A New Adventure...

What a strange and wonderful thing to start something new! After more than twenty years in ministry, I am excited to begin a new adventure--opening a private practice counseling center. The Zoe Center will focus on mental health resources like individual and group counseling for adolescent girls and women. It will be a safe place for individuals to find hope and healing through faith-based and traditional counseling approaches. I'm excited to continue working in ministry as I sit with teens and women navigating life's various challenges. 

I've been busy moving into my new office space this month and setting up my website and social media accounts. Every time I check something off the list, it seems like I add three more! It's been a whirlwind, literally, as we're trying to get the office set up at the same time that our area in The Woodlands, TX, is experiencing the effects of Hurricane Beryl. As first responders are working tirelessly to restore power in the area, I'm fortunate enough to have power and internet here at my house, where I can happily work away at the kitchen table. There's so much to do, however, and I can't wait for the all-clear to get back into the building. 

Some people have asked me why I pursued my LPC after so many years in ministry. It certainly wasn't something I set out to do or even dreamed about five years ago. But God has a way of using all the different parts of our lives to weave the tapestry He wants to make, and I certainly feel like counseling is one of those things. Over the last few years, God has continued to bring people my way who are struggling with a life change, relationship, spiritual issue, or grief. It's such a gift to sit with people in those moments and offer encouragement and support. Over time, God refined that passion for helping people into an opportunity to go back to school and study counseling, and it was a chance I was so happy to take. 

As I begin opening a new office and preparing to see my first clients, I'm overflowing with gratitude and excitement. I can't wait to get started! My counseling philosophy is to take an integrative and holistic approach tailored to meet each client's unique needs. I use a variety of techniques, from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), along with techniques from Solution-Focused therapy. In short, I'm always on the lookout for new, research-backed techniques to help my clients reach their therapeutic goals. I combine traditional counseling techniques and interventions with faith-based practices and spiritual guidance to help meet clients where they are and invite them to integrate all the parts of who they are in working towards health and healing. For clients who do not want to talk about spirituality as a part of their sessions, I'll happily use traditional counseling techniques and respect where they are on their journey. 

The Zoe Center works exclusively with adolescent girls and women, focusing on the unique opportunities and challenges women face today. I love working with clients who are experiencing anxiety and/or depression, struggling with perfectionistic tendencies, wanting to build healthy self-esteem, recovering from a divorce or lost relationship, or needing support navigating the tricky waters of grief. As someone who has experienced both a stillbirth and miscarriage, I also hope to be an empathetic resource for women who have experienced reproductive trauma, infertility, child loss, or need support managing postpartum depression symptoms. Teen girls and women face an extraordinary amount of pressure. My goal at The Zoe Center is to help meet the needs of women in our community as they develop the tools they need to enjoy hope and health in their life stories. 

Over the next few weeks, I'll hang wallpaper, print business cards, and put the finishing touches on the website. Please pop over and check out my socials and follow along with me as I take this next plunge. I'll begin seeing clients in early August 2024. If you're in the area and want to connect with me about setting up an initial consultation call, I'd love to hear from you!