Living Water Christian Counseling, L.L.C.

09/15/2025

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
— Proverbs 22:6

This verse encourages parents to instill godly values and habits in their children, with the hope that these principles will guide them throughout their lives. The original Hebrew for “train up” implies much more than instruction—it speaks to dedication, initiation, and intentional shaping. It is not a promise or a formula for guaranteed outcomes, but it is timeless wisdom.

The reality is, our world has competing plans for our children. Whether we like it or not, social media, culture, and society at large are also shaping them. The training we provide at home is vital—yet not foolproof—especially in a world where evil is real and ever-present.

How terrifying it is to know that even the most loving, God-fearing parents can still lose their children to the world. Love me or hate me, I grieve for the Robinsons. I can only imagine that they, too, raised their children according to biblical truth. People may blame them or vilify them, but my heart breaks for them.

Hate me more if you must…

My heart grieves for Tyler as well. A young man whose heart was won over by the lies and darkness of this world. It could’ve been my child. It could’ve been yours. As a therapist with over two decades of experience, I’ve seen this story play out far too many times. That’s why I withhold judgment—both from the parents and the child. I strive to see them as God does: broken, hurting, misled—not beyond redemption.

And yes, my heart breaks for Robin Westman too. I don’t know much about her parents yet, but I imagine they tried, just like so many of us. We should all be grieving. The last thing I will ever do is point fingers. After 22 years counseling teens, young adults, and families, I know this: we no longer have full control over our children.

But we still have influence.
We still have prayer.
We still have hope.
And we still have work to do.

So I’ll keep raising mine up the best I can.

🩷 Melissa B.

09/12/2025

Take time to grieve!

I feel grief physically in my tummy and behind my eyeballs.

I don’t force it down, igore it or dismiss one single emotion as it rises up and comes out softly, triggering my tummy and eyes to simply release the tears.

My body knows what to do.

In my opinion, as a Christian therapist, I think we (Christians) tend to ‘hyper spiritualize’ everything and move WAY too fast when it comes to grieving.

Has someone ever said, “God never gives you more than you can handle” when someone you loved died or “God needed them in heaven, (neither are biblical by the way, but that’s another story).

How about, “you just need to pray more?” WHAT?!

This is a small example of “hyper-spiritualization.”

The point is, it’s too soon and it could come off as insensitive or might make the person grieving feel guilty for not having faith in the moment.

It dismisses the person’s grief and the very purpose of grief and it doesn’t work!

When my sister died and countless people tried to console my teenage heart by saying these things I wanted to punch them in the face!

And, I cringe when I hear people saying it as an adult. It’s too soon. I have had countless people sitting across from me in my Counseling office, sharing the exact same experience in their grief.

What happens when we lose someone is that our head and our heart become disconnected. Our heart knows the truth, but our head just can’t comprehend.

Time, the grieving process AND truth bring them into alignment again, in time.

Social media is already doing this by saying “God has a plan or God is going to use this, Charlie’s death is waking people up & will cause so much good!”

Although this is TRUE, the timing is off. Remember Charlie’s wife and daughter just saw him die. We all did.

Tyler’s parents need time to grieve.

Fletcher and Harper’s parents need time to grieve.

Iyrna’s family needs time to grieve.

WE need to grieve!!!

Did you know that God created our bodies so wonderfully that the actual process of grief (the frequency of grief) HEALS the physical body???!

If we move too fast onto anger or action we risk experiencing not only delayed grief but stored emotions that cause physical illness in our body.

My advice, grieve, grieve and grieve some more. Note where you experience grief and be mindful of letting in come when it needs to.

It will come out sideways if you don’t (it will come out as anger, anxiety, depression, etc).

Just grieve and allow God to regulate your grief with His truth in time. Even Jesus wept. John 11:35.

Praying for you in your grief! It will heal you!!!

Getting gushy,

Melissa B.

09/09/2025

09/09/2025

This happened to me today!!!!

My morning habit stack almost always includes vision casting!

I have not done it in a long time so this morning I grabbed my prayer journal and my markers, closed my eyes and began to vision.

I began to write and then quickly realized that I am actually SITTING in the center of the things I have prayed for and visioned for years!

What?

I’m here and feeling humbled, grateful, teary and feeling all of the feels.

Why had I not thanked him 100x over by now? I was so focused on the next thing or the things directiy in front of me that I completely MISSED it!!!

Girls!

It’s GOOD to vision! Just don’t forget to take time to realize how FAR you have come and ALL that He has done!!!!

Amen, Amen!

Note: The text was to Madison this morning after realizing I was sitting in my vision!!! ❤️

09/08/2025

What if that thing you are begging God for is not in the plan that He has for you?

What if you were to give up the ‘thing’ for a moment and truly trust that…

His ways are higher than your ways.

His thoughts are higher than your thoughts.

The heavens are higher than the earth.

Is it time to give up the “thing?”

The plan, the opportunity, the job, the idea, the success, the home, the person, the money, the business, the vision, the dream…

IT’S SO HARD!!! 🥹

This is where faith comes in and we have to trust that as our father, He already knows the plan and His plan is to prosper. Our job is relinquish control, surrender the ‘thing,’ pray and have faith that God is who He says He is.

Isaiah 55:8-9

09/06/2025

Sometimes you need a rainbow to remind you that the trials are not forever…

and that God’s promises ARE!

Genesis 17:7

06/22/2025

What you focus on grows. Do do want to grow anxiety or calm in your life and in the lives of your littles?

You get to choose.

Are you battling anxiety over the state of the world today?

So are many of my clients.

Here’s a little tip for you. 🤍

In a world where fear, hate, division and war are creating a frequency of chaos and anxiety in our minds and bodies…it is essential to stay focussed on the MICRO details of our lives.

They are the only things we can control.

For me the micro is my family, the sunrise, my chickens and memories that bring me joy. This photo is from my recent road trip to with Axe Bez.

When you focus solely on the MACRO…

World evevts, racial, political and social division, the state of world…

Fear will send your central nervous system into overdrive causing your brain and body to respond in panic and chaos.

Focusing in and on what is right in front of you will reset your central nervous system and create calm.

For today, leave the macro details to God and focus in on what He has put right in front of you!

Comment with a photo or a word about the mirco things in front of you today.

Melissa B

01/23/2024

Meet Michael Volkman, MSW, LICSW

Christian Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker

Michael is a licensed independent clinical social worker, who obtained a Masters degree in Social Work from the University of St. Thomas. Michael also obtained a Bachleors degree in Pastoral Studies from North Central University. Michael has experience working with complex cases involving trauma, suicidal ideation, and self-harm. Michael uses a psychodynamic approach along with CBT and DBT interventions. Michael has spent most of his career working with adolescents and families but has experience working with adults as well.

Michael relies on the Holy Spirit to bring complete healing and freedom to individuals. Michael listens for the voice of the Holy Spirit to guide and direct him. He does this so he can speak truth to the lies that individuals are believing about themselves. Michael wants to open your spiritual eyes to see that Jesus has never left you nor forgotten you.

⭐️Hey Friends!

I am super excited about bringing Mike onto our team at Living Water Christian Counseling, L.L.C. Mike works with teens, families and adults and has immediate openings! Feel free to text, call or email with questions or to get on his schedule!

11/22/2023

Minimalization and Decluttering - A personal strategy for ditching OVERWHELM both mentally and physically to make for JESUS this Christmas season.

I am in the process of decluttering my home and my life for mental health reasons and it feels so good! I have struggled with overwhelm which has caused anxiety to peak at certain times in my life and decluttering is one way that I am DITCHING overwhelm this holiday season!

As a Christian Counselor and owner of Living Water Christian Counseling, L.L.C., I have always always found it fascinating how someone's home is somewhat reminiscent of one's season of life and mental state.

This is exactly why I need to clean out my home so that I can feel more regulated, less busy and more calm in life (and in my home).

In the past I used to have a SUPER clean house and AWFULLY unorganized closets. What did that say about me? On the outside (what people see) I was doing great...

I had that white picket fence, my life was neat and tidy and my home represented calm, balance and peace. There was NO room for transparency because that was was way too scary.

On the inside (my closets) I had stuff that I needed to work on and was afraid to show people what my life really looked life. I kept things hidden from others because I felt like if they really knew me they would find out that I really didn't have it all together.

Today...years later, my house and closets are pretty messy but I am consistently working on it! My home is only clean for about two days a week because I have a house keeper and my closets are full because I don't have capacity due to overwhelm and busyness.

Needless to say, I am SO ready to clean out my CLOSETS, my calendar and home so I can get back to CALM!

I have coined November, "Say No November" and in my own life I have decided to say no to making lots of plans, hosting people, purchasing unnecessary things and doing things out of duty (the opposite is doing things because I choose to and want to).

In The Inspire Collective Coaching Program I have encouraged my members to practice the same...to choose a few things that they want to say NO TO IN NOVEMBER in an effort to make WAY for JESUS and the Christmas season!

They are saying no to busyness, self deprecation, sugar, unhealthy mindsets, toxic people, addictions and many more things.

Who is ready to join me in saying NO and who wants to share about their home in the comments? I would be happy to access your mental, emotional and physical health based on the status of your home...

Just kidding! Share anyway though because is kind of cool to recognize the correlation.

GOING MINIMAL!

Melissa B.

11/08/2023

On a funny note….🤍🙏

Regarding teens…this is also true! For mine anyway! 💕Melissa