Counseling Staff Biographies

Maria Curran, M.Ed., Ph.D., LPC, founder and director of CCH, is a licensed professional counselor (master's level) and play/expressive arts therapist with over 21 years of counseling experience working with children and adults in a variety of settings including; private practice, residential facilities, schools, community agencies and partial hospitalization.

Maria holds a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences with a concentration in creativity, learning and human development and her research focused on theatre and character education. Maria also holds a Master's degree in counseling and a Bachelor's degree in psychology. She was a Teaching Artist with the N.C. Wolf Trap program for three years and her teaching and professional training experience includes serving as adjunct faculty for 3 1/2 years at CPCC in the Human Services Program and for the past four years in the the Teacher Education program. Maria also facilitates workshops for counselors and educators both at CCH and on site. Her areas of expertise include creativity/personal growth, domestic violence, sexual trauma, child abuse and interpersonal relationships, parenting, character education, reunification therapy, filial therapy, divorce/blended families, adoption and arts integration.

Maria has completed her facilitator certification in the Open Studio Process and offers classes in OSP, visual journaling, the Artist's Way, and creative movement. She is happy to design a class or workshop for your group ranging from 2 hours to an entire weekend.

Sherry Tarner Joins TCCH as an Intern Sherry is a Reiki Master Teacher, registered yoga teacher for children, a licensed middle school teacher, and is currently completing her internship for her Master's Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Capella Unieversity. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Sherry has more than a decade of experience in working with children and teens with a variety of needs, and brings her experiences teaching in the clasroom, as well as teching yoga and Reiki, to her proctice with clients.

Lila passed her therapy dog international test on Tuesday, May 29th, and is now a certified therapy dog. Hurray for Lila! She may be a Golden Retriever/Australian Shephard mix and was adopted from the pound after being thrown from a moving car as a young puppy. She does a great job of making clients, especially children, feel welcome and comfortable at the center. She is also an accomplished actress who gets to perform in numerous roles invented by our child clients.