BABBCENTER COUNSELING STAFF

David Walley grew up in the home of his Methodist preacher father in various small towns in central and south Mississippi. He graduated from Mississippi College with a Bachelor of Music degree, and from The New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary with both a Master of Divinity degree and a Doctor of Philosophy degree. David and his wife Ellen have a daughter who is an ER nurse in Birmingham, AL; a son who has his own photography business; and a son in high school. They moved to the Nashville area in 1994 when he went to work as a consultant for The Sunday School Board for two years before assuming his present First Baptist Church Hendersonville position as Director of Counseling Ministries in 1996. David and his family enjoy their log home life in Greenbrier, Tennessee, where he also enjoys working in the yard, reading, and slowing down time as much as possible to spend with his family.

Mari was born and spent her entire childhood in Las Vegas, Nevada. She graduated from Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona with a Bachelor of Science degree in Justice Studies. She holds a Master’s degree in Professional Counseling from Argosy University. Currently Mari is also interim executive director at a local youth residential treatment center. Mari is an active member of First Baptist Church, Hendersonville, Tennessee teaching in a mission program for girls called Girls In Action and Vacation Bible School. She is the wife of Brent and the mother of three children. Other interests include reading, learning other languages, and community service.

Kay Arnold is a licensed professional counselor and mental health provider. She received a graduate counseling degree from Trevecca Nazarene University, and this was followed by continuing education and work for licensure as a counselor with the State of Tennessee. Kay’s therapeutic areas of focus include child and adolescent issues, marriage and family difficulties, eating disordered lifestyles, trauma processing, and general life stress complications. She is an EMDR clinician, teaches community classes for local community organizations and leads women’s groups for her church and The BABBCENTER. Kay lives in Portland with her husband Chip, a writer, teacher, and actor. They have two adult daughters, and she enjoys gardening, reading, and spending time with her family and friends on their farm in Portland.

Joan spent most of her childhood in Atlanta, but has called Nashville home for 31 years. She is married and has raised two daughters. After focusing many years on her family, church, and civic endeavors, she strongly desired to complete her education. She received her B.A. from Trevecca Nazarene University in Management and Human Resources, and subsequently a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Trevecca Nazarene University. She found it personally beneficial to receive her life experience education prior to her academic education. Joan is trained for, and enjoys working with, individuals, couples, and families. She partners with clients as they seek direction, hope, peace, freedom, and healing. She has also received continuing education in grief recovery. Joan’s hobbies include reading, traveling, snow skiing, hiking, and word puzzles.

Ralph was born in Hinton, West Virginia. He obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education while living in Virginia. Ralph has served as a Minister of Music and a Minister of Youth. In addition to serving in churches, Ralph taught music eleven years at Lakeview Elementary School in the Wilson County Tennessee School System. In 1998 he received a Master of Education Degree in Educational Leadership from Middle Tennessee State University and is licensed in School Administration (preK-12). In 2003 Ralph felt called to a new career of counseling both children and adults, and in 2005 he completed his Masters Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville. Ralph is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with the state of Tennessee. Ralph lives on a mini-farm in Mt. Juliet with his wife, Joni, who works as a realtor. They have two sons and two grandchildren.

Angela was born in Gallatin, TN where she lived until moving with her husband, three children and a variety of animals to their mini-farm in Castalian Springs. She received her Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Cumberland University and Master of Marriage and Family Therapy degree from Trevecca Nazarene University. Before receiving her graduate training in counseling, Angela worked in church ministry as director of discipleship. Her role in pastoral care led her to pursue her education in marital and family therapy. Angela has been married for over 20 years to her husband, Dale. They have a son in college, a son in high school, and a daughter in middle school. She and her family are active in their church, Long Hollow Baptist-Gallatin Campus, where she teaches young adults. Angela enjoys spending time at home with her family, gardening, and reading.

I have many times referred to life as a series of ascents, plateaus, and descents. Some of the ascents could be compared to a Mount Everest, and some to a hill in a neighborhood. Every climb takes a certain amount of preparation, skill, and equipment. Every climb leaves its mark in the psyche. Some of the memory may be good, and some may be regretful. I had the privilege of growing up on a mountain, and being very aware of the dangers of hiking, and the possibility of being injured or lost. Yet there has always been a pull toward the adventure of what I may find along the trail or at the summit. I have climbed to the top of Mt. LeConte, as I am sure many of you reading this may have. I climbed with my husband, son and friends. The one rule we had given our twelve-year-old son at the time was, if you climb with us, you cannot complain. He agreed. He led the group most of the way up the mountain and then back down the next day. On our drive back home we asked him his thoughts and feelings on the adventure. He told us that it was the hardest thing he had ever done in his life, yet it remains as a positive memory. Our best preparation may not actually protect us from emotional or physical pain, yet it may help us endure and persevere. Proverbs has many verses that tell us to get counsel, get knowledge and wisdom. Sometimes we seek these through friends, a pastor, or a professional counselor. I entered into this adventure with the hope of walking alongside those on this same journey we call life. In this endeavor my husband, son and daughter support me. I find myself drawn toward couple relationships, family relationship dynamics, including step families, and individual counseling with concern toward women in abusive relationships. I also have continuing education credits in Post partum depression and have had the privilege of presenting material on this subject to a MOPS group. Some of life's mountains, and/or valleys are steeper and deeper than others have experienced. Sometimes we need someone to help us become better equipped in our climb toward the summit and/or persevering through the deep valleys. I hope I can be of some help along your pathway toward wholeness.

Ellen is a North Carolinian who moved to Goodlettsville five years ago with her husband, Jay. She is a native of Albemarle, NC and a graduate of East Carolina University in Greenville, NC. Before moving to Tennessee, she spent 25 years working as a buyer in the State Purchasing office for the North Carolina state government. Jay and Ellen are the proud parents of three adult children. Joey and Michelle live close by in Hendersonville with their children; Michael and Jessica live outside Raleigh, North Carolina with their family, while newlyweds Melissa and Jeremy live in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Their children and grandchildren are the joy of their life together. Long Hollow Baptist Church is their church home, where they participate in Connect Groups and various other activities. They enjoy traveling to see family, visiting the coast, working in the yard, and spending time with family and friends.

Tara is a licensed psychological examiner. She conducts psychological assessments and provides counseling for children, adolescents, adults, and families. Tara received her Bachelor’s Degree from Belmont University and her Master’s Degree from Middle Tennessee State University. Her areas of special interest include child and adolescent behavior and emotional issues, child and adolescent self-esteem, abuse, and women’s issues. Tara and her family are active members of the First Christian Church in Madison.

Bio coming soon.

Peter Wilson is a licensed psychologist in the state of Tennessee. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Free Will Baptist Bible College, the Master of Arts in psychology from Middle Tennessee State University and the Ed.D. from Tennessee State University. His therapeutic areas of focus include older adolescents and adults. He has received specialized training in the cognitive treatment of depression and anxiety. In his practice, Peter sees individuals and couples. In addition to his work as a therapist, Peter is a professor and director of the graduate psychology program at Trevecca Nazarene University. Prior to assuming his full-time responsibilities at Trevecca in 1995, Peter served for two years as clinical director and six years as therapist at Christian Counseling Services in Nashville. Peter lives in Nashville with his wife Deb. He has two adult children and two step-sons, as well as three grandchildren. He enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, white water rafting and maintaining his yard.