Approach to Counseling:
My approach to Christian counseling begins by providing you with a comfortable and confidential environment where we can talk freely. I will listen carefully, ask thought-provoking questions, and try to help you make sense of what has been confusing or problematic.  While I understand that facing difficult problems or situations can be extremely painful at times, I realize that often great emotional suffering stems from those very issues.  By addressing those challenging circumstances, in a counseling relationship, solutions promoting understanding and change can be experienced.  Ultimately, in Christian Counseling, our goal is the careful application of God’s Word to your daily life so that you may find fulfillment and satisfaction in your relationship with God and others – (Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be satisfied“).

Ministry Background:
I have been in ministry since 1984 working with children, youth, and adults while pursuing my education.  The Lord blessed me with a wonderful wife in 1984, Susan, and after that six beautiful children – 4 boys and 2 girls.  I was ordained as a minister in 1991 after completing my Master of Divinity Degree (M.Div.) from Columbia International University in Columbia, South Carolina.  I have pastored 3 churches and currently am serving as Pastor of the 4th church to which God has called me, and Lord willing, I plan to be here until my retirement.  There have been many challenging circumstances that God has used in my life to help me grow as a husband, father, pastor, and disciple of Jesus Christ.  God also placed many wonderful and caring people in my path, especially in the difficult times, who gave their time and energy to help me.  Since God has done this for me, it is my hope that He will put me in the pathway of others, so that I might be of benefit to them.

Counseling License:
As a pastor, counseling has been a vital part of my ministry in working with children, youth, adults, couples, and families.  However, in order to reach out to the public to be of help through counseling, it is necessary to be licensed.  Therefore, in 2008, I began a Master of Professional Counseling Degree from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, to become licensed in North Carolina.  I finished my degree in 2012, and subsequently completed thousands of hours in training and supervision to become licensed in North Carolina, as a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHCA) in May of 2017 – license #10119.  My experience is in working with youth, adults, couples, and families.
(For more information about the counseling process, please see the Professional Disclosure Statement) – PDS