Nurture Counseling PLLC

Wendy and Chris are both passionate about walking with women and men who long to find the authentic Jesus among the brokenness of life. They are each committed to bringing presence for the lonely, comfort for the broken, words for the mute, and hope for the despairing, pointing always to Christ’s redeeming love as the ultimate source of healing and perseverance. Through their personal journeys, Wendy and Chris have each learned that perceptions of self, others, and God are formed through our earliest experiences. Out of a desperate attempt to control our lives and protect our personal sense of safety, we develop styles of relating with ourselves and others that serve to either protect or challenge these perspectives. Some of these patterns appear healthier than others, but all are ways of trying to rule our personal kingdoms. Unless the foundations of the functional belief structures that propel our reactions are accurately named and adequately healed, we will continue to repeat dysfunctional behavior patterns, causing pain to ourselves and to others. Wendy and Chris are therefore staunch proponents of trauma-informed narrative focused therapy. In recognition of their commitment to and passion for helping couples in crisis, Chris and Wendy have been selected among the first cohort of 16 people from around the U.S. being mentored and trained by Dr. Dan Allender and Dr. Steve Call in Trauma Informed Couples Therapy (2025-26). WENDY'S TRAINING AND CREDENTIALS Upon completing her M.A. in Clinical Counseling and becoming a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counseling Associate (LCMHCA) in October 2020, Wendy began counseling adults as a part-time counseling associate with The Barnabas Center. At the same time, she also began working with children and adolescents, under supervision, as she pursued additional post-graduate training in play therapy and children’s counseling. In May 2022, Wendy transitioned into full-time private practice, merging her two passion areas under the umbrella of Nurture Counseling. Prior to completing her counseling degree, Wendy completed three levels of certification in Narrative Focused Trauma Care led by Dr. Dan Allender of The Allender Center at The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology. From 2022-2025, she completed a one year Externship and a two-year Fellowship with The Allender Center, and served as a facilitator for NFTC Level I Training as well as several Story Workshops.. Before entering graduate school, she also completed Larry Crabb’s School of Spiritual Direction. Wendy has trained with and been mentored by Jay Stringer, author of Unwanted, in his methodology of healing from sexually compulsive behaviors. In 2022, Wendy trained as a small group facilitator under Adam Young, host of the critically-acclaimed podcast, The Place We Find Ourselves. In 2022, she completed training with Patrick Carnes in best practices for counseling survivors of sexual exploitation and betrayal. Wendy has also pursued training in the areas of Somatic Experiencing and Spiritual and Religious Abuse. To hone her skills in helping children and families, Wendy has trained with Paris Goodyear-Brown, the developer of TraumaPlay. She has also completed extensive training in the TheraPlay model under Karen Doyle Buckwalter. In her spare time, Wendy loves having rich conversations with family and friends over a table of really good food. She enjoys iced tea, dark chocolate, laughing out loud, riding her bike, and walking in pretty places. CHRIS' TRAINING AND CREDENTIALS Liberty University • Master of Arts in Christian Counseling (*anticipated graduation August 2026) • Counseling Practicum (Fall 2025; Internship Spring/Summer 2026) Reconnect Institute (Ferndale, WA): • First Cohort of Trauma Informed Couples Therapy training with Dr, Dan Allender and Dr. Steve Call (2025-26) The Allender Center at the Seattle School of Theology and Psychology: • Narrative Focused Trauma Care Level 2 (Certificate of Completion 2023, small group facilitator Adam Young) • Narrative Focused Trauma Care Level 1 (Certificate of Completion 2022, small group facilitator Gwen St. John) • Sexual Abuse Recovery Week (May 2023) • Healing the Wounded Heart (Online Course) The Barnabas Center: • Training Ground (lay counseling skills training) (2015-16) • Barnabas Training, Levels 1, 2, and 3 • Frequent Small Group Leader for Barnabas Basic or Level 1 Training (hosted by Hope Community Church, Westminster Church) • Guest speaker (with Wendy) for “Heart to Heart” Marriage Workshops (including Charlotte Leadership Forum Weekend, Fall 2016) Jay Stringer: • Unwanted Guide Training-Level 1 (Fall 2023) • Unwanted Guide Training- Level 2 (anticipated Spring 2024) • Sexual Attachment Conference (with Adam Young) (2021, 2022) • Counseling Intensive (2021) Osborn Conflict Resolution: • Certified as a Superior Court Mediator (2009) • Certified as a Family Financial Settlement Mediator (2021) • Trained in Collaborative Law process of dispute resolution (2016) Hope Community Church: • Ruling Elder (2005-2017) • Community Group Leader • Sunday School Teacher (Classes on relationships and “redemptive parenting”) Uptown Church: • Ruling Elder (1999-2002) • Life Group Co-Leader (1995-2002) JOINT EFFORTS Wendy and Chris have been married 32+ years, and they have lived and worked in Charlotte since 1995. Together they have raised three daughters and been a part of three local church plants. Together, Wendy and Chris provide couples counseling intensives, and present seminars and workshops on story work in marriage and parenting. They also co-host the Surviving Saturday podcast, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and anywhere else those darn things have proliferated.