When I was a young teenager, I realized that my family life was different than my friends’ home.  I became hypervigilant watching, listening, and sensing what was going on. As the only girl and second oldest of 5 children I closed myself off emotionally from my family. We grew up going to church and knowing of God, so I prayed and attended services often. In an especially challenging time, I realized the gravity of my father’s behaviors and called out to God during Roman Catholic Mass and God met me just where I was. I did not understand salvation theologically at that time but that is the moment I was saved. My love for God grew and I started a relationship with my Savior Jesus Christ. My home life worsened over the next 7 or 8 years watching my parents’ marriage crumble and living in family dysfunction. Yet the Lord graciously and mercifully met me and my high school boyfriend all along the way.

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man.  God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

Through Christ’s faithfulness, my mother became a Christian and each of my brothers and their spouses are devoted Christ followers and active in their faith.

As stay at home mom, my friends would flock to our house because the coffee was always ready, my kids liked playmates, and I love to listen. Like many people, we would share our hearts and in a little ways I became their counselor. Through Biblical teaching and study, I learned I have the gifts of encouragement, teaching, and hospitality. I had my second significant encounter with the Holy Spirit when I heard a loud still small voice telling me to become a counselor. This was a shock because I only knew one person who had ever been to counseling, but I obeyed and that fall I started studying Marriage and Family Therapy at a Christian Seminary.

I am thankful for the family and life I have faced. My childhood experience was a family laboratory of behaviors such as alcohol, drugs, adultery, incarceration, and divorce but we learned how to love imperfectly but with boundaries and communicate somewhat well. I know God was training me for the work I have been doing most of my adult life and the past 25 years professionally. My counseling practice is Living Whole and Holy Counseling because my therapeutic approach is integrating Biblical truth into sound psychology.

It is through Christ that I live in freedom knowing that I do not go through this life alone. I offer that to each person I counsel whether they know Jesus as their Savior, are checking Him out or they want to see me for other reasons.  Everyone and anyone is welcome.

“I (Jesus) have said these things to you, that in Me (Jesus) you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I (Jesus) have overcome the world.” John 16:33