About Dr. Maris

I received my Ph.D. in clinical psychology in 1972 from the University of Alabama and have now been in private practice as a clinical psychologist in Little Rock, Arkansas for almost 30 years.  Since dedicating my life to Christ over 18 years ago, however, I have experienced a radical transformation of my heart. This shift shaped not only how I live my life but also how I approach counseling and psychotherapy. For several years I found myself in the process of practicing psychotherapy thinking and asking myself, “Is that really true?”  Through this process, what had been a satisfying profession became a true calling passion to participate in the process of complete healing. The more I have grown to know Christ, the more my private practice and my writing have come to reflect a deeper hope and purpose.

In the late 1980’s I began to explore in greater depth the integration of biblical truth in clinical psychology.  My interpretation of Dr. Taibi Kahler’s Process Communications Model™ in light of a Christian worldview resulted in Your Great Design™ model.  Along with friend and fellow believer Dr. Jerry Richardson, I further refined the original Your Great Design™ materials into a tool, a personality profile, for helping individuals better understand their God given gifts and potential for service and ministry called Servants by Design™.  Through this writing, I hoped that each individual, couple and family might discover and learn to appreciate, enjoy and employ the special gifts, talents, and abilities that God has carefully design into their personalities and to those of their spouses, friends, children coworkers and co-laborers in the body .

A native of Little Rock, I currently attend and am involved in St. Andrew’s Anglican Church with my wife of 27 years, Laura. I have two older daughters, Shannon and Wendy, who are married and have started families of their own. My youngest daughter Anna attends graduate school at a Midwestern university where she is learning to integrate her love of dance with her love of Christ and His mission.

In addition to private practice and writing, I enjoy spending time outdoors doing almost anything, but especially building on various projects.  I love being in the woods and gardening , where I am in constant wonder of the world around me.   I love movies about redemption and music from the 60’s.  Even more than music, I enjoy silence.My profession training and experiences are listed in my Curriculum Vitae.

You can also learn more about my experience and services by visiting my primary practice website: www.DrMaris.com