I have been immensely blessed with an amazing wife and son. Melissa and I have been married since 1997. Our son, Michael, is married to his beautiful bride Brooke and venturing out into what lies beyond that milestone in their lives together.
I enjoy developing authentic relationships with others. Exploring, experiencing, and sharing grace is a central part of this wildly rewarding and sometimes uncomfortable way of living life. As a counselor, I loved offering a safe place to help others discover and learn how to practically act on faith in order to experience true freedom. I truly value the experiences I’ve had with others, with healing and growth taking place on both sides. This passion lives on, beyond the counseling setting.
I received my MBA from Campbell University in 2002. After working several years as an accountant, I realized a desire to help people as a counselor. This became clear to me after a difficult time in which I struggled with anxiety, panic attacks, and depression. During that period of my life, I learned invaluable lessons about love, trust, and grace. After a taste of freedom that comes with such things, I wanted to share my experience with others. I left my position in accounting and began serving as an Interim Youth Minister in 2007. I also began pursuing a Master of Arts in Professional Counseling from Liberty University. I eventually transitioned to a full-time counselor and completed my degree.
While serving full-time as a Biblical Counselor from 2008-2013, I earned a Ph.D. in Clinical Christian Counseling from Cornerstone University and was ordained as a Minister of Pastoral Care. I became a Certified Temperament Counselor and Licensed Clinical Pastoral Counselor under the authority of the National Christian Counselors Association (NCCA). I am also a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC).
I took some time off from full-time counseling in 2013. During that time, I was privileged to be able to do several things I wanted to do, such as publishing part of my story in a book about anxiety and panic attacks, speaking to small groups, and counseling a limited number of clients.
In 2017, Melissa and I started a ministry designed to allow us to connect with and help others through counseling and coaching. We thoroughly enjoyed our time working together, counseling and coaching others under the name of S.A.F.E. Counseling and Coaching. Now we are anxiously moving forward into a new phase that we haven’t exactly identified thoroughly yet. What I do know is I want to live my life as authentically centered in grace and love as possible. I want realness to continue to be a centerpiece in my life as I connect with others through whatever means…even if that’s just a simple “blog post” on this website or a casual interaction with someone at the grocery store.
-Neil
I have been married to Neil since 1997. We have enjoyed growing together and deepening our relationship over the years. We have one wonderful son, Michael, who has always kept us on our toes and loves life!
I have always enjoyed helping and serving. When I was a young child, my grandmother became ill and I became her personal nurse. She gave me a special outfit that she called my “nursing outfit”. I guess that kind of stuck because I became a Registered Nurse in 2000 and worked in a few different settings. I received a MSN from Duke University in 2003 and became board certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Most of my career as a Nurse Practitioner has been in public health. I enjoy getting to know people and dig a little deeper with them about their needs.
Several years ago, I joined a small group of ladies and we went through a group coaching curriculum. Through that, God showed me several ways I had been hiding. By hiding, I mean avoiding past shame and guilt and instead wearing a smile and always saying I was just fine. I didn’t want to talk about things and I avoided emotion at all cost. After the group sessions were completed, I had one-on-one sessions with the life coach and together we developed a plan for different goals I had and different places where I felt stuck. When my son moved out for college, I used some of my new free time to get educated and experienced in coaching and temperament analysis. Coaching was a way I felt I could also use my passion for helping, serving and relating with others.
I love meeting people where they are at and walking with them toward this freedom they are seeking.
-Melissa
