the unique needs of each client and considers it a privilege to walk alongside those he serves