Influential Woman · Mental Health Counselor at Total Life Counseling
Felicia E. Tew MC LAC CPI PhD
Licensed Associate Counselor, Total Life Counseling
Gilbert, AZ 85296
The Scripture, "Be still, and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10), has carried me through some of the most difficult seasons of the past few years. It reminds me to pause, trust God's plan, and find peace in His presence. Together, these words have strengthened my faith, provided comfort during uncertainty, and continue to shape how I face life's challenges.
Felicia E. Tew MC LAC CPI PhD · In Her Own Words
Her Story
About Felicia
Felicia Tew is an experienced mental health counselor, educator, and advocate whose career has been dedicated to helping individuals overcome challenges and achieve meaningful personal growth. She currently serves as an Individual Counselor at Total Life Counseling in Gilbert, Arizona, where she works with both adolescents and adults using evidence-based approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Her first position at Total Life Counseling, was the Facilitator of the Intensive Outpatient Program for adolescents, leading high school students through an 18-session curriculum focused on developing healthy coping skills, emotional resilience, and community support as they transitioned from intensive mental health treatment. Felicia earned both her Bachelor's Degree in Special Education (BAE) and her Master's Degree in Counseling (MC) from Arizona State University while working full time and later completed a PhD in Metaphysical Humanistic Science from the Thomas Francis University. Prior to her counseling career, Felicia spent 28 years as a special education teacher, including 25 years at Marcos de Niza High School in the Tempe Union High School District, before retiring from education in 2021. Throughout her teaching career, she worked with students with mild to severe intellectual impairments, physical disabilities, and behavioral challenges, helping prepare them for independent living through functional life skills and transition planning. Her passion for expanding opportunities for underserved students led her to raise $8,000 to fund a memorable educational trip to San Diego for lower-income students, many from the local Native American reservation. Her outstanding dedication to education earned her the Chicanos Por La Causa Esparanza/Hope Award, recognizing her as one of Arizona's Hispanic Exceptional Educators. Felicia believes healing is most effective when the emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects of a person's life are addressed together, and she often incorporates spirituality into the counseling process when it aligns with her clients' values and goals. She finds her greatest fulfillment in walking alongside clients as they navigate life's challenges and discover hope, healing, and resilience. Beyond her professional work, Felicia has been married since 2005 and enjoys traveling with her husband. She is also the legal guardian of one of her former students with special needs, reflecting her lifelong commitment to serving others. An active community volunteer, she has donated her counseling services to the Phoenix Veterans Home, Tempe's Aid to Women Center, and the Crisis Text Line. At home, she enjoys spending time with her beloved pit bull, Noelle, who keeps life both active and joyful.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Felicia
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the values my parents instilled in me from an early age: hard work, determination, faith, and trusting God. Their example taught me that true success isn't measured only by accomplishments, but by living with integrity, remaining consistent, persevering through challenges, and being willing to grow and adapt. Above all, my relationship with Jesus is the foundation of my life and continues to strengthen and sustain me each day.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received came from my counseling mentor, who reminded me to establish and maintain healthy boundaries. In counseling, it's important to care deeply without carrying every client's struggles home with you, or you'll burn out quickly. That advice has stayed with me throughout my career. I've learned that self-care isn't a luxury—it's a necessity. When we take care of our own emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being, we're better equipped to be fully present and effectively help others.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Know yourself, know your boundaries, and know your support system—you'll need it. For me, that support comes from my family, my husband, my close friends, and my faith in God. It's also important to invest in yourself outside of work. Make time for the things that recharge you, whether that's going to the gym, listening to music, or watching a funny movie like Napoleon Dynamite. Taking care of yourself isn't a luxury; it's what allows you to keep showing up for others.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges facing the counseling profession is the growing use of artificial intelligence. AI can be a valuable tool for education, documentation, and providing resources, but it should never replace the therapeutic relationship. As counselors, we offer empathy, genuine human connection, clinical judgment, and the ability to truly listen and understand each client's unique story. While AI can support the counseling process, it cannot fully replicate the compassion, presence, and trust that are at the heart of effective therapy.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that guide my life are beautifully captured in the words of St. Padre Pio: "Pray, hope, and don't worry." Those simple words remind me to bring everything to God in prayer, trust that He is working for my good, and let go of the worries I cannot control. Hope is the expectation of future good, even when I cannot yet see the outcome.
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