Associates,
Post Graduate & Collegiate Interns
The Austin Family Institute proudly hosts several qualified
clinicians as they receive further accreditation. Each intern is completing
their training and accruing their clock hours for Texas licensure
Associates
Jeanene
Smith MA, LPC-Intern, LMFT-Associate
It takes courage to reach out and talk about what is not
working. There is a risk in the beginning. A desire and hope for change.
Jeanene Smith understands and supports that risk. After a successful career as
a Creative Director for advertising, Jeanene completed her Masters of Arts in
Counseling at the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest and then completed her
marriage and family studies at St. Edwards University. She is a Licensed
Professional Counselor Intern and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Associate. Jeanene views people not as their problems but as physical, mental,
emotional and spiritual beings who have walked through many triumphs and
traumas. Jeanene brings warmth and humor to client sessions and has worked with
children who have suffered the loss of family members through death or divorce.
She works with blended families who are struggling, couples striving to make
their relationship work, and helping individuals who are emotionally fragile.
If there is something you want to talk about, take a risk, call.
Post
Graduate Interns
Bo
Townsend MDiv, LMFT-Associate, LPC-Intern
Bo has been with AFI since the spring of 2008 and is a graduate
of St. Edward’s with a Masters in Counseling. He is a native of East
Tennessee and he and his family moved to Austin in 2000. Bo has a variety of
experience and once worked in hospital with a supervisor trained by family
systems theorist, Murray Bowen. Bo continues to have an interest in Bowen’s
Family Systems approach. He has experience working with teenagers, individuals
and families and has a particular interest in working with couple’s. Bo is
trained in Prepare and Enrich, a couple’s assessment tool and in
Gottman’s marital therapy approach.
Dianne
Arnett, MA, LPC-Intern, LMFT-Associate
Dianne works collaboratively with her clients to reach the
personal goals each strives to achieve. Her open, down to earth approach with
her clients helps to put them at ease and delve into the work they desire in
therapy. Dianne believes each individual and family is blessed with unique
talents and virtues. She works with her clients to foster and nurture that
uniqueness and find the path for personal fulfillment. Her approach includes
the exploration of the impact of past experiences on current issues. Looking
into family patterns helps navigate more confidently through the many phases
and challenges of busy, complicated lives.
Dianne Arnett is a University of Texas at Austin graduate with a
Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and holds a Masters of Art in Counseling
from St. Edward’s University. Dianne has decades of experience working
with children and families. She completed a one year internship with teenage
girls at the Settlement Home of Austin. She is doing post-graduate work at the
Austin Family Institute as a Licensed Professional Counselor Intern and
Marriage and Family Therapist Associate.
Rachel
McGee, MS MFT, LMFT-Associate
Rachel is an Austin native, receiving her Bachelors of
Psychology from The University of Texas at Austin. She also holds a Masters of
Science in Marriage and Family Therapy from Fuller Theological Seminary in
Pasadena, CA. Rachel chose the field of Marriage and Family therapy because of
her desire to work collaboratively with others on their journey towards
recovery or past hurts and pains. Her goals when working with individuals,
couples or families is to help reintegrate them back into healthy relationship
with their self and others. She works alongside of the client, highlighting
each individual’s strengths as the catalyst for change. Rachel has a
variety of experiences working with individuals, couples, and families.