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Heather Carlile, MA, LPC-S

Heather Carlile is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor with over two decades of experience in outpatient mental health care, professional supervision, and clinician development. Her work focuses on supporting adults navigating anxiety, mood disorders, relational stress, identity transitions, and professional burnout within clearly defined clinical and ethical boundaries.

Heather’s clinical orientation is grounded in evidence-based and evidence-informed practices, including cognitive-behavioral approaches, skills-based interventions, and structured relational work. She emphasizes behavioral change, emotional regulation, and cognitive flexibility as primary therapeutic targets, with treatment plans adapted to client goals, clinical presentation, and documented outcomes.

In addition to clinical practice, Heather provides supervision and consultation for licensed clinicians and interns, with an emphasis on ethical decision-making, scope of practice, documentation standards, and long-term professional sustainability. Her supervisory approach prioritizes clarity of formulation, designed and enforced boundaries, and alignment with licensure and institutional expectations.

Heather has a long-standing interest in the appropriate use of narrative, symbolic, and meaning-oriented frameworks as reflective and educational tools, which she uses only as optional, non-explanatory supports when clinically appropriate and explicitly separated from diagnosis, treatment mechanism, and clinical authority. These interests are framed as adjunctive perspectives rather than causal models of psychological change.

Heather is committed to clear scope definition, ongoing professional development, and responsible integration of clinical practice with teaching and mentorship. She does not position her work as a replacement for established clinical standards, but as a bounded contribution within the broader behavioral health field.

She is a master communicator who began teaching and facilitating for individuals, corporations starting in 1993. Her personal quest for excellence began over 40 years ago.

Heather’s private practice is in Dallas, Texas where she specializes in couples and marriage counseling and mentoring clients. She is a pioneer with a passion for developing educational curriculum on relationships, personality, communication, virtue, identity and lifestyle for her clients, interns and colleagues. She is the creator of Designing Intimacy: A Blueprint for Lasting Connection, and Mentoring a Generation: Seven Capacities for Living with Purpose & Power–Building humans who can carry vision with integrity and act with intelligence.

She uses evidence-based methodologies to relieve anxiety, depression, confusion, guilt, anger and grief. She has developed workbooks, study guides and videos. She integrates positive psychology with cognitive behavioral techniques. Her workshops for her colleagues and the public include relationships, personality, emotional intelligence, child development and grieving. She is the creator of 15 study guides, the ReWriting Your Future Course and the Seven Transformative Journeys of Female Becoming.

Heather’s passions include the Plano Symphony Orchestra, writing happy birthday limericks and international culture .

 

 

Her Signature Subjects:

  • Designing Intimacy: A Blueprint for Lasting Connection – You are the Architects, Your Relationship is Your Masterpiece. 
  • Childhood Scripts and Screens: How Role Models Help and Hinder. Paradox in the Developmental Unconscious Life Script.
  • Rising Through Ruin:The Soul’s Journey through Resilience, Surrender and Strength to Authenticity. Wisdom, Courage and Transformation in the Face of Adversity.
  • ReWriting Your Future: Learning personal motivation for purpose and mission goals.

Life Re-Design in Eight Modules:

    1. Deep Self-Knowledge
    2. Lessons from the Past
    3. Psychological Agility
    4. My Values and Beliefs
    5. Lifetime Re-Design
    6. Ensuring Achievement
    7. ReWriting My Future
    8. Initiative and Strategy.

Heather founded THE CARLILE INSTITUTE, LLC, Where Vision Meets Mastery: Cultivating Minds ~ Building Purpose ~ Leading Change in January 2025. The Carlile Institute is a premier center for uniting self-mastery, relational intelligence, and purpose-driven education to shape transformative leaders for a complex world.

Provider of Continuing Education Credits (CEUs) for colleagues: LPCs and LMFTs in the State of Texas via presentations and workshops.

Ms. Carlile was the host of  an Internship Site for University of North Texas Wellness Promotion Bachelors Degree: researched and created the classes for “Complicated Bereavement in Children,” “What Really Works Now: Keeping Our Teens On Track.”

Certified Counselor Supervisor by North Texas State University in January 2001.

Licensed Professional Counselor with two-year internship in the private practice of John M. Talmadge, M.D. using cognitive, behavioral and transpersonal methods 1992-1993.

Professional Speaking and Retreat Topics (Outlines available)

2. Parenting and Family Topics

  • Seven Building Blocks of Human Capacities: Security, Relationships, Worth, Empathy, Focus, Knowledge and Conscience.
  • Childhood Scripts and Screens: How Role Models Help and Hinder.
  • Parenting Today: What Works Now…The 40 Assets All Kids Need.
  • The Twelve Building Blocks of a Healthy Family.
  • Keeping Our Teens on Track Workshops: Crisis, Counterwill and Commitment.

3. Relationship & Communication Programs

  • The Enneagram Couples’ Composite: How the Nine Types Unite
  • Common Sense Communication: “Bunny Ya’But and Rabbit Ya’But.”
  • The Seven Languages of Lovers: How to ‘Work’ on your Relationship
  • Friends & Lovers: Deep Friendship & Romantic Renewal
  • ReBuilding Trust: Forgiveness, Boundaries, Self-Esteem.

4. Self Mastery

  • The Enneagram: Default Personality Styles
  • DreamGate: Unlocking the Power of Dreams
  • I’d Follow My Bliss If I Knew Where to Find It: The Pursuit of Passion
  • Are You on Fire or Are You Burning Out? Motivation, Values, Stress Management
  • Short-Circuiting Self-Sabotage: The Seven Flavors of False Fear
  • Emotional Intelligence & Motivation: Deep Self-Knowledge,, Identity, and Effectiveness
  • The Power of Naming: Discovery and Healing through Roles and Archetypes
  • Secrets of Skillful Thinkers: Superhighways in Your Brain.

5. Change & Resilience

  • Traveling the Dark Night of the Soul: Transformation through The Destroyer Archetype
  • The Chrysalis of Change: Letting Go of the Past and Welcoming What’s Next
  • Grief Recovery and The Process of Forgiving: Loss, Anger, Mourning and Letting Go
  • Motivation: Empowerment & Habits NOT Reward & Punishment.

6. Spirituality & Philosophy

  • The Hero’s Journey in Myth and Life: Twelve Stages Integrate in Pairs
  • The Twelve Great Virtues: The Spiritual Practice of Mental Yoga
  • Master Minding Goals and Groups: Instructions and Traditional Steps
  • Making the Season Sacred: Symbols, Tales and Rituals.

7. Seranova Retreats: Gift Getaways for Women  heathercarlile.com/giftgetaway

  1. From Seeking to Learning
  2. From Down to Inspired
  3. From Tired to On Fire
  4. From Stuck to Set Free
  5. From Lost to On Purpose
  6. From Longing to Meaning
  7. From Learning to Living.

Customize for Your Audience Heather’s catalog can be adapted for in-person or online seminars, group trainings, retreats or continuing education. Descriptions and objectives available upon request.

Media and Publications

* The Designer Relationship Call-in Talk Show, 8 months, Air America Radio KXWB, Dallas 2006.
* Good Morning America interviewed on how illness affects a marriage. 2006.
* Interviewed and quoted in Dallas Morning News 8/27/05; Classes show how journaling can help.
* Interviewed and quoted on the Oxygen TV channel; Success in Marriage Counseling, August 2001.
* Interviewed by and quoted in Dallas Morning News 6/22/01 in You’re Not Invited: Although weddings are meant to unite family, more couples are leaving parents off the guest list by Karen Rangel.

Trainer

Continuing Education workshops for LPCs and LMFTs. Corporate seminars, contract instructor (clients such as: Anderson Consulting, AT&T, Chase Bank, Ericsson, Inc., GM, IBM, IRS, Johnson & Johnson, Nations Bank, Texas Commerce Bank) on topics such as: Communication, Emotional Intelligence, The Four Flavors of Fear, Diversity Training, Secrets of Successful Thinkers, Dealing with Difficult People, Managing Stress: The Road to Resiliency, Setting Limits and Delegating, Taking Care of Yourself During Times of Change, Overcoming Procrastination, Managing Expectations, Attitudes and Guilt.

Education

  • The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work, The Gottman Institute. 2026.
  • Archetypes at Work™ Executive Leadership Development Trainer and Certified Guild Member. Olivier Mythodrama. London, England. 2021-2023.
  • APR ~ Archetypal Preference Report™ Leadership Development APR Debriefer. Archetypes at Work™. London, England. 2021-2022
  • DBT Dialectical Behavior Therapy Certification Training. With Katelyn Baxter-Musser, PESI. 2022.
  • Psyche and Cosmos. Stanislav Grof and Richard Tarnes. The Shift Network. 2021.
  • Trauma and Abuse Certification Education from the University of Arlington, TX. 9/1/2016.
  • Rethinking Trauma Webinar Series with Ten National Experts on Treating Trauma: Peter Levine, Bessel van der Kolk, Stephen Porges, Pat Ogden, Daniel Siegel, Sebern Fisher, Ruth Lanius, Laurel Parnell, Richard Schwartz and David Grand. NICABM National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine 2014-2015.
  • The Enneagram Institute Certification Training. 2013.
  • Quick REMAP: Mind-Body Emotional Regulation for Anxiety, Phobias, PTSD and Panic Attacks by Steve Reed, LPC, LMSW, LMFT for R. Cassidy Seminars APA. 2013-2014
  • Transformative Ethics – Margaret Pinder and Linda Honker for Transformative Learning Center & New Directions Counseling and Education Dallas, TX 2012.
  • BIPP Batterer Intervention & Prevention Program comprehensive training, The Family Place, Dallas, TX 2009.
  • Family Violence and Your Workplace, Garland, TX 2008.
  • Certification for Practical Parent Education, 59 topics available. Plano, TX 2008.
  • Psych-K Training for trauma recovery with Robert Williams, Breckenridge, CO 2007.
  • The Biology of Belief on Early Childhood Development with Dr. Bruce Lipton, Breckenridge, CO 2007.
  • Approved Provider of Continuing Education Units Training for Texas LPC and LMFT, Texas 2007.
  • Ira Progoff’s Intensive Journal Workshop Facilitator Training in Depth Psychology, Seattle, Washington 2005.
  • Discovery Training: Tools for Successful Living, Dallas, Texas; 2004.Training Assistant 2005, 2006.
  • Ira Progoff’s Intensive Journal Workshop, Dallas, Texas 2004.
  • Active Relationships Center, four workshops for Marital and Relationship Enrichment: Active Communication, Active Romance, Active Money Personalities, Active Living to Make Love Last, Dallas, Texas 2004.
  • PREP: Preventative Relationship Enhancement Program for Pre-Marital and Marital Counseling, Dallas, TX 2004.
  • C.D. Honorary Cultural Doctorate in Humane Letters for study guides, curricula and training work awarded by the World University Roundtable, Benson, Arizona 2002.
  • Social Artistry: Becoming a Planetary Person – Multicultural Powers, A nine-weekend exploration of the energy, potency and grace of the peoples of this world: Australian Aborigines, India, Bali, China, Africa, Andalusia and Greece. One Year Mystery School, Dr. Jean Houston with Peggy Nash Rubin 2002.
  • Approved Supervisor of LPC Interns/Associates by Institute in Counselor Supervision, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas 2001.
  • Spiral Dynamics I: A PsychoSocioPolitical Model, The National Values Center, Dallas, Texas 2000.
  • The Hogan Center for Performance Excellence: Leadership Skills for Executives 1999.
  • The Hogan Center for Performance Excellence: Quality Leadership & Implementation seminar 1998.
  • Juried award for portrait oil panting. Donated 1997.
  • Certified for Prepare/Enrich marriage enrichment and pre-marital assessment 1996.
  • Corporate Trainer for National HR company, Dallas, TX 1996.
  • Certification as Ethics Trainer from the Josephson Institute and Character Counts! Coalition 1995.
  • Painting oils and watercolors in Ms. Sarah King’s private studio, Garland, Texas 1995-1996. One Woman Show-Painting Sales 1996.
  • Carlson Learning Company, Certified in Administering Coping & Stress Profile 1995.
  • M.A. in Counseling Psychology, Amberton University, Garland Texas 1993.
  • Group Therapy and Sensitivity Training from East Texas State University, Commerce, Texas 1990.
  • Creative Writing and Drawing classes from Richland College, Dallas, Texas 1989.
  • B.F.A. in Drama from the Acting Conservatory of the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada 1972.

Professional Associations

American Counseling Association
American Mental Health Counselors Association
Dallas Association of Marriage and Family Therapists

Volunteer Service
Board Member for the Plano Symphony Orchestra 2023 to present.

Volunteer and Benefactor for The Gendercide Awareness Project, Dallas, TX 2012 to present

US Army workshops on the Enneagram in 14 cities for the Yellow Ribbon Conferences and briefed Col. David Rabb’s Combat Stress Control Unit prior to Deployment 2011 to 014

Board Member, Voices of Change: Chamber Music of Modern Composers 2003-2013
Grief Recovery Facilitator, Unity Church, Dallas, Texas 2003, 2004.
Plenary and Workshops for United Nations International Women’s Self Defense Day, 2003.
Critical Incident Debriefing, YWCA Child Suicide, Dallas, Texas 2002.
Disaster Services Facilitator, American Airlines Flight Attendant Debriefing, 9/11/01.
Facilitating The Future is Now! retreats for clients of Hope’s Door, Collin County Battered Women’s Shelter 1998 – 2001.
Instruct pastoral care volunteers elements of grief recovery, Unity Church of Dallas 2000.
Facilitate Raja Yoga: The Spiritual Practice of Virtue, Episcopal Church of Dallas, TX 1999.
Facilitate “The Future is Now” Battered Women’s Retreat, The Soroptimists, Dallas, TX 1997 to 1999.
Psycho-educational presentations on Emotional Intelligence for Nexus Womens Addiction Recovery Center, Inc. 1997, 1998.
Certified for Mental Health Disaster Services by the Red Cross 1997.

For Heather’s Curriculum Vitae, see “About Heather”