Website
https://www.vidawellnesscounseling.com
Grace Ardila
SW (Social Worker)
About
My personal testimony is rooted in experiencing God as both healer and companion, present in seasons of clarity as well as in seasons of deep suffering. I was raised in a single parent household and grew up as the daughter of a father who continues to struggle with alcoholism. As a first generation Latina professional, I also learned early how to navigate complex systems without a clear roadmap. These lived experiences shaped my understanding of resilience, grief, responsibility, and hope. I’ve learned firsthand that faith does not eliminate pain, but it does offer meaning, companionship, and restoration within it. This lived experience, alongside my clinical training, shapes the way I sit with clients: with humility, compassion, and deep respect for their stories.
Several Scriptures guide my work, especially John 4, where Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at the well. This passage reminds me that Jesus meets people exactly where they are, without shame, rushing, or condemnation, and invites them into truth and wholeness. I’m also continually guided by Micah 6:8 (“to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God”) and Psalm 34:18 (“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted”), which ground my work in mercy, justice, and gentleness.
In therapy, I incorporate Biblical teachings in an integrative and client centered way. This may include Scripture reflection, prayer (when desired by the client), exploring spiritual identity, or examining how faith intersects with emotions, relationships, and lived experiences. I also draw from Biblical themes such as lament, forgiveness, boundaries, redemption, and hope, always honoring a client’s pace and consent. My goal is to create a safe, sacred space where clinical excellence and Christian faith work together, allowing clients to experience healing that is emotionally, spiritually, and relationally restorative.
Provider details
Clinician's Sex/Gender
Female
Handicap Accessible
Yes
Cities
- Bridgewater
Counties
- Somerset
ZIPs
- 08876
Teleheath
Yes
Which state(s) do you offer Telehealth
- NJ
Psychosocial Evaluations (Non-psychologist psychotherapists)
- 60 min
Individual Sessions
- 50-60 min
Psychological Testing
No
Ages
- Adult (18-70)
Special Populations
- Ministry Leaders
- Healthcare Workers
- Ethnic Minorities
- Disabled
Talk Therapies
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT),
- Psychodynamic
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Strengths
- Abuse (childhood)
- Suicidal thoughts or urges
- Self esteem
- Racial identity
Agree with the AACC Doctrinal Statement
Yes
Do you agree with the AACC Ethical Position
Yes
Biblical Integration – Verbally integrating Biblical principles, passages, doctrines, stories, and information into your treatment session
Yes
Do you utilize homework’s assignments for patients to do in between sessions?
Yes
What type of treatment approach do you utilize most frequently?
- Clinician led approach
How direct is your approach with patients?
- I share my insights, opinions, views and expertise with the patient even though they might be contrary to what the patient is thinking
Cost Per Session
Individual Sessions
60 min $150
Payment Methods Accepted
- Credit Card
Accepted Insurance Plans
- Aetna
- Cigna
- UnitedHealthcare
Do you accept payment plans
No
Do you provide or work with an organization that provides loans for treatment
No
Educational History
- School:University of Valley Forge
- Degree:Undergrad
- School:Rutgers School of Social Work
- Degree:Masters Degree
Years In Practice
6
License Numbers
- Name:State License
- Number:44SC06257000
- State:
- NJ
Professional Associations
- National Association of Social Workers
- AACC
Do you agree that counseling is not fully Christian if a counselor’s faith shapes their posture but not their methods?
No
Why?
No.
Counseling can be fully Christian even when a counselor’s faith primarily shapes their posture rather than their methods.
Christianity is not only a set of techniques, it is a way of being. A counselor whose faith informs their posture brings Christlike presence into the room: humility, attunement, truthfulness, patience, respect for human dignity, and a commitment to love without coercion. These are not neutral qualities; they are deeply theological.
Many evidence based methods (CBT, DBT, psychodynamic work, trauma-informed care) are not inherently secular or anti-Christian. They are tools forms of common grace, that can be used ethically and faithfully to promote healing. Jesus Himself did not use one “method” of care; He responded relationally, contextually, and wisely to each person before Him.
What makes counseling Christian is not whether Scripture is explicitly quoted or prayer is always used, but whether the counselor’s understanding of the human person, suffering, hope, and restoration is rooted in a Christian worldview, and whether the client’s autonomy, safety, and dignity are honored. For some clients, especially those with religious trauma or ambivalence toward faith, a posture shaped by Christ may be the most faithful expression of Christian care.
In short: faith shaped posture is not a compromise. It is often the most responsible, ethical, and Christlike way to practice counseling.
Do you agree that the deepest personal help a person needs cannot be fully received apart from faith in Christ, even through counseling?
Yes
Do you agree that Scripture speaks authoritatively to the deepest roots of human problems?
Yes
Do you agree that it is not appropriate to support or affirm a client’s chosen course of action when it conflicts with Scripture, even in the name of autonomy?
Yes
Do you agree that people do not possess all the internal resources needed for truth and healing apart from God, regardless of insight, support, or time?
Yes
