Arms Stretched Wide

At the heart of Arms Stretched Wide (ASW) is a shared calling, a conviction that healing begins with relationship, and that support shouldn't be limited by where a person lives or their circumstance. Founded by DeAnna Sheets, MA, LPC-S, and Missy Lemons, ASW was born from years of firsthand experience in ministry, personal healing, and walking alongside those in crisis.

From a young age, DeAnna faced the loss of several family members, with the passing of her father having the greatest impact. These early experiences with grief shaped her understanding of pain and loss, guiding her toward a path of counseling. As a licensed professional counselor, DeAnna served for over two decades at First Baptist Church in Canyon, Texas, where she established a counseling ministry that offered a range of support groups and counseling services. Her work included marriage restoration, trauma recovery, chaplaincy, and spiritual care. Throughout her ministry, she observed the growing need for proactive support and education, especially in rural areas where access to counseling is limited.

Missy Lemons, with a strong background in office management and nonprofit leadership, came to this work through a deeply personal journey of healing. Raised in generational dysfunction and shaped by early trauma, she found her path to wellness through Celebrate Recovery and professional counseling. That experience revealed a deeper calling—not to fix others, but to walk beside them as a peer, mentor, and advocate. She earned her Professional Certification in Life Coaching through the American Association of Christian Counseling. She completed advanced training in Mental Health First Aid, Crisis Response, Suicide Prevention, trauma-informed care, and more.

As they served together in church ministry, DeAnna and Missy noticed a gap: while professional counseling was critical, the relational support people needed before reaching a crisis was often missing. They envisioned something different—a way to go upstream. What if churches, rural communities, teachers, small business owners, and neighbors were trained and equipped to support those around them? What if everyone had access to the tools that empower them to support others with compassion and confidence?

These questions became their mission.

At ASW, we believe that healing and hope begin with relationships. Most people don’t need a diagnosis; they need a connection. That’s why we focus on equipping people with tools to stand in the gap. ASW trains those who walk beside others in mental health struggles, relational pain, or personal hardships. We don’t fix people. We sit with them. We empower everyday individuals to offer presence, empathy, and practical help. We strengthen communities from within.

Our mission is inspiring hope with access to mental health resources wherever you are, and our vision is building relationships that connect, educate, support, and empower through mental health awareness and access.

Our core values, Relationships, Compassion, and Empowerment, are more than words. They are the pillars that guide every training, every outreach, every packet delivered. Because we know that real change happens when neighbors are equipped to support neighbors, and no one feels alone in their struggle.

We are Arms Stretched Wide - and we inspire hope as we walk with those who walk with others.