Hello, I’m Pastor Jimmy!

Who I Am

My official title is Board-Certified Pastoral Counselor, yet ultimately, I am who God says I am – a Kingdom Difference Maker, a Hope Lifter, a lifelong Becomer, and His child. I am also someone who knows what it feels like to be buried under the weight of grief. I’ve endured my own dark night of the soul, and I know the overwhelming feeling of being scared, stuck, and lost. From my early years on a farm in southeast Georgia, I’ve enjoyed connecting with and ministering to people and animals. Through these early experiences, I learned about myself and discovered my Godgiven passion to encourage and help those around me. This calling on my heart led me to become a pastor of a church as a high school senior. I spent the next five-plus decades pastoring five different churches, including founding pastor of two churches. In 1999, I became a Pastoral Care Pastor. I led, developed, and supervised support and recovery groups in DFW- Texas over a six-year period. After becoming a credentialed Board-Certified Pastoral Counselor, I opened my private therapy practice in 2007.

Yet, in 1992 I was someone who experienced a defining moment that altered my life.

I – the pastor-counselor – hit an emotional wall. I’d spent my life helping others, and in the process lost myself. Somehow, I’d become a human doing when I was created a human being.

Something had to change, and that something was someone – me.

For the next two years I participated in individual and group therapy. This exciting and painful period led me down unexpected pathways to face my unresolved emotional issues of abandonment, insecurity, inferiority, and childhood fears. It was an era of identifying, facing, embracing, releasing and letting go.

It took time and healing, and with God all things are possible.

I came to accept and embrace both my pain and struggles as essential to personal healing and growth, and I am grateful for each trial I have experienced. All that God has faithfully carried me through has given me a unique perspective to better listen, hear, understand, feel, value, and honor my clients’ stories.

What I Believe

1. I believe in the process of becoming. The process being transformed by the renewing of our minds is very much like the metamorphosis of a butterfly. And friend… I can tell you from personal and professional experience as both a redeemed child of God and a Pastoral Counselor with 60+ years of experience – doing ‘the work’ is WORTH IT. 2. I believe counseling can be a positive experience. I view counseling as a way of rediscovering, understanding, and embracing who we truly are, which is who our Creator God says we are. By learning more about who He is, we reclaim that true inner beauty that was damaged along the way. 3. I believe everyone is worthy of living a fulfilling life. Psalms 139:13-18 says we are “remarkably and wonderfully made.” That means you were born with innate worth, competence, and inner beauty. There is no wound Christ cannot heal, and no one has outsinned the grace of our Lord. “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” Psalm 34:18 “You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.” – Psalm 51:17 4. I believe in providing a safe and confidential place for authentic healing to occur. I will honor your story without judgement. My clients can expect a compassionate, confidential experience whenever they meet with me. When you are with me, you will be offered acceptance, respect, honesty, compassion, grace, and truth.

Who I Help

I am well-experienced in helping clients recognize, identify, and resolve the grief and loss that is frequently embedded in the current pain they are experiencing. Most of my clients are adults, young adults, and married couples generally aged 25-70. Specifically, I specialize in helping individuals with the following issues:

• Parenting
• Blended families
• Spiritual issues
• Existential concerns
• Pre-marital counseling
• Marriage counseling
• Grief counseling
• Healthy selfcare and self-replenishing
• Emotional intelligence
• Spiritual direction
• Big decision making
• Life transitions
• Life coaching

Note: I currently do not treat eating disorder issues or offer counseling services for children or early teens, although I do meet with teens with their parent(s) and family if appropriate and as needed. My clients are courageous truth seekers. They are tired of feeling like they’re floundering. They are done with feeling stuck. They are ready to do the next right thing. But… They’ve been misunderstood before. They are not sure if counseling is right for them. They know they need help. They want help. They’re just trying to find the right help. They don’t turn a blind eye to the issues welling up inside them. They step out in faith knowing that “they will seek Him and find Him when they search for Him with all their heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13)

How I Help

Through a variety of therapeutic modalities, I help clients identify, face, and heal hurts, habits, and emotional wounds that hinder or block intimacy with God, oneself, family, and other relationships. My approach reflects a Biblical worldview and is also evidence-based. I utilize Integrated Family Systems (IFS) methodology and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to support my clients. That said, I take a multidisciplinary perspective to counseling and appreciate that not every methodology is suitable for everyone. Every individual is different, and I adapt and customize my approach to fit each client’s unique needs. Generally, I’m a good fit for people who want to:

• Process past pain
• Reconcile fractured relationships
• Enjoy healthy, meaningful, authentic relationships
• Develop safe, interpersonal connections
• Discover their Soul purpose in life
• Learn how to manage relational conflict in a healthy, God-honoring way
• Heal their father wound / mother wound
• Become the person God created them to be

Why I Help

Helping people become who God designed them to be is my lifelong calling. The process of becoming is ultimately the process of stepping into God’s will and allowing His love to shine in and through you. As someone who has been fortunate enough to be on the receiving end of Christ’s grace, I am humbled and honored to help others experience the healing power of God’s grace as well.

A thousand-mile journey begins with one step.

I know from my own experience the courage and humility it takes to ask for and receive help. It takes strong commitment to achieve real, lasting change. God does some of His best and most miraculous work slowly, patiently, and lovingly over time in community and in relationships with others. For this reason, having a therapeutic relationship with a qualified, compassionate counselor can be extremely beneficial as you navigate the healing process. If you’re curious to learn more about my approach to therapy, please contact me. I’d love to hear from you and learn how I can best minister to you on your healing journey.

Affiliations

• American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC), Forest, VA
• Fort Worth Area Association for Marriage C Family Therapy (FWAAMFT), Ft Worth, TX
• Career Direct Certified Consultant

     

Education

• 600+ CEU hours in mental, emotional health, and counseling skills
• Post-graduate work in Sociology, University of North Texas, Denton, TX
• Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.), Pastoral Ministry/Proclamation, Southwestern Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, TX
• Master of Divinity (M.Div.), Theology-Languages, Pastoral Care, Southwestern Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, TX
• A., American History, Samford University, Birmingham, AL
• A., History/English/Education, Samford University, Birmingham, AL

Certification

• BCPC, Board Certified Pastoral Counselor credentialed by the International Board of Christian Professional and Pastoral Counselors, Forest, VA
• Basic Coach Training, Core Coach Training – Coaching4Clergy
• BGCT Certified Coach – Corporate Coach U Coaching Clinic
• Ministry Insights Leading from Your Strengths Level II Certified Trainer/Facilitator
• Certified SYMBIS Assessment Facilitator
• Certified Career Direct Consultant (careerdirect-ge.org org)
• Basic Mediation Training – as set by Texas Mediation Trainers Roundtable and Chapter 154 of the Texas Civil Practices & Remedies Code
• Surrendering the Secret Facilitator Certification (post-abortion)

CONTACT TODAY