About Ray Sibert, M.MFT, LPC-S
WHO IS RAY SIBERT?
Ray Sibert has been married for 40 years, has two grown children and has lived in Austin, Texas for more than 20 years. The Sibert family has also lived in Abilene and Midland, being transplanted to Texas 35 years ago. The reason for the move was for both Ray and his wife, Sharon, to attend Abilene Christian University. Sharon is now an elementary school teacher. Ray grew up in the Oakland bay area in California and graduated from High School in Livermore, California.
Ray has a variety of rich life experiences that helps him connect with and appreciate clients from many backgrounds in life. Following high school Ray joined the United States Army Reserves where he served for 10 years, graduating on the Commandant’s List (the top 10% of his class) from the Military Police Academy at Fort McClellan, Alabama and participated in a REFORGER exercise in and around Brussels, Belgium with his Military Intelligence unit. REFORGER was a NATO exercise in practicing the return of military forces to Germany to respond to crises. Ray also worked in a factory, in the food service and retail industries, and provided daily care to people with mental and physical disabilities in a Texas state school.
Within the community of Austin Ray volunteered with the PTA and as a liaison for the Texas Association for Marriage and Family Therapy to the Texas state Licensing Board. Ray also coached little league baseball and currently volunteers with his church to lead or support groups dealing with grief or mental illness struggles.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Ray and Sharon began early in life working with children and families. Together they served as house parents for a children’s home in central California for 2 years, providing daily life care and emotional support for children ranging in age from 5 to 18. While living in Texas Ray served for 5 years as a youth minister in Abilene and Midland for middle and high school age young people.
Professionally, Ray has been providing personal, marriage and family counseling since 1991. That experience includes successfully helping individuals, couples, children and families work through depression, anxiety, abuse, trauma, pre-marital and marriage counseling, dealing with affairs, adjusting to divorce and accommodating grief from both current and past losses. Ray has also led groups for grief, divorce, dealing with traumatic events and coaching for managers at all levels of business. As the leader of a Crisis Response Team, Ray responded to more than 70 critical incident situations across the US related to natural disasters, murders, armed robberies, hostage situations, school shootings, public suicides and traumatic deaths and injuries.
FORMAL EDUCATION
Bachelor of Christian Ministries – Williamstown Bible College, Williamstown, WV
While at WBC Ray earned his bachelor’s degree in 3 years, focusing much of his working with teenagers. Ray taught Bible classes, led group sessions, provided individual support and drove a bus that brought children and families to church. Ray also worked part-time while at WBC and met his wife, Sharon, there.
Master’s Degree, Family Studies – Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX
While at ACU Ray focused on healthy family development and functioning. Ray did his graduate practicum at Hospice of Midland, working with volunteers, nurses and social workers. He personally conducted a study related to healthy functioning in grieving families. Ray presented the results of this study at the annual meeting of the Texas Association of Marriage and Family Therapy.
Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy – Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX
This competitive and nationally recognized program prepared Ray to understand families from an organizational perspective: how families interact, how behavior is related to relationships with one another, and how family boundaries, rules and even intergenerational influences impact family functioning. Ray has been a member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) and the Texas Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (TAMFT) since 1991.
POST GRADUATE EDUCATION
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy
Early in his professional career Ray was excited by the promise this therapy was providing to clients who had endured significant traumatic life experiences: abuse, rape, harrowing accidents, witnessing the death of another human being, combat trauma and more. Ray has completed the extensive, two-part full training for EMDR and is a member of the EMDR International Association.
Hypnosis
Ray has found the application of hypnosis to be beneficial to clients with a variety of concerns, including anxiety, depression, habit control, performance anxiety, pain control, hot flashes and various other physical symptoms and complaints. Ray completed advanced training in hypnosis through the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH), the Milton H. Erickson Foundation, and Michael Yapko, PhD, author of the most comprehensive hypnosis training text, Trancework, currently in its 5th edition. Ray is a member of ASCH and the Central Texas Society of Clinical Hypnosis, and is Certified in Clinical Hypnosis by the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH).
Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC)
Due to his interest in working with grieving families, Ray has completed many hours of continuing education approved and accepted by ADEC, and is a member of the association.
PROFESSIONAL LICENSING
Ray received his license as a Professional Counselor from the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors in 1992, and is an Approved Supervisor for LPC Interns.
