Cory Montfort, MS, LPC-S
Executives | High Achievers | Couples | Divorce | Life Transitions
Could it be possible that I could love people for a living? That question has become the heartbeat of my work.
Many of the people who sit across from me are the ones everyone else relies on. They lead, they decide, they carry the weight for a lot of other people, and from the outside it looks like they have it handled. What they often cannot say out loud is how tired they are underneath it, or how long it has been since anyone asked how they are actually doing. That is the work I care most about, the conversation that happens once the performing stops.
How I came to this work is its own story. In graduate school, listening to professors describe how change happens in a person or a family, I came to believe that real change grows out of two experiences, great pain and great love. The world hands out plenty of the first. I wanted my practice to be a source of the second. Could it be possible to love people for a living? That question has become the heartbeat of my work.
I went through a period of significant loss several years ago, and the pain seemed unbearable. Old patterns and ideas were broken down at a fundamental level. I could not help but see other people, and more honestly myself, in a completely different way. Pain had changed me.
Clients often come to my office because they are in pain. If left unattended, pain alone will force change in many individuals and families. In my own life and practice, I have learned that another person's love is an invaluable gift during times like these. Love can be the difference between shame and empowerment, bitterness and hope, emptiness and worthiness.
Many of us fixate on our own inadequacies, and we end up making decisions from fear rather than strength. The way through is understanding our own worth. From the moment you reach out, I want you to begin to recognize the place of importance you hold, in your family, in your work, and in this office. Feeling worthy of love is the baseline of emotional health, and for most of us it stays a lifelong practice. I build my whole practice around that idea.
As your therapist, I will listen closely and offer perspectives you may not have considered. I will be patient with you, and direct when it matters. I will help you see the hard stretch you are in as a place where growth is possible. And I will not hesitate to draw on my own experience and training to name the patterns that keep showing up and quietly hold you back.
Areas of Focus
Much of my work is with high achieving professionals and the people closest to them. I help women in demanding roles find and keep their own voice, at home, in their relationships, and in their careers. I work with couples who want to feel connected again without losing themselves in the process. And I sit with people, often the ones who look most composed, as they finally set down a guard they have held for years.
I also know the hard terrain of divorce, remarriage, blending families, and renegotiating roles as a family changes shape. I know it professionally, and I know it from my own life. The one thing any of us can count on is change. Having a steady, experienced person on your life team through it is worth a great deal, and I would consider it a privilege to be that person for you.
Professional Background
and Accreditation
I was a resident assistant to 75 young women during undergrad and earned my Bachelor’s degree in Education with a minor in Psychology and English from Liberty University in 1999. After teaching in both elementary and middle school settings, I went on to complete my Master of Science in Counseling from Southern Methodist University, where I specialized in working with individuals, couples, and families. My professional experience spans over two decades and includes group facilitation, clinical assessments, individual counseling, and crisis intervention. I hold an active License in Professional Counseling and serve as a board-approved Counselor Supervisor for the state of Texas. In that role I also supervise our associate clinicians as they build their own practices.
In my work with high-achieving professionals, couples, and families, I’ve observed recurring patterns of disconnection beneath outward success. This led me to develop The Montfort Method, a relational framework that helps clients pair emotional insight with practical tools to create lasting change. Rooted in both clinical training and lived experience, it reflects my belief that deep, connected relationships are the most meaningful measure of a life well lived.
In 2014, I was honored as an Outstanding Women of Today Honoree for Small Business by Altrusa Richardson. I became a candidate for a seat on the Richardson City Council in 2017 and founded Together Richardson, a nonprofit organization that collaborates with local charities and neighborhoods to raise awareness about community needs and solve problems in a non-partisan way. In 2018, I acquired Richardson Living Magazine, a local publication that highlights the diverse stories of our city.
I’m also a graduate of Leadership North Texas and Leadership Richardson. I received training in Collaborative Law and am an active member of Collaborative Divorce Texas and Collaborative Law Dallas. My professional affiliations include the Texas Counseling Association, Texas Association of Marriage and Family Counselors, Texas Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development, Texas Counselors for Social Justice, and Dallas Metro Counseling Association.
Currently, I serve on the Board of Directors for Beacon of Light, a nonprofit that equips church leaders with tools, resources, and training to support their congregations. Beacon of Light stands apart by pairing clinical expertise with a foundation of faith, offering a professional, proactive approach to mental health within faith communities.
Hal Barkley, Ph.D. Chair, Department of Dispute Resolution and Counseling, and Faculty Member, SMU
“Life is hard; not all the time, but usually more often than we would like. Because she understands this, Cory Montfort is quietly becoming one of the preeminent counselors in the north Texas area. She possesses a rare ability to connect with people when life has become difficult, to sense the origins of their pain, and then to reach out and hold their hand as new beginnings are discovered.”
Gay McAlister, Ph.D., LPC-S, Director, SMU Program in Counseling
“What qualities do you want in a counselor? Most people want someone who is trustworthy, dependable, empathic, and with sound clinical skills. Those traits describe Cory Montfort perfectly. She offers insight, maturity, compassion, and understanding grounded in professionalism and integrity. Cory is a counseling professional with a breadth of experience and depth of discernment. As the counselor I would choose for myself, I offer my highest recommendation for Cory Montfort.”
George Shake, MS, JD, Partner at Duffee and Eitzen Family Law
“Cory Montfort and The Montfort Group have helped so many clients from my law firm. Divorce and custody disputes are some of the most stressful events a person can experience. For our clients, the difference between just getting through something like this, versus actually making choices for yourself and your children and feeling happy and healthy is often The Montfort Group.”
Dr. Angela Martilik, LPC-S, Forensic Psychologist and Mediator
“Cory's professionalism and firm grasp of psychotherapy theory and technique make her an easy choice for client referrals. I would recommend her without hesitation to anyone seeking a skilled therapist.”
Renae Cobb, LPC, Jungian Analyst, IAAP, Owner at Renae Cobb Counseling
“Cory possesses a unique combination of gifts and skills that allow her to excel as both a professional counselor and an administrator. Her life experience and deep empathy give her the ability to connect with children and adults and relate to them no matter where they are encountering difficulties. Cory also draws on broad experience in the school and professional realm that enables her to utilize her talents in the areas of case management and administration. Knowing and working with Cory has been my privilege.
Maryellen Dabal, MA, LMFT, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Private Practice
“Cory has a clear passion for what she does and demonstrates a genuine care for others. She is dedicated to her clients and to her fellow colleagues. I value her perspective on situations and would not hesitate to turn to her for guidance or reassurance.”
Dr. Angela Stillman, LMFT, LPC, Therapist at Southlake Counseling and Neurofeedback Center
“Cory Montfort is the kind of colleague that anyone would want to have. She is dedicated to her work, exhibits true professionalism, and is enjoyable to work with. Not only is she a great colleague, she is also a wonderful counselor. She is knowledgeable, helpful, caring, and warm. Any client that walks through her door is a lucky person to have found such a gem of a counselor!”
Dr. Jackie Keish, Psychotherapist and Owner, Southlake Counseling and Neurofeedback Center
“Cory is very approachable as a counselor, often making her clients feel comfortable from the first session going forward. Her life skills, as well as her professional training and ethical core, sets her apart as an outstanding therapist. I recommend Cory to anyone looking for assistance with life issues.”
Nishendu M. Vasavada, MD, PA, Psychiatrist, Owner at Lakeside Life Center
“Cory is a great therapist who understands when a psychiatric referral should be made. Her clients like her a lot and she works well with couples and teens.”
