The True Hope Counseling journey has now ended. It wasn't quite the way I planned it, but it is without question, the end of the road.

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

Posted by True Hope Counseling at 01:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Many of you have been aware of a long battle I have had, attempting to get credentialed as a Christian Counselor but continually running into roadblocks due to my hours being private practice based with no supervisor above me.

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!

Continue reading "April News" »

Posted by True Hope Counseling at 01:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It's official. True Hope Counseling is now on sabbatical until at least January, 2008. Today was our last official day in the counseling office. From today, until January1st, I will be on maternity leave. Since we currently have no other counselors working for True Hope, that means there is no one to keep the ship running while I'm out.

I am unsure of the official direction that we will head in, come January, but for now, True Hope will remain as an established not-for-profit until God directs otherwise. As a new mom, and without additional staff, I am unsure at this point, what direction God would have us go in once my maternity leave is over. I am trusting that He will clearly show me when the time comes!

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

Posted by True Hope Counseling at 03:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This afternoon as I was eating lunch I looked out my dining room window and saw orange leaves on my maple trees out front. And the past week or so, I've been hearing the geese overhead. Fall is coming quickly!

Continue reading "August Newsletter" »

Posted by True Hope Counseling at 02:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As we move into the month of June, True Hope Counseling enters its slowest time of year! Whereas the fall and winter months are crowded with a full client load, once the spring/summer sun comes out, the days grow warmer and longer, and vacations start taking place, people just don't feel the need to come to counseling!

As the years have passed, I have learned to take this "slow" time and make good use of it by reading books and learning all I can about topics that interest me concerning the counseling world. Lately, I have also begun to write reviews on what I read and post them on this newsletter page. Whether it is a book on how nutrition affects our mood, a book on eating disorders, or even a book that is against counseling, I enjoy writing up a synopsis of what I have learned and sharing it with others. And judging from the feedback, others enjoy it too! (NOTE: unlike these newsletters, I do not send out notifications for the reviews I write. They can be found by simply coming to our website and going to our newsletter page on a regular basis. I also write movie and music CD reivews as well.)

During this time of down time, I am also working on a plan for True Hope Counseling come Fall. Two things face me as the now-solo counselor of True Hope as well as the Director at a new location:

1. Getting word out that we are here, and
2. Preparing for our new baby and learning how to balance motherhood with the counseling ministry.

As always, God is a God of perfection, and our baby will come around the holidays. A time when counseling, once again slows down. By the time I, and my clients, are ready to head back into the counseling offce, my husband's masonry work will be done for the winter, and so as I counsel, he will be able to take our little one.

To get our name "out" in the community, we are planning to host a pastor's coffee hour, either in the Fall of this year, or the beginning of next year. Although strong contacts have been made via letters and phone calls with area pastors, it is our hope that having a time like this will allow the pastors to ask further questions and see our office for themselves. At the same time that we are reaching out to the pastors, we will also begin, once again, the proces of building up a Board of Directors to walk the journey with True Hope Counseling through the 2008 year.

Even though it is our slow time of year, the busyness of the ministry will soon be upon us and I am excited about what the Fall months will bring! Both as Director of True Hope and as a future mom-to-be!

Thank you so much for your continued financial and prayer support!

Blessings to all!
Melissa

Posted by True Hope Counseling at 07:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This is a bit early for the April newsletter, but since our January, February, and March newsletters never got sent out, "early" can only be a good thing! :-)

The first three months of 2007 saw many changes for True Hope Counseling. Some of them challenging, all of them positive!

Continue reading "April Newsletter" »

Posted by True Hope Counseling at 06:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In December we recieved word that our office space was needed for new staff at the New Life Free Methodist church where we currently had our offices and we had until February 1st to relocate. Although this news gave way to questions as to what direction we needed to go in as a ministry, I can also say without hesitation that there was also a total peace the entire time as we explored our options as a staff and Board.

Continue reading "New Opportunities" »

Posted by True Hope Counseling at 04:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given . . . and His name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6

Continue reading "The Song of the Savior" »

Posted by True Hope Counseling at 06:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Within the months of both July and August, True Hope Counseling has seen tremendous growth! It is exciting to see such growth in a still-fairly-new ministry and True Hope staff and Board members are excited and praising God for this! It is such a blessing to receive constant confirmation that we are doing what God desires! Although faith must play a role in the journey, our human hearts and minds sometimes crave visible confirmations along the way, and God has been gracious to provide that for us within the last two months. (You can find those confirmations under "August Roses" on our newsletter page.)

Continue reading "August Newsletter" »

Posted by True Hope Counseling at 01:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

". . . Thus says the Lord, who created you. . .
' Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, You are Mine.
When you pass throught waters, I will be with you,
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. . . :
Isaiah 43:1-2a

Continue reading "Through the Flood" »

Posted by True Hope Counseling at 06:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The month of May saw two answers to prayer for True Hope Counseling staff.

Continue reading "May" »

Posted by True Hope Counseling at 10:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As spring was ushered in with the month of April so were some landmark changes to True Hope Counseling.

Continue reading "April" »

Posted by True Hope Counseling at 11:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Happy Spring to everyone!

As we enter April we are still awaiting our not-for-profit status to be approved. The official IRS letter that we received that said we were officially in the proccess of being reviewed also stated that if we were denied we would hear within 20-30 days. It also went on to state that if we did something wrong on our application we would receive a phone call from a representative assigned to our file. We have received neither as of yet, so it's looking positive for our not-for-profit to come through. On the down side, it could be another 2 months before we get this approval.

As far as NY state licensure is concerned, NY state turned down my appeal. However, I do fall into the "Professional Pastoral Counselor" category which allows me to continue counseling within the state. This also applies to Chad and Nichole Post.
Lord willing, through the American Association of Christian Counselors we will be obtaining information in coming weeks on beceoming a Board Certified Christian Counselor which is a nationally recognized Certification that is being offered to counselors in similar positions (not recognized by the state due to having a private practice). Insurance companies are willing to test pilot a percentage of these Counselors in the coming year for third-party billing purposes. If they feel that they are as "professional" as state recognized counselors then Christian Counselors will be able to receive third party billings! All of this is still being developed but would be a huge break through for many Christian Counselor throughout our nation!

Thank you for your prayers and continued support!
Melissa

Posted by True Hope Counseling at 11:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I am standing on the edge of a "defining moment" as far as True Hope Counseling goes. Two important packets went in the mail on Friday and should be hitting desks in 1.) the IRS and 2.) The licensure committee in Albany. The rulings on the contents of both packets are going to have a big impact on the world of True Hope, either way it goes.

Continue reading "Defining Moments" »

Posted by True Hope Counseling at 02:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Alot can happen in a year...

In November of 2004, it seemed for a few weeks that I had run right into a brick wall in my personal life and ministry! They were dark days full of doubt, questions, anxiety, and worry as I wondered what was going to happen, where I was supposed to head, and if I would even survive that time. But then, early one morning I text messaged my fiance at the time (my hubby now!), "I feel such a sense of expectancy! Like something big is going to happen!"

Continue reading "Here we go!" »

Posted by True Hope Counseling at 05:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)