Dr. Colleen Kowalke, PsyD
Clinical Psychologist
Hello dear friends. I was born, lived, and loved Canada for most of my life and only recently became a citizen of the United States. I received my bachelor’s degree in Psychology in Manitoba, while in Canada, then went on to obtain my Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology in North Dakota. Not surprising, it was NOT warm there. I continued to move in a southern direction and landed in Colorado, where I studied and graduated with my Doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology, in the special field of Trauma. From there, I eventually made my way South to Arizona where the weather is much more to my liking. It was there that I was fortunate enough to work with the healers at The Meadows in Wickenburg, Arizona.
My work at The Meadows became the foundation for my understanding of counseling and the human condition, and opened my eyes and my world to new ways of helping and healing. I continue to work every day with the principles and philosophies of Pia Mellody, as well as other important fellows, elders, and leaders of The Meadows. In my own work, I have learned techniques, including Eye Movement, Desensitization, and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) to assist clients with processing and releasing trauma. I am currently studying Peter Levine’s work in Somatic Experiencing (SE). Peter Levine is a fellow at The Meadows and the creator of SE for understanding and healing trauma.
My philosophy for counseling is that “It’s all about kindness, unless it’s about mindfulness.” I believe that people are meant to evolve in psychological ways and will do so when they become ready. I have chosen to help guide and nurture individuals through these times, to provide safety and healing in a warm atmosphere. Eventually, it is my desire to combine several elements of wellness, including nutrition, chiropractic, massage, yoga and spirituality, for a more holistic approach to wellness and provide all of these services in one location at Del Soul Integrated Wellness. Stay tuned…
Namaste
Dani Contreras, LPC
Nutritional Wellness Practitioner
Hello! My name is Danielle Contreras, but my whole life I have gone by Dani. I was born in southern New Mexico and spent the first 10 years of my life there. My family then moved to Arizona, where I have lived ever since. I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management in 2008 from the University of Phoenix. As I was working towards this degree, I quickly realized that I was not passionate towards my major. I did, however, take a great interest in a psychology course that I took, it was fascinating! This led to me completing a Master’s Degree in Psychology in 2010, also at University of Phoenix. It is safe to say that I fell in love during that time. Unfortunately, this degree did not have clinical training, so it was back to the University of Phoenix to complete a Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2015. I was fortunate enough to complete my internship with a Psychologist who specialized in trauma and helped me discover that trauma was what I wanted to specialize in as well.
Because I have a love for learning and firmly believe that in this profession it is vital to never stop learning, my training has not ended with my degrees. I have recently completed a Holistic Wellness Nutrition Practitioner program at the Southwest Institute for Healing Arts in 2017. This has allowed me to incorporate nutritional wellness into my therapeutic approach and discover that feeding our bodies properly can have a major impact on our overall well-being. In 2017 I also received training for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). My work experience has been very diverse. I have worked with adults and children in individual, family, and group settings. I have spent most of my time working with individuals who have experienced some form of trauma in their lives.
While my professional life has been growing, my personal life has been as well. I married in 2006 to an Army soldier. After he left the military, we had our oldest daughter in 2008 and our youngest in 2010. As a family we love to travel and make a point of helping our daughters experience the world and appreciate all it has to offer.
My philosophy for life and counseling is simple: each person is entirely unique and therefore invaluable. I believe that it is human nature to be imperfect and that this is a wonderful thing. I feel incredibly fortunate to have found my passion in helping others gain a sense of self-worth and empowerment that will allow them to live the life that they want to live.
Pam Poole
Hello, thank you for visiting our website and allowing us to introduce ourselves. I am Pam (pambam) Poole. I currently live in the state of Alabama.
A few things going for Alabama… green trees, rolling hills, sweet singing waters. It’s home.
However, I once had another home. Right in the heart of Phoenix Arizona! I learned of Del Soul seven years ago. My husband and I had just moved to Arizona. I moved primarily because of my husband’s job requirements. I had no idea what magnanimous life and career turns were in store for me over the next seven years in Arizona.
When we first moved away from Alabama, I had over 25years of RN experience in a variety of nursing specialties: oncology (cancer patient treatments), supervision (hospital house sup), cardiac critical care (twelve experience rich years), and in-patient psychiatric (six equally rich years).
After research, I accepted a position in Glendale, AZ as an Outpatient Psychiatric RN. During my hospital orientation, I met the newest (and only) Outpatient Psychologist, Dr Colleen Kowalke. Of all the exciting, wonderful ideas and knowledge Dr Kowalke introduced me to over those seven years, her dream of Del Soul Counseling was among the first.
We routinely watered those dreams with conversation and yearnings to the universe. The evolution of Del Soul has been one of the most enriching lifetime journeys I have witnessed and joined. In June of 2018, again, my husband’s work called for a change. We have since moved back to Alabama very near my family. I must say it truly has been a sweet home Alabama reunion. My husband, our four-legged boy child, and I have settled into our home. I am slowly but very surely adjusting to the quiet and slow pace. My roots are showing! When perhaps we speak on the phone, you will immediately hear them.
How could I leave the Del Soul story in mid-chapter! I have moved but I haven’t left the dream! It is such a pleasure and honor to continue working remotely with Del Soul Psychology and Counseling.
I am Pambam, the one who will contact you once you outreach to either our office number (623-414-3954) or email (delsoulcounseling@gmail.com). I will follow you throughout your authorization and appointment process. What a pleasure it is to have a part of your Del Soul journey.
rom ONC RN to BSN SUP, to CVICU RN to PSY RN to finally RRN
Julia Wessels, MA, LASAC
My name is Julia Wessels and I have been in the counseling field for nearly 20 years. I began my career as an intern working with victims of Domestic Violence, which led to my first job as a Shelter Assistant in this field. I completed my BA in Sociology in 1994 from the State University of New York, College at Oneonta. After graduating, I continued wok there, for a short time, before moving to Arizona to continue my education. My move to Arizona was originally intended to ensure my return to school, however, instead it began a lesson in life and a journey that spanned a few years outside of my field, but which would ultimately bring me to where I am today.
It took a few years, for my realization that I would require more education, so I returned to school in 2001. I attended and completed my Master of Art’s in Counseling at the University of Maryland, University College which was based in the UK. This was a true opportunity, and one I found would work for me, while my husband was in the Air Force. During my last year of study, I began my graduate practicum and internship at a Substance Abuse Day Program, which would provide a completely different and uniquely global perspective in my field. Once I graduated in 2004, I was hired as a counselor and continued working at Focus Counselling Services, until returning stateside with my husband in December of 2005.
Once returning to the US, and after living abroad for almost 5 years, I began working as a group counselor, facilitating Diversion classes for offenders. Shortly after that, I began working as a crisis intervention therapist from 2006-2012, gaining significant knowledge and on the job training as a resource for individuals struggling with mental health and chemical dependency needs. This was a significant source of training and knowledge for me and came at a time when resources were relatively unknown. I went on from there to an agency to provide individual and group therapy and psychoeducation from 2012-2019 at a treatment program and in an outpatient treatment facility. I have since worked with many different populations and in different settings and levels of care. My job responsibilities ranged from assessing need for treatment and/or level of care needed, for individuals in the community in crisis, to in-patient and outpatient assessment and treatment. I have worked with clients, as an Intensive Outpatient Assessment Therapist, Chemical Dependency Intensive Outpatient Group Therapist and as an individual therapist for the last 2 years at Del Soul Counseling. My wish is to continue my pursuit of caring and providing therapeutic treatment and support to those in need in any capacity, and community, in which I am privileged to serve.
Mindy Crabb
Individual, Marriage and Family Therapist
Hello, my name is Mindy Crabb. I grew up in Phoenix, Arizona and graduated from the University of Arizona in 1995. Go Wildcats! After completing my undergraduate degree, I moved to Mississippi, where I started my own healing journey 20 years ago when I entered a therapist’s office for the first time. Through caring therapists, EMDR and Internal Family Systems Therapy, I was able to access my true self, and embraced a new life of clarity, confidence, and compassion. During my healing journey, I worked as a standardized patient at the University of Mississippi Medical Center assisting third year medical students, while homeschooling my son and tutoring other students from my home. I also volunteered as a women’s ministry leader and small group leader focused on helping women heal from their past trauma and childhood sexual abuse.
In 2015 I decided to tackle the GRE after being out of school for 20 years and passed! I returned to school at Reformed Theological Seminary with a passion to help others find the hope I had received in my own therapy. I earned my master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and Counseling and completed my undergraduate hours as a student therapist in the seminary’s clinic working with children, adults, couples, families, and groups of all ages. After graduation, I worked as a Substance Abuse Counselor at COPAC, Residential Treatment Facility in Brandon, Mississippi and as an Outpatient Therapist at Warren-Yazoo Community Mental Health in Vicksburg, Mississippi. In 2019 I returned to Arizona to work as a Family Therapist at The Meadows Behavioral Health focusing on helping families begin healing from sexual addictions.
Now I am excited to become part of the team at Del Soul Psychology and Wellness. I am an EMDRIA Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) trained therapist, telementalhealth provider, Gottman Level 1 & 2 Marriage Therapist, and experienced in Internal Family Systems Therapy. I use an eclectic approach to therapy incorporating Internal Family Systems therapy, EMDR, mindfulness, meditation, spirituality, and creative interventions including art and expressive therapy to fit each client’s individual needs. I remember how anxious I was the first time I started my own personal therapy, so helping my clients feel safe and comfortable is a priority for me. In my free time, I enjoy painting, reading, hiking, gardening, watching movies, and connecting with family and friends.