Nurture Counseling PLLC

Wendy’s passion is walking with women and men who long to find the authentic Jesus among the brokenness of life. She is 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. Wendy’s personal journey has taught her 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 is a staunch proponent of trauma-informed narrative focused therapy. 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 decided to move into full-time private practice, merging her two passion areas under the umbrella of Nurture Counseling. But those who know Wendy know that her passion for encouraging families, couples, and individuals began long before she obtained her degree. Her first career was as a pediatric speech-language pathologist with the U.Va. Medical Center, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools’ Preschool Exceptional Children Division, and Atrium Health. From 2011 through 2015, Wendy provided lay counseling support services and through a non-profit called Fixing Our Eyes. Under that name, and often in collaboration with Hope Community Church, she facilitated groups for women affected by intimate partner betrayal and for women struggling with their own sexual addictions. Prior to completing her counseling degree, Wendy completed Larry Crabb’s School of Spiritual Direction and two certificates in Narrative Focused Trauma Care led by Dr. Dan Allender of The Allender Center at The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology. Most recently, she spent a third year completing an Externship in NFTC at The Allender Center. Since beginning her counseling practice, she has trained with and been mentored by Jay Stringer, author of Unwanted, in his methodology of healing from sexually compulsive behaviors. In 2022, she trained as a small group facilitator under Adam Young, host of the critically-acclaimed podcast, The Place We Find Ourselves.In 2022, she completing 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 and has under Karen Doyle Buckwalter in administering The Adult Attachment Interview. Wendy is married to Chris 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. 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.