
Meet The Team

Lisa Gomez MA, LPC, ACS
Founder & CEO
Lisa Gomez is the founder of Becoming Transformed. She has been working in the mental health field in Arizona since 1997. She started her career with a women's shelter for abused women and children in Flagstaff, AZ. In 2001, Lisa began working at a non-profit behavioral health agency in the Phoenix area. It was here that she discovered her love for helping adolescents. Upon completing her Master's Degree in Community Counseling, Lisa was recruited to work with an innovative program, Multi-Systemic Therapy (MST). This intensive in-home family therapy program works with juvenile delinquents and their families to prevent continued extreme behaviors that lead to incarceration. She became one of only 5 therapists in the state of Arizona to be certified as an MST therapist. The MST program in Arizona grew to 5 teams, and in 2005 Lisa was promoted to the role of MST Supervisor. Here she led a team of MST therapists for several years. In 2007, Lisa began to work at the world-renowned Remuda Ranch, where she specialized in working with people suffering from eating disorders. Lisa began her private practice as a way to reach out to families and individuals dealing with life's challenges. In 2019 she received her ministry license through the Arizona School of Ministry. In 2023 she became certified in Accelerated Resolution Therapy to help her clients with trauma. Lisa is also a board approved clinical supervisor from the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health. Whether you are looking to heal a situation already out of control, or seeking to prevent behaviors from becoming destructive, Lisa's expertise is available to you with the hope of assisting you in “Becoming Transformed”.

Ryan "Shelby" Butler MS,LPC
Lead Clinical Counselor
Ryan Shelby is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Originally from Southern California, he received his Master of Science in Professional Counseling in 2015, and his Master of Science in Leadership in 2011, both at Grand Canyon University. He also earned a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies with emphases in Psychology, Philosophy, and Business in 2006 from Montana State University. In 2022 he received a certification in Christian counseling. In 2023 received a certification in Accelerated Resolution Therapy to help his clients with overcoming trauma. Shelby comes from a demonstrated history of working in the higher education industry, where he was able to apply his unique counseling skills in a diverse community of teaching, accounting/finance, analytics, and guidance for students and school leadership. He spends much of his spare time with family, serving in church leadership, reading/writing, and enjoying the great outdoors. As the youngest of six siblings, a husband, a father, and trained counselor, he offers a holistic and eclectic combination of person-centered, life-experienced, spiritual, biblical, meditative, and psychoeducational approaches to therapy. Specifically utilizing realistic solution-focused interventions and empirical counseling skills from Cognitive and Dialectical Behavior, Family Systems, Narrative and Existential therapies. In helping clients with a variety of psychological, social, behavioral and emotional needs, Shelby provides a values-based mental health service. He provides services for with any gender and cultural background, involving career, abuse, addiction, marital, and family or individual conflicts.

Samantha Martin MS, LPC
Children and Adult Counselor
Samantha Martin is a licensed associate counselor. Born and raised in the state of Arizona, she has received a Master of Science in Professional Counseling from Grand Canyon University in May of 2013. She also has received a Bachelor in Psychology as well as Bachelor of Communication from Arizona State University. Her approach includes Cognitive Behavioral Therapies as well as Dialectical Behavior Therapies and she focuses on understanding clients’ needs and goals to provide the best care for them. She strives to understand and work with her clients to help them build a more satisfying life experience for themselves.

Carley Hawkins MS, LAC
Children and Adult Counselor
Carley completed her Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Grand Canyon University in 2023. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 2018, also at GCU, after shifting her focus from premedical studies. Carley’s experiences in special education and community mental health has helped to shape the approach in helping support people.Carley has a passion for helping others advocate for themselves and a goal to encourage you to believe in your worth. She values a person-centered approach to therapy and applies the conditions of empathy, congruence, and unconditional positive regard in her practice. She believes the therapeutic relationship is key to the counseling process and feels it is essential for counselors to demonstrate cultural awareness and trauma sensitivity. Carley is grateful for the opportunity to connect with you and hold space as you process your experiences and work towards your goals.

Kirsten Yaksich MS, LAC
Children and Adult Counselor
Kirsten completed her Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Grand Canyon University in 2024. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 2017 from University of the Southwest. Kirsten has always had a passion for helping and supporting others in a manner that best honors them. She has worked in the medical field over the past 9 years, which has enhanced her empathy and passion for assisting others and for helping them feel comfortable during uncomfortable situations. With this experience, Kirsten’s focus is an eclectic approach with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and person-centered therapy. She believes that all clients should be met where they are at and that the therapeutic relationship should be collaborative in nature, allowing the client to define their goals and advocate for themselves. She is excited to embark on this journey with you, to support you, to honor you, and to help you achieve your goals.

Michelle Mulnix MS, LPC
Adult Counselor
Michelle is a trauma informed Clinical Psychotherapist with over 20 years within the behavioral health arena with experience in public health education, domestic violence advocacy, and the judicial system; treating severely traumatized populations, court-ordered adolescent sex offenders, adult DUI, and Domestic violent offenders. Michelle’s passion is to work with adults who have endured early childhood trauma, and subsequent cascading trauma as a result. Michelle believes that “education is the key to healing” offering a range of safe, compassionate, and holistic treatment modalities including: IFS, EFT, CBT, and TA. Her passion is to empower her patients to create their best lives-to love the life you live, and to live the life you love!

Sharon Paul DNP, PMHNP-BC
Functional Psychiatric Provider
Dr. Sharon L Paul, DNP, PMHNP-BC, known as “Dr. Paul,” is a doctor of nursing practice in psychiatric-mental health. Dr. Paul is a seasoned provider practicing for over 22 years. She moved from Michigan to Arizona in 2006 with exemplary academic preparation and clinical experience from Saginaw Valley State University, University of Michigan, and Rush Medical University. While residing in Arizona, Dr. Paul has served individuals from all age groups with various types of psychiatric-mental health needs in clinics and hospitals throughout Maricopa County including Remuda Ranch, The Meadows, Arizona Children’s Association, and Southwest Behavioral Health. To better serve her patients, Dr. Paul became interested in integrative and functional medicine for mental health, a revolutionary approach that treats the underlying causes of psychiatric symptoms that can lead to better outcomes towards recovery. Her interest in identifying underlying causes has turned into a passion that she incorporates in her practice for patients who are interested in a more robust approach to wellness. It is important to Dr. Paul that her clients experience a patient-focused avenue unique to each person. Her extensive experience allows her to design a versatile treatment approach specific to your own customized needs, which includes the use of nutrition, reduction of toxin exposure, effective herbs and supplements, along with traditional pharmaceuticals to address mental health concerns associated with substance use, eating disorders, process addictions, anger issues, mood instability, anxiety, ADHD, impulse control, and psychotic symptoms. Dr. Paul is committed to leaving a legacy to newly trained psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners who hold a passion for functional psychiatry to join her in providing comprehensive mental health care at Integra Mental Health in Surprise, AZ. As a satisfied resident of the Grand Canyon State, Dr. Paul enjoys her time as a widowed mother of 4 adult children, 11 grandchildren, and 13 great grandchildren. Her hobbies include organic gardening, cultivating herbal medicines, and exploring Christian studies.

Candi Kusler MA, LPC
Children and Adult and Family Counselor
Candi Kusler is a Licensed Professional Counselor. Born and raised in Kansas, married and moved to Colorado where she received her bachelor’s degree in psychology at University of Northern Colorado in 2005. She volunteered in the community in various capacities and worked in ministry while raising her three kids, until returning to school for her master’s in clinical Mental Health Counseling at Colorado Christian university and graduated in 2022. Candi moved to Arizona from Wyoming in June of 2025. Candi utilizes a variety of modalities in therapy to meet each individual client’s needs for healing. She has training in Synergetic play therapy, Sand tray therapy, Cognitive Behavioral therapy, Person-Centered, Solution focused therapy, Trauma informed therapy, Biblical informed therapy. Candi works with ages seven years to adults, families, couples, and parental support. Candi has worked with kids and young adults on the spectrum. As a therapist her goal and joy is to support your mental, physical and spiritual healing and growth.

Elizabeth "Beth" Whitney
Office Manager
Elizabeth "Beth" joined Becoming Transformed in 2020. She has extensive experience in billing, accounts receivable and finances. She moved to Az with her husband and teenage son in 2019. She has 3 sons and 2 grandchildren.

Alice Granado BA,BS
Counseling Intern
Alice Granado is pursuing a Master of Arts in Counseling with a Christian emphasis at Ottawa University. She brings a varied professional background in sales and marketing across the real estate, insurance, and power plant sectors. This experience has enhanced her interpersonal skills, cultural awareness, and ability to connect with people from diverse backgrounds. Alice approaches counseling with humility, empathy, and deep respect for each client’s dignity, autonomy, and spiritual journey. She understands the influence of mental health throughout life and is dedicated to helping individuals during this time when mental health issues are rising dramatically. Her recent roles include coordinating prison visits for children of incarcerated parents, leading group counseling for trauma-exposed adolescents, and offering group therapy for adults dealing with substance use, grief, anxiety, and depression. Alice and her husband recently celebrated 30 years of marriage. They have two adult daughters, a son-in-law, and three dogs. Outside of her studies, she enjoys hiking, traveling, reading, watching documentaries, and spending quality time with her family. Alice is bilingual in English and Spanish, originally from New York, and has lived in Arizona since 1998. She earned her Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies in Applied Human Behavior from NAU.

Leonel "Leo" Maurillo BS
Counseling Intern
Leonel is currently completing his Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Grand Canyon University. He is a proud son of immigrant parents and a DACA recipient, Leonel’s passion for mental health was born from personal experience and the recognition of a deep need for accessible, culturally responsive care in underserved communities. He is committed to being a bridge for individuals navigating emotional challenges, particularly those who have felt unseen or unheard. Leonel brings over a decade of diverse professional experience in education, behavioral health, and youth development. His background includes working as a special education teacher, behavioral health therapist, and wellness coach—roles in which he has supported children, adolescents, and families with academic, social-emotional, and behavioral needs. He also served in leadership positions within nonprofit and community organizations, helping design and implement support programs tailored to client growth and success. His counseling approach integrates various therapy techniques, with a strong emphasis on building self-worth, enhancing emotional regulation, and empowering clients to create meaningful change. Outside of counseling, Leonel enjoys spending time in nature with his wife and their dog, staying active, and mentoring youth through his church community. Whether you're seeking healing, clarity, or growth, Leonel is honored to walk alongside you with empathy, authenticity, and hope.

Katie Beddola BS
Counseling Intern
Katie serves at her church as the Executive Pastor and is finishing her Masters of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. With a Christian lens, she is passionate about integrating faith in the healing process of those who are facing mental and emotional trauma. Katie currently holds a Bachelors of Science in Psychology with a Minor in Christian Studies through Grand Canyon University and is a Credentialed Pastor with the Assemblies of God. Katie and her husband, Freddy, have two children and love to be outdoors whenever possible.
