Our Providers

Chris Shaw is a Licensed Marital and Family Therapist and Licensed Professional Counselor with a Master's Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Reformed Theological Seminary. He gained ten years of experience working with children and families in the field of education as a teacher, coach, school counselor and mentor for youth in Mi

Chris Shaw is a Licensed Marital and Family Therapist and Licensed Professional Counselor with a Master's Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Reformed Theological Seminary. He gained ten years of experience working with children and families in the field of education as a teacher, coach, school counselor and mentor for youth in Mississippi before returning to Oklahoma and joining Strength of Mind in 2014. Chris is married to his best friend and constant support, and they are blessed with two boys.

Human relationships are at the heart of therapy: our relationships with others and with ourselves. When relationship wounds are ignored, suppressed or managed through unhealthy coping mechanisms, they can often lead to distorted thinking, emotional pain and increased psychological distress which interferes with daily functioning. However, within the context of security and compassion, our beliefs, thoughts, and emotions can be restored to a proper balance and wounds can begin to heal. Hope can be restored for families and individuals.

Empathy and collaboration and are at the cornerstones of his approach to therapy and he strives to meet clients exactly where they are, in whatever situation they are experiencing. Some of the focuses of therapy for Chris include anxiety disorders, episodic and pervasive depression, parent-child relationships, marital relationships, trauma recovery, ADHD, oppositional behavior, grief and loss, mood disorders and autism spectrum. Chris is a Prepare/Enrich certified facilitator for couples and employs a wide range of therapeutic interventions in his treatment approach as best meets each client's needs.

 Dr. Burkowski has been a licensed clinical psychologist in Oklahoma since 2011. While she is originally from Michigan, she received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and completed her predoctoral internship at Laureate Psychiatric Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Dr. Burkowski sees children and adole

 Dr. Burkowski has been a licensed clinical psychologist in Oklahoma since 2011. While she is originally from Michigan, she received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and completed her predoctoral internship at Laureate Psychiatric Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Dr. Burkowski sees children and adolescents for therapy services to address multiple concerns including anxiety, depression, eating disorders, history of trauma, and behavior problems. While Dr. Burkowski utilizes a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy approach, she practices a variety of therapy techniques to meet each client and family’s unique needs. Dr. Burkowski has a particular interest and training in Dialectic Behavior Therapy to help children and adolescents build skills in areas of mindfulness, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, and distress tolerance. Dr. Burkowski also completes psychological assessments with children and adolescents to measure cognitive and emotional functioning, personality, social deficits and academic performance. During her free time, she values time spent with her husband, son and pets. She loves horses and being in nature. 

Justin has been in the counseling field for over 15 years, a Clinical Supervisor for many of those years, and most recently was a Clinic Administrator responsible for overseeing the operations of a large community mental health clinic. He has been a Licensed Professional Counselor since 2009 and a Board Approved Licensure Supervisor sinc

Justin has been in the counseling field for over 15 years, a Clinical Supervisor for many of those years, and most recently was a Clinic Administrator responsible for overseeing the operations of a large community mental health clinic. He has been a Licensed Professional Counselor since 2009 and a Board Approved Licensure Supervisor since 2015. Throughout his career he has worked in the following settings: outpatient mental health, residential substance abuse, inpatient psychiatric, and domestic violence batterer intervention.

One of Justin's greatest passion is helping individuals begin to show up in their own lives, sometimes after years of disconnection. Foundational to his practice is a deep faith in the inner-healing capacity of all people and the belief that therapy is a process by which that capacity can be allowed to emerge and flourish. As the individual begins to know what they really know and feel what they really feel a sacred ground is created, and Justin feels it is a tremendous honor and privilege to participate in and bear witness to this process with the people who come to see him.

The treatment methods and techniques he most often utilizes come from his training in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, which is a body-based talk therapy. Ultimately, Justin is guided by the belief that whether we realize it or not we are all living stories testifying to the resiliency of the human spirit. He is most effective working with adults with event trauma, attachment or relationship wounds, addictions, moral injury, anxiety, depression, stress or adjustment struggles, codependency and boundary issues, or experiencing grief and loss.

Justin is a native Oklahoman who graduated from Northeastern State University. He believes God decided it was just about time to completely transform his life when He introduced his now wife into his life and that he became the luckiest man alive when she agreed to marry him. They are both blessed with a young (spirited) son and as a family they like nothing more than camping, kayaking and just being outdoors. A top priority for Justin is the fostering of his spiritual life through contemplative action and prayer, and he is wholly committed to continuing to do the personal growth work necessary to be the best husband, father, and counselor he can be.

Riley Pope is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She received an undergraduate dual degree in Forensic Science and Psychology and continued her education for a graduate degree in Counseling. 

Riley has provided individual, group and family counseling services to children and adolescents; working on anxiety, depression, trauma, disruptive d

Riley Pope is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She received an undergraduate dual degree in Forensic Science and Psychology and continued her education for a graduate degree in Counseling. 

Riley has provided individual, group and family counseling services to children and adolescents; working on anxiety, depression, trauma, disruptive disorders and impulse-control. Riley specializes in Problematic Behavior between the ages 9 to12 years old. 

The treatment and techniques Riley most often uses is Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing and Functional Family Therapy (FFT). Riley believes in holding space to feel safe, welcome and offer grace we sometimes cannot give ourselves. 

Jonathan is a board certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.  Jon started his journey in healthcare after graduating with his Bachelor’s in Nursing from Langston University Tulsa.  Jon initially worked in medical surgical nursing for two years prior to pursuing his true calling in behavioral health.  Jon’s nursing career 

Jonathan is a board certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.  Jon started his journey in healthcare after graduating with his Bachelor’s in Nursing from Langston University Tulsa.  Jon initially worked in medical surgical nursing for two years prior to pursuing his true calling in behavioral health.  Jon’s nursing career led him to experience a variety of behavioral health settings where he has provided care to patients of all ages in both inpatient and outpatient environments.  After receiving his Master of Science in Nursing from the University of South Alabama, Jon completed the PMHNP Residency Program with the Department of Veterans Affairs.  Though Jon’s employment opportunities have taken him to several Oklahoma cities throughout his career, he was excited to be given the chance to provide services in his hometown of Claremore.

Jon believes the most essential pillars of establishing a healthy client-provider relationship include utilization of empirical research for the basis of treatment decisions, providing individualized education throughout the treatment experience, and collaborating with patients in the development of treatment goals.

Jon is a proud member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing and the National Alliance on Mental Illness.  Jon divides his time between living in Owasso and Muskogee.  He enjoys camping, fishing, biking, and is an avid moviegoer.

Dr. Maria Arquisola is board certified in General Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. She received her medical degree from Southwestern University MHAM College of Medicine, Cebu City, Philippines. Dr. Arquisola completed her residency training in Psychiatry at the University of Oklahoma Health Science Center in 

Dr. Maria Arquisola is board certified in General Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. She received her medical degree from Southwestern University MHAM College of Medicine, Cebu City, Philippines. Dr. Arquisola completed her residency training in Psychiatry at the University of Oklahoma Health Science Center in Tulsa, OK.

One of Dr. Arquisola’s most influential experiences was working for St. John’s Medical Center in Tulsa as a staff psychiatrist for 6 years. She began working with Strength of Mind in 2008, when they opened their South Tulsa office. Dr. Arquisola provides psychiatric evaluations and medication management for general psychiatric issues. Areas of her expertise includes: depression/anxiety and bipolar disorders, PTSD, schizophrenia, adjustment disorders, attention deficit disorders and other psychotic disorders. She specializes her treatment for adults ranging from 18 to 65 years of age. Dr. Arquisola is devoted to her patients and loves being able to help them by using her skills and experience in adult psychiatry.

When she is not seeing patients, Dr. Arquisola enjoys spending as much time as she can with her family and loved ones.

 Ashlee Graham has been with Strength of Mind for 14 years.  She obtained her Bachelors in Biology from Northeastern State University in 2000.  She graduated from the University of Oklahoma’s Physician Associate program in 2003.  Ashlee started her career in Cardiology where she gained three years of experience in inpatient and outpatient

 Ashlee Graham has been with Strength of Mind for 14 years.  She obtained her Bachelors in Biology from Northeastern State University in 2000.  She graduated from the University of Oklahoma’s Physician Associate program in 2003.  Ashlee started her career in Cardiology where she gained three years of experience in inpatient and outpatient cardiac care.  In 2007 she began working in Psychiatry.   Ashlee has experience in adult and child psychiatry performing medication management.  She treats many conditions including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and ADHD.  Ashlee has worked in many settings including  crisis care, telemedicine, and outpatient psychiatry.  She particularly has a great passion for patient and parent education regarding medications and mental health disorders.  In her free time Ashlee enjoys reading, gardening, crafts, and spending time with her husband and two beautiful daughters. 

Jon Ann Esponge is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner. She received her Associates of Nursing from Conners State College and then moved to Kansas City, MO, where she received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Missouri Kansas City (UMKC). She worked at Children’s Mercy Hospital for 15 years and during her 

Jon Ann Esponge is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner. She received her Associates of Nursing from Conners State College and then moved to Kansas City, MO, where she received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Missouri Kansas City (UMKC). She worked at Children’s Mercy Hospital for 15 years and during her last few years she decided to further her education and received her master’s degree in the Family Nurse practitioner program at UMKC.

After graduation, Jon Ann worked in pain management and Men’s Wellness for a while and then decided it was time to move back home to Oklahoma to be closer to family. She had been working in a Family practice office when she was given the opportunity to follow a different path, one that lead her to Strength of Mind and where she feels God’s plan directed her to follow.

Jon Ann believes that providing the best environment is what is key to a healthy patient-provider relationship, and this is accomplished by providing appropriate individualized treatment plans for her patients, providing a safe place for her patients to open up and providing spiritual support.

Jon Ann loves traveling and spending time with her family. She has a wonderful husband of many years, three beautiful daughters, one of which followed in her footsteps and became a nurse, one who decided that she was not cut out for the medical field and became a teacher and then the youngest who decided to serve her country and is an Airman in the Air Force. She has 5 wonderful grandchildren, whom she adores and loves to spoil.

Deb Stone is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, a Clinical Nurse Specialist and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Here at Strength of Mind she utilizes her broad educational experience in order to provide individualized assessment, medication management, psychotherapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Deb completed her Master of So

Deb Stone is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, a Clinical Nurse Specialist and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Here at Strength of Mind she utilizes her broad educational experience in order to provide individualized assessment, medication management, psychotherapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Deb completed her Master of Social Work at The University of Oklahoma, followed by a Bachelor and Master of Science in Nursing. Her clinical experience includes two internships at the Veteran's Administration and inpatient and outpatient social work therapy. In addition, her psychiatric experience includes psychiatric nursing, outpatient psychiatric clinic medication management and psychotherapy, geri-psychiatric program director, and regional clinical consultant for psychiatric units in 15 Southeastern state hospitals. All of these experiences have influenced her unique approach. Deb began working with Dr. McIlroy in 2006, which led to joining the Strength of Mind family in 2011. She loves the philosophy of Strength of Mind and the Christian foundation on which it was built.

Deb is devoted to being of service to others in helping them meet a need. At the heart of her practice is the desire to help each individual find his or her own wisdom and balance. Deb’s approach is that people have the answers within to make necessary changes for success. It is her job to help them find those answers so that they can achieve balance. Results are attained from adhering to a lifestyle focused on wellness in the physical, spiritual, and mental areas. Through her own vast experiences she has acquired compassion, empathy and a non-judgmental heart for people who need to regain harmony in their own lives.

Outside of the office, Deb actively serves others as a Faith Community Nurse and volunteers at community support services. She also enjoys supporting the local farmers market, communing with nature, enjoying the arts, and creating hand woven projects. She spends time being nurtured by 3 loving dogs, 1 Cockatoo, and a very large garden.

 Strength of Mind has been my professional home for sixteen years. A virtual tour of my office would reflect my interests in people, plants, animals and creature comforts! What I bring to this practice is knowledge of, and training in, traditional therapeutic approaches including psychodynamic, humanistic, family systems, brief therapy mo

 Strength of Mind has been my professional home for sixteen years. A virtual tour of my office would reflect my interests in people, plants, animals and creature comforts! What I bring to this practice is knowledge of, and training in, traditional therapeutic approaches including psychodynamic, humanistic, family systems, brief therapy models and  cognitive-behavioral therapy. I encourage clients to look at their lives holistically.  We think together about the role that work, relationships, nutrition, exercise and spirituality, are currently improving or detracting from overall well-being. Then work to discover how seemingly small changes can make a difference in day-to-day life experience. I have significant experience and training working with individuals who are experiencing ADHD, depression and anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, trauma, substance abuse or difficulties with  parenting and/or relationship difficulties. My professional degrees are in education, clinical and counseling psychology. Current professional development interests are in the areas of creativity, mindfulness and the animal-human bond. 

Dr. Sarah Linn is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist whose education includes an undergraduate degree in Psychology from Southern Illinois University, doctorate degree from Argosy University in Chicago, IL, and an internship at Advocate Family Care Network. Her area of specialization is the assessment and treatment of children, adolescents

Dr. Sarah Linn is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist whose education includes an undergraduate degree in Psychology from Southern Illinois University, doctorate degree from Argosy University in Chicago, IL, and an internship at Advocate Family Care Network. Her area of specialization is the assessment and treatment of children, adolescents and their families that suffered from maltreatment, loss, sexual/physical abuse and trauma. Dr. Linn’s experience includes a wide spectrum of settings. She has worked at child/adolescent residential agencies, a psychiatric hospital, a crisis intervention center, a therapeutic day school, and private practice. She has training in neuropsychological, educational, psychosocial and multidisciplinary specialty assessments.

Dr. Linn joined the Strength of Mind family in 2011 when she moved from Chicago to Oklahoma. Her practice includes psychological testing and therapy for individuals, couples and families ranging from small children to geriatrics. From a young age, Dr. Linn became interested in helping people in the mental health field. Her mercy and compassion for people continues to drive her desire to help people. Through a process of collaboration, communication and compassion, she works to put into action a treatment plan that is created specifically to meet the needs of the client. Dr. Linn strives to empower her patients by providing the necessary tools for life improvement. Dr. Linn’s background has prepared her to meet the mental health needs of people from all walks of life.

Out of the office Dr. Linn spends her time with her husband and two children. She also volunteers her free time with her church, maintains a healthy lifestyle and reads lots of books.

Dr. Tamara Newcomb is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist whose education includes a Bachelor’s in Psychology, Bachelor’s in Family Relations & Child Development, Master’s in Psychology, and a P.h.D. in Psychology from Oklahoma State University. She completed her pre-doctoral internship and post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Nebr

Dr. Tamara Newcomb is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist whose education includes a Bachelor’s in Psychology, Bachelor’s in Family Relations & Child Development, Master’s in Psychology, and a P.h.D. in Psychology from Oklahoma State University. She completed her pre-doctoral internship and post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Nebraska Medical Center Munro Meyer Institute of Genetics and Rehabilitation in Omaha, Nebraska.

Dr. Newcomb began with Strength of Mind in 2018. She has experience in administering psychoeducational and psychological assessments and conducting therapy with individuals, families, and groups in outpatient and school-based settings. Additionally, she has worked with a wide variety of social, emotional, behavioral, and psychological health issues and diagnoses, including neurodevelopment, anxiety, depressive, personality, and impulse-control disorders.

Dr. Newcomb’s primary areas of professional interest include treatment of childhood disorders, behavioral disorders, behavioral planning, parenting training, couples/family therapy, anxiety disorders, and mood disorders. Her integrative therapeutic approach combines behaviorism, cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, solution focused, and family therapies. In treatment, the focus is on symptom reduction and the development of new effective coping strategies. She believes this is best achieved by helping clients’ gain an enhanced understanding of how they are both affected by and interact with the environment around them. She believes no two clients are the same and that treatment style and intervention strategies must be tailored to the individual’s needs. Dr. Newcomb’s goal is to create a safe, open, and non-judgmental environment for individuals to feel comfortable expressing themselves and to work through difficult and complex issues. She is passionate about helping individuals gain increased insight and self-awareness and work toward making certain changes in order to experience greater satisfaction in their lives.

In her free time, Dr. Newcomb enjoys volunteering at her church and spending time with her friends and family. She also loves reading, word games, cooking, exercising, and movies.

Amy Malin knew from a young age she was interested in psychology and had a natural affinity for listening and a deep desire for helping others. She completed her undergraduate work in Psychology at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, Oklahoma. Amy’s focus at the time was on human development and family life and she was

Amy Malin knew from a young age she was interested in psychology and had a natural affinity for listening and a deep desire for helping others. She completed her undergraduate work in Psychology at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, Oklahoma. Amy’s focus at the time was on human development and family life and she was able to spend some time working as a preschool teacher. Later, Amy pursued her Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Northeastern Oklahoma State University. She was able to gain experience through Muskogee Youth Services and Family and Children’s Services while earning her Counseling license. She has also enjoyed many years of part-time counseling with Youth Care of Oklahoma while raising her family.

Amy has always found great joy in working with children and families and in using her skills in counseling to work to help others improve their relationships and daily functioning. Amy believes in the resiliency of children and the power of forgiveness and honesty within families. Amy enjoys an integrative approach to therapy including utilizing techniques from several models including Play Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy to serve the needs of clients which include issues with depression, anxiety, grief, oppositional behaviors, impulsive behaviors, self-esteem, family conflict and communication.

Dr. Bonnie Johnson is a board certified Psychologist specializing in neuro-psychological, educational assessment, consultation and psychotherapy for children and adolescents. She received her Master of Special Education from Western Michigan University and her Doctor of Philosophy Degree in School Psychology from Oklahoma State Universit

Dr. Bonnie Johnson is a board certified Psychologist specializing in neuro-psychological, educational assessment, consultation and psychotherapy for children and adolescents. She received her Master of Special Education from Western Michigan University and her Doctor of Philosophy Degree in School Psychology from Oklahoma State University. She has more than 30 years of experience working in both private practice and the public school systems as an administrator, psychologist and teacher of children with disabilities.

In 2008, Dr. Johnson retired from the public school system and joined the Strength of Mind team. Always having had a fascination with the mental health field, she found her true calling was working with children and their families. She evaluates developmental disabilities such as learning disabilities, sensory integration, emotional, behavioral, mood disorders, ADHD, RADS and Autism Spectrum. With her vast experiences, training and compassion for children, she strives to empower her clients to achieve wholeness, by overcoming their obstacles and finding hopefulness. Dr. Johnson has an aspiration in assisting with the well being of families and helping them to resolve conflicts, facilitate communication and to enhance parent-child relationships.

In Dr. Johnson’s spare time she is an active volunteer for her church, spends as much time as she can with her two grandchildren, does yoga, is an avid knitter and a master gardener.