In the past two weeks, circumstances in my life indicated that I needed to return to work. For a week I considered rebuilding True Hope Counseling at a new office location, but in the end, God led me down another pathway for work. This pathway will allow me to continue to be a stay-at-home-wife-and-mother while at the same time, using my counseling degree and love for writing to reach other women. I will be writing for a new website that will be launchig in coming weeks, and topics will include everything from parenting to budgeting tips to meal ideas to issues women face such as depression and eating disorders.

With this new direction my life is taking, my heart has realized clearly that the season for True Hope has ended.

I am at peace.

Although I had once dreamed of passing it on to a new director and having the ministry continue, God seems to have other plans. Those plans have included allowing True Hope Counseling to exist for a period of time and then to have it end.

At first I was discouraged about this and felt like in the end, I had failed. But then I went through my "file of roses", re-reading old notes and letters from those whose lives were touched by True Hope Counseling and I knew it wasn't a failure. It was simply a season. God had us in place for a certain time, for certain lives, and now, we are no longer needed in this way.

This has always been God's ministry. He began it. He has the right to say when it is time to end. My job, these past few years, has been to listen closely to His promptings and obey them. And I am doing so now.

Thank you so much to everyone who supported us with prayer and finances. Lives were truly touched in the years True Hope Counseling existed and your stewardship helped make that happen!

Please feel free to stay in touch at: melissa@truehopecounseling.com.

Much love and blessings to all!

Melissa

I was told by a couple of agencies over the past two years, that they would certify or license me if I would give up my private practice and go work for an organization that would provide the needed professional supervision. In each of these conversations I had, I explained that I could not do this, because there was not an organization I could work for that would allow me to have the freedom to counsel from a Christian and Biblical standpoint. (Not to mention, I had just spend the last few years of my life investing time and money into building my own private practice! Something I did before NY state licensure laws, and requirements, went into affect)

I have felt so strongly the past few years that Biblically-based counseling was the only way to offer true hope and freedom for those in bondage, that I just could not give it up, despite the inability to be recoginized by my state and other certifcation boards. Today, that all ended for me!

Until then, the website will still be up and running, and I will continue to do online and email counseling. This has become more and more popular with the college age bracket, as well as those struggling with eating disorders, and so, I will keep on with it as requests come in.

I will also continue to stay in email contact with past clients as they need it, though office hours will not be available to them during my leave.

Thank you so much for your prayer and financial support over the months, and even years! Please be assured that I will be staying in touch regarding the future of True Hope Counseling as God leads! You have all been a blessing and I pray God's blessings on each one of you in return!

Melissa