My Story

WeThrive was started as a result of a lifelong career dream.  I went to graduate school in 1982 with the intention of doing private practice.  I did not land into private practice until 2015 as my career and life took me down a variety of other paths.  In February of 2017, I found myself an unexpected widow (which I like to believe, way too young) and 6 months later I opened my own practice, WeThrive Counseling Center.  The name was developed from the idea that we are all thriving at different stages throughout our lives, the individuals we serve as well as ourselves as therapists.  My belief is we can choose to never stop growing and learning. 

Our Story

Just a year after opening I wanted to expand and looked for only the best therapists, and four therapists later I can say I did not find any of them–they found me.  Each of the WeThrive therapists, as well as our office manager, approached the practice as they were drawn to the culture of our professional community, one of connection through respect, creativity, love and honesty.  It has been a pretty magical and spiritually enlightening experience.  As a group we gathered and created our vision and culture.  WeThrive was no longer mine… it is ours.  We believe in the importance of connection to the people we serve, to one another, the community of Jenks and Tulsa.  We love what we do, we are passionate, and we invite you to join us…just call.

-Mari 

Meet the Team

Mari Butterfield, LCSW

Therapist and Owner

Choosing courage over comfort can be life changing. Let me help you with this journey called life. I love people and love helping people reach their full potential. Feedback I have received is that people are comfortable with me and appreciate my openness and directness. You can count on me to tell it like it is, life is too short to beat around the bush. I love working with people and find people who come for help are courageous and resilient. I have a therapy dog, Sammy, who is full of love and comfort!

I am a Certified Daring Way™ Facilitator, a curriculum based on the research of Brené Brown. I have received training in the Gottman Method Couples Therapy and Sue Johnson’s Attachment. I have years of training in leadership and find it meaningful to share this experience with others in the helping profession.

John Ayers, LPC-S

Senior Therapist

Life can feel overwhelming at times. We’ve all been there…that place where it feels like simple things are a struggle and it’s hard to make sense out of our own thoughts. Working with a professional therapist, who can provide unconditional support and guidance can help make the journey a little less challenging.

I enjoy working with people and focus on helping individuals learn new perspectives, develop inner strengths, and voice their own truth. I create a professional relationship, where it’s safe to explore difficult thoughts or feelings. We’ll identify what causes you problems in life, then we’ll work together on developing healthy solutions.

I function as a mentor and trainer to WeThrive therapists. I stay abreast of current changes and developments in our software system and train the team on all updates.

Amanda Maves, LPC-S

Therapist

I love the work I am able to do helping people create positive changes to enhance their well-being and giving them a safe place to talk about their struggles. Sometimes we experience traumatic or stressful events in our lives that can throw us off our path of wellness and leave us feeling stuck. I hope to partner with you to better understand the challenges you are facing and help you find healing.

Sometimes we need additional help to make positive changes in our lives. I have specific training in trauma, grief, attachment, and relationships. I really enjoy working with adults and adolescents who are struggling with the impact of trauma, grief, depression, and anxiety. I strive to offer a safe space where people are able to heal at their own pace. I hold a certification for Infant Mental Health and I am certified as a Grief Counseling Specialist.

Engaging in therapy can be hard and reaching out is a brave step. Please know you will be met with kindness and compassion.

Leigha Wooley, LPC-S

Therapist

Life is ever-changing. Some changes come with excitement and planning, others confront us with no warning. New circumstances, situations, relationships, and everything else life presents can leave us thinking we are lost and feeling alone. Through examination and reflection, we can grow to overcome these challenges.

I believe my clients are the experts on their experience, but sometimes it’s hard to see the capabilities you have while our minds are intensely focused on issues at hand. Through partnering in a safe, professional relationship – we can navigate these paths and find better understanding.

By taking the first step in searching for assistance, you are making a courageous choice to understand yourself more and confront the discomfort. My hope is to provide a non-judgmental and warm environment for you to continue to explore whatever life has presented you with.

Karly Mason, LCSW, PMH-C

Therapist

As human beings, I believe that we are inherently social creatures.  Therefore, when our lives become difficult, I think that it becomes even more beneficial to rely on each other.  My goals as a therapist are to normalize asking for help, to shine light and importance on vulnerability, then to turn that openness and surrender into an opportunity to help others.  I hope to make your experience coming to therapy as comfortable and productive as possible.

My specialty is working with the perinatal population – new moms and dads during pregnancy and during the postpartum period.  I have experience working with children, adolescents, and adults, as well as family systems.  I have training in attachment, cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, and complex trauma.

I believe that we all are all capable of hard things, and sometimes it is during the toughest of times that we find our true strengths.  I am here to help you do that.

Chad Stephens

Office Manager

Chad is the center of our hub.  He frees all of us up to focus on nothing but you!  He takes care of phone calls, interacts with all of our insurance companies, schedule appointments, tracks payment, keeps software and hardware running, tracks office supplies, yes we must all have coffee and chocolate, right?

Often times Chad will be the first person you talk to on the phone.  He has a very big heart and will greet you with a kind, understanding voice.  He works tirelessly to secure insurance information and/or payment.  It is part of our values that we give you the best cost information from the beginning, which is a tough order with insurance companies, but Chad is up to the challenge.  He is our center and a valuable member of our team.

Sammy

Therapy Pet

Pet therapy is a broad term that includes animal-assisted therapy and other animal-assisted activities. Animal-assisted therapy is a growing field that uses dogs or other animals to help people recover from or better cope with health problems, such as heart disease, cancer and mental health disorders.

Benefits of Pet Therapy:
♥  Lowers blood pressure.
♥  Improves cardiovascular health.
♥  Releases endorphins (oxytocin) that have a calming effect.
♥  Diminishes overall physical pain.
♥  The act of petting produces an automatic relaxation response, reducing the amount of medication some folks need.

Our office environment is warm and welcoming, designed to ensure comfort and privacy. Our location is quiet and private, giving us the ability to see high profile individuals within the community. We offer late afternoon, evening and weekend appointments.

Life can be challenging, but you don’t have to handle it alone. Call today and let’s see what we can start working on together.