Our Staff
Our vision as part of the liberal arts education
Becoming self-reliant, developing enriching relationships, and clarifying life goals and values are among the significant challenges of college students. Counseling provides those struggling with the demands of college with the opportunity to learn about themselves and others, examine their coping styles, and develop more effective skills and strategies to meet their needs. Counseling is an educational opportunity and empowers students to develop healthy ways of living and learning.
Members of the staff work closely with faculty, administrators, non-campus health professionals, and parents on issues which are of concern to individual students as well as to the campus community.
Mary-Jeanne (MJ) Raleigh, Ph.D., NCC, LCPC
Director of Counseling Services
MJ has extensive experiences working in the field of mental health and over 20 years specifically in college mental health. MJ believes that the goal of counseling is to help students not only with their current situation, but to develop life skills to deal with future issues that will invariably arise. College is a time of transition from adolescence to young adulthood, into new relationships, and new life directions. Counseling assists students in navigating this sometimes bumpy process by providing support in a safe environment that allows them to try out new ways of being. Young adulthood can also be the first time for many individuals to experience significant mental health concerns. Counseling services works closely with multiple providers to diagnosis, treat and maintain positive mental health including when serious illness becomes a concern. MJ is a developmental therapist with existential and CBT training. Her doctoral research explored the connection between childhood nature exposure and the development of young adult coping skills.
In order to have access to resources to better serve students, MJ belongs to the Association of University and College Counseling Center Directors (AUCCCD), the American Counseling Association (ACA) and the American College Counseling Association (ACCA). MJ is the president of the American College Counseling Association (2011-2012).
Kyle Bishop, MS, LCPC
Assistant Director of Counseling Services
Kyle is an alumnus of St. Mary's, where she majored in psychology. She completed her Master's degree at Johns Hopkins University and is currently working toward her doctorate in counseling psychology. Kyle is licensed as a mental health therapist in the state of Maryland. She practices largely from a cognitive-behavioral perspective, which allows her to work effectively with students who are experiencing a range of symptoms, including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, and substance abuse, in addition to everyday challenges and stresses of college life. Kyle enjoys working with students in individual, couple's, and group settings to help students achieve their goals at St. Mary's and beyond. The college years are a time of great opportunity and growth for students. She works with students in order to help them reach their full potential as students and as individuals.
Meghan K. Root, MA, MEd
Sexual Assault/Wellness Advocate
Meghan Joined the SMCM community in the fall of 2010. She has a Masters in Counseling Psychology from Leslie University in Cambridge, MA, has also obtained a Masters in Education in Human Sexuality and is near completion of her Educational Doctorate in the same field through Widener University in Chester, PA. She has experience in trauma and crisis interventions across a broad range of mental health issues and looks to put the individual first. She pulls from narrative, cognitive behavioral, existential, and solution-focused therapy models to build on the student’s resiliency. She is also trained in stress reduction can assist students in coping with the challenges of balancing their needs and desires. She has experience working with sexual health, sexual compulsion, and relationship issues and believes that healthy sexuality is an important aspect of our humanity.
Maria Haugaard, MA, ATR-BC, LPC
Part time Therapist
Maria Haugaard joined the staff of the Counseling Center in the fall of 2008. In practice for 20+ years, she obtained her MA in Art Psychotherapy at The George Washington University. She holds two post-Master’s Certificates from Johns Hopkins University: Clinical Community Counseling, and Existential Therapy. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the District of Columbia where she spent years developing art psychotherapy programs for homeless women and also the chronically mentally ill. Over the last decade she has focused on adults who suffered early trauma (childhood abuse) and teens who self-mutilate. Maria trained in substance abuse issues back in the 70’s through the New York State Office of Drug Abuse Services and Mainline Drug Counseling. In addition to her work with the college, Maria maintains a private practice, and – for a local mental health agency – conducts groups for troubled teens and the chronically mentally ill. Raised in the Caribbean, she is fluent in Spanish. Maria enjoys her work with the students at SMCM, whom she finds to be ‘smart, and searching’.
Counseling Services Graduate Interns
Ms. Laurie Dulle
Laurie is currently working on the requirements necessary to be licensed as a clinical professional counselor in Maryland. She earned a BS in psychology long ago but wasn't sure what she wanted to do in the field. After raising two wonderful daughters and traveling around the world she decided to go back to school to get a masters degree in counseling psychology. She has worked in a community mental health agency helping people who experienced trauma from domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual abuse, and addiction. Laurie believes that people do a great job of handling things in life until their stress overcomes their coping abilities. When you feel overwhelmed counseling can provide you a place to learn more skills and gain new insights into yourself.
Consulting Psychiatrist: Dr. Isaacs
Ms. Denise Shaffer, Office Associate II
