About Us – Access Counseling Group

Welcome to Access Counseling Group in Frisco, Texas

Welcome to Access! We are a small group of passionate professionals dedicated to helping our clients unlock paths to growth and recovery.

We recognize that seeking counseling or rehabilitation services can be a vulnerable and courageous step. Rest assured that our team is committed to providing compassionate care in a non-judgmental space and accompanying you every step of the way.

We are proud to say that we have been serving families in North DFW since 2007 and have grown into one of the most respected facilities in Texas. As CEO and Clinical Director, I LOVE what I do! I get the privelege to help families heal from the devastating effects of mental health and substance use disorders; and the opportunity to work with the BEST team, who love and appreciate each other and their role in helping the people we serve.

We are thrilled to have you as part of our online community, and we encourage you to stay connected with us. Subscribe to our newsletter for updates, exclusive content, and event notifications. Follow us on social media to stay engaged and join the conversation. We value your feedback and suggestions, so please don't hesitate to reach out with any comments or suggestions you may have. We look forward to partnering with you on your transformative journey!

Dr. Irene Little, PsyD
CEO of Access Counseling Group. PsyD, MS, MA, LMFT-S, LCDC, ICADC, ADC III, MAC, CCC-SLP

Dr. Irene Little Education, Licenses, Certifications

PsyD Counseling Psychology
MA Marriage and Family Therapy
MS Communication Disorder
Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor
Licensed Speech Language Pathologist with Certificate of Clinical Competence
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist - Supervisor
Internationally Certified Alcohol and Dry Counselor
Alcohol and Drug Counselor Level 3 - 23+ Years Experience
Master Addiction Counselor
DWI First Offender and Repeat Offender Education Instructor

Dr. Little is one of the most sought-after clinical speakers in this field, often invited to speak as an expert, teach others, and share her passion for the recovery she sees possible in each individual. Contact us to schedule Irene Little at your next event.

Meet Our Treatment Team

“Success is different for everyone, yet everyone can be successful. Living a life with joy, peace and fulfillment can be hard work, but we all have a BEST LIFE waiting for us.”

Mike has been working in the addictions recovery field for the past 15 years. He prides himself on his integrity and commitment to helping others overcome their struggles. He believes firmly in the balance between support and accountability as necessary ingredients, not just to a sustained recovery, but a healthy balanced lifestyle.

Mike considers himself a lifelong learner who is always eager to add new skills and insights to pass along to his patients and their families.

“The best way to be happy is to turn a negative into a positive. “Don’t let anyone steal your joy and always be thankful for what you have.” -Winnie the Pooh.

Stephanie’s passion is bringing excellence to her clinical work. To her, that means surpassing ordinary standards to deliver care that is above and beyond for her patients. Her passion for excellent treatment coupled with her work ethic and compassion makes her one of the most complete therapists in North Texas. Stephanie has an incredible passion for helping people recover from substance use disorders and to regain control of their life. Her warm personality and commitment to professionalism are factors that differentiate her as a clinician.

Bridget is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor who has been specializing in treating trauma, addiction, mood disorders and other mental health disorders for more than a decade. She excels at providing experiential therapy, group therapy and helping people recover from trauma. She works with both teens and adults and has an incredibly way of making people feel comfortable and trust the process of recovery to find their own serenity.

Chuck has much enthusiasm for helping people change their life. He has long been an advocate for teen recovery and has a major role in helping teens get back on track in school, find social and emotional support that extends beyond the counseling rooms. He is skilled with experiential counseling, group counseling, assessments and more. He has been assisting families in the recovery for more than 13 years.

“Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.” Mary Ann Ghormley has a Master’s degree and is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). She has over ten years of valuable experience in working with teens and adults. She has worked in the areas of addiction, play therapy and couple’s therapy. Currently, she is working in experiential team-building and leadership training. These are interactive activities that challenge people to discover and gain insight into their behavior.

“It is rewarding to advocate for our patients to get them and their families the help they need. Nothing is more rewarding than to see families healed and restored.”

Jeremy is fully versed with most insurance plans out there. He works with the insurance companies to get our patients the treatments they deserve and need. Just like the Access Counseling family, Jeremy is committed to advocate for each and every family served.

Dr. Burgos has been in private practice in the Dallas/Ft Worth area for over 25 years and serves as Medical Director for Access Counseling Group. He is board certified in child adolescent and adult psychiatry. He has worked in various in-patient and out-patient settings. He enjoys the challenges of working with dual diagnoses clients, especially in light of new developments in addiction treatment.

1980-1984 Universidad Autonomy de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, MX, M.D. (Senior year in cooperative with OSU at Grant Hospital, Columbus, OH.

1989-1990 Elected Chief Fellow, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Program Professional Society memberships.

American Psychiatric Association. American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Examinations and Honors. American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology.

May 2004 rectified in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Sept. 1993 Board certified in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (#3187.) April 1992 certified in Psychiatry (#35430.) Federal Licensing Examination. June 1986 Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates Examination, February 1984.

Originally from Ohio, Lisa has been practicing in the DFW area for the past few years specializing in dual diagnosis and medication assisted treatment for addictions. She has a talent for helping patients who have been resistant to medication compliance. She’s known by many as a dedicated and accomplished nurse practitioner experienced in addiction medicine, mental health, urgent care, family and geriatric care. Lisa is recognized as a compassionate provider and an excellent listener and she possesses strong verbal and written communication, with a meticulous eye for detail. In addition, Lisa is a key contributor and collaborator with multidisciplinary teams to provide exceptional health care. She collaborates with individuals, their treatment provider and family members to ensure the best possible care, leading to improved outcomes and increased quality of life.

“Sometimes the hardest and yet most freeing thing you can do is to admit to yourself and others, “I can’t do it myself.”

Tyler has been working with kids and families for the past 2 years. He believes that a supportive family system is essential to help overcome addiction. He considers that the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual life of an individual have a significant influence on their health and wellbeing. The goal is to help people find a life of love, joy, peace, and hope by bridging connections between individuals and families. When families are brought together that’s when the healing begins.

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou

Teresa attended Cedar Valley Community College and received a Business Administration Certificate – Human Resources Assistant. She brings dedication to complement our administrative staff. Teresa has taught community computer classes for 20+ years and continues to serve her community with distinction while at Access Counseling Group. She finds the most rewarding aspect of working at Access, “To work with people who are striving to better themselves and their lives.” Teresa strives to offer the best care for patients and their families and prides herself on caring for those who walk through the doors of Access Counseling Group.

“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” – Mark Twain

Access Counseling Group is blessed to work with Rose serving as the company’s Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Rose offers Access a dedicated psychiatric nurse who has a deep passion for helping individuals that are looking to change their lives for the better. Rose works with the intention of allowing all patients to feel supported in their moments of need. She spends her off time challenging herself to find delectable recipes that she puts her personal touch on. Rose is currently working towards her doctorate in Nursing and hopes to graduate in 2024.

Meet our furry office guest. Max is our love and support specialist who drops in to spread love and smiles.

Family Addiction treatment for teens and young adults

The staff at Access Counseling Group includes some of the best-educated, most highly trained, and most qualified counselors and staff you’ll find anywhere. We provide family-assisted treatment for adults and adolescents struggling with mental health disorders or addiction. Access offers services to those families wanting to regain control of their lives. Because mental health disorders profoundly impact families, we provide family therapy, multi-family groups, individual therapy, and group therapy.

We take people from “I need to be sober” to “I want to be sober.”

What to Expect at Your Initial Assessment:

What to expect at my Initial Assessment:

We ask for early arrival for your assessment. You will have intake paperwork to complete before the clinician can see you. We want to meet with you as soon as you arrive so if you have your paperwork complete, you will only need to sign in and do a brief questionnaire before being seen.

I am nervous, will I have to meet with you and my family member at the same time?

You will meet with the clinician and asked a series of questions to help us learn about you and what has motivated you to seek help now. This is how we begin to develop a plan of action to help you heal.

Why do I need to have my family member come to my appointment?

Once our clinician has met with you, your family member will meet with the clinician so we can gain their perspective and the impact they have experience. Again, this is a family illness, and as much as you want to think you are only hurting yourself, your family has hurt too. We provide support to your family member at this time but not the information you shared – that is confidential. (There are limited reasons to share confidential information. This is explained in your intake paperwork and at the time of the assessment.)

If you are meeting with us separately, why does my family member need to be there the whole time?

Sometimes, the things we talk about can cause sadness and reveal thoughts and feelings you have not felt safe to share previously. We want to ensure that if immediate support is needed, your family member can be available immediately. This is also the first step in teaching the family member how to support you effectively without enabling you.

Okay, then what is next?

Then, we will meet with both you and your family member and explain the plan of action that will best meet you and your family’s needs. You will also be given an opportunity to ask any additional questions.

I get overwhelmed meeting new people and in group settings, what if group treatment is recommended?

We design our group rooms for a maximum of 10 members. The people in group are kind, neat and interesting people who are excited to meet others and help reach goals. Most people in our groups are smart, well-educated, professionals from great families who understand the need for support and privacy. You will find many similarities to help put you at ease. We are there to help you every step of the way!

I’ve tried to get sober before, it sucks. How will this time be different?

We know getting sober is hard. As Dr. Little says, "quitting is easy...I am sure you quit every night; it’s staying quit that’s difficult." We have a nurse practitioner on staff to provide medication assistance that will not interfere with your treatment. She can also monitor your medications for any co-occurring mental health needs. We also support the whole family and provide them with the treatment necessary to make your recovery more stable.

It sounds like you are only talking about adults, do you treat teens?

We treat many young adults still dependent on their parents and with teenagers. Dr. Little’s favorite population to work with is teens since she entered the addiction field more than 20 years ago. We love working with teens and would love to help you with your teenager.

Welcome to Access Counseling Group in Frisco, Texas

Dr. Irene Little Education, Licenses, Certifications

Meet Our Treatment Team

Mike Gasper

Stephanie McGill

Bridget Jaecks

Chuck Jaecks

Tara Infield

Mary Ann Ghormley

Jeremy Little

Dante R. Burgos, M.D.

Lisa Beaver

Tyler Harano

Teresa Seals

Rose Ijioma

Max