Staff
Executive Director – Roy Wooten
Roy Wooten has a passion for helping those who have no means to access help otherwise. He has over twenty years experience in social services with over twelve years in senior leadership of youth and family service nonprofits/ministries. He holds a BS and MS in Clinical and Counseling Psychology from Abilene Christian University. He has served in leadership posts in civic, church and professional organizations. Devra and Roy have been married since 1988 and have a son and daughter who are actively engaged at school, church and their community in the Nortwest Houston area.
Clinical Director - Angela Soper, LCSW
Angela Soper received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Texas Tech University in 1986 and her Master of Science degree in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin in 1990. She has worked in a variety of settings. Her early training was in family service agencies.
After moving to the West Coast she worked at the Pepperdine University Student Counseling Center and also served as an adjunct professor, teaching a class on psychotherapy for children and adolescents. She has been a hospital social worker and also worked in Hospice, where she helped families and patients prepare for death and dying, as well as The Santa Monica Rape Treatment Center, which is considered one of the premier Rape Treatment centers in the country.
Upon moving back home to Texas in 2003, she began offering counseling services to members of her church and had a private practice. She has extensive experience working with victims of trauma and also enjoys working with adolescents and couples.
She is delighted to be back to the non-profit setting, where she is the Clinical Director at Shield Bearer. She and her husband Matt have been married since 1989 and have two children.
Cherie Long, LCSW
Cherie received her B. A. in Psychology from Harding University and a M.S.W. (Master in Social Work) from the University of Oklahoma.
She has been married to Jeff, an engineer, for more than 35 years. They have a 31 year old daughter who was born with spina bifida. Their son, Loren, 35, is a petroleum engineer married to Julie; Cherie has three grandchildren.
Cherie is from Lancaster, CA, where she was employed by Kaiser Permanente as a Psychiatric Social Worker.
She has been in private practice, facilitated support groups for pastors, and a group for Baby Steps, an early intervention program for at-risk infants.
From 1992-94, she was the Social Work Supervisor for the Visiting Nurse Association, providing clinical supervision and management for 18 Masters level social workers in three offices working in the areas of medical/surgical, hospice, pediatrics and IV care.
From 1987-1992 she was a medical/surgical and hospice social worker with VNA and provided interventions as part of a multidisciplinary team to medically and terminally ill patients and their families in their homes. Concurrently she was a Counselor for the Antelope Valley Christian Counseling Center. She also facilitated a support group for survivors of sexual abuse.
Chelsie Sargent, M.Ed, LPC - Intern
Chelsie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Abilene Christian University and a Masters degree in Counseling and Human Development from Hardin Simmons University. For the past 2 years she has followed her passion to help young people with the difficulties of growing up in today's society by working with the non-profit organization Pregnancy Resources of Abilene. During her tenure with Pregnancy Resources she helped dozens of teenagers facing arduous pregnancy decisions, counseled and assisted in STD testing, and had numerous counseling conversations concerning drug abuse, post-abortion recovery, depression, spousal abuse, etc.
Chelsie finds that she relate easily and openly with all ages and types of people. She has a heart for non-profit work and is excited to join the Shield Bearer team.
She enjoys partnering in ministry with her husband Steve and they are active in their church in Southwest Houston. Chelsie has a heart for cross cultural issues and enjoys working with youth and their parents.
Charles Bellomy – Graduate Student Intern
Charles is a former member of the Shield Bearer Board of Directors. Charles has a B.S. in Business Management from Letourneau University. He will complete his M.A. in Counseling at Seton Hall University in the summer of 2008 after completing his internship rotation with Shield Bearer. He has been married to Michelle since 1998 and they have a daughter. He teaches at risk children in a behavior modification program for Cy Fair ISD. Charles is interested in working with individuals and families who are struggling with issues concerning grief, marriage, blended families, and adolescence.
Daisy Wei – Graduate Student Intern
Daisy received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin. She will graduate with a M.S. in Clinical Social Work in the spring of 2008 following her internship with Shield Bearer. She has previous experience in mental health education and advocacy with Mental Health America of Texas. She continues to participate in statewide projects, such as the Invisible Children's Project and Texas Youth Suicide Prevention Project. Daisy also has an interest in cultural competency practice, specifically with Asian and Asian American families. Daisy is fluent in both English and Mandarin Chinese.
Hope Sargent – Licensed Pet Therapy Dog
Hope is a licensed pet therapy dog and works alongside our therapist Chelsie Sargent. Hope was adopted in January 2008 from the Boston Terrier Rescue Society of Greater Houston. She is believed to have been used solely for breeding purposes, apparently having several litters of puppies. Found in a rainstorm, she was brought to the Rescue Society, and only a few days later captured the heart of the visiting Chelsie. She was in pretty bad condition, but with lots of love and care, Hope is now doing great work assisting Chelsie in helping heal hearts.