Fortify Christian Counseling

10/28/2025

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Healthy Living If you’re like many people, you’ve learned to smile through the stress, show up for everyone else, and keep life running smoothly — even when your heart feels heavy. You tell yourself, I just need to push through a little longer, but deep down, you know something has to change. ...

10/14/2025

📚 Fortify Recommends - Elizabeth Coleman

This week’s book recommendation comes from Elizabeth!

“Boundaries” by Henry Cloud and John Townsend

Stay tuned for more recommendations, and let us know if you’ve read any of our picks!

10/03/2025

🌿 Therapy Tip - Practice Grounding Through Scripture

When you’re feeling overwhelmed, try this simple grounding exercise:

5-4-3-2-1 + 1
- 5 things you can see
- 4 things you can touch
- 3 things you can hear
- 2 things you can smell
- 1 thing you can taste
- +1 Bible verse to meditate on

A great example verse to use would be:
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” – Isaiah 26:3

Next time anxiety creeps in, use grounding combined with scripture meditation as a way to settle your heart and mind.

09/09/2025

September is Su***de Prevention Month

If you or a loved one are struggling, please know that you can call or text 988 to reach a trained crisis counselor at the Su***de & Crisis Lifeline, 24/7.

Check on your friends and family, even those who seem to be doing fine. As God is near to the brokenhearted, so we too should draw near to each other so that no one is overlooked or struggling alone.

- To find more resources, you can visit the National Institute of Mental Health’s website by clicking the link in our bio

- If you’d like someone to talk to in person or virtually, please don’t hesitate to contact us to schedule a session with one of our counselors

09/02/2025

FAQ: Do you take insurance?

🌱 Several of our therapists are in-network with BCBS AL and are able to submit claims on your behalf. Visit our website to see which of our therapists is in-network!

🌱 If you do not have BCBS AL or are seeing a therapist via private pay, we can provide you with a Superbill that can be submitted to your insurance for reimbursement depending on your plan’s coverage! Superbills can often be submitted easily through your insurance provider’s online portal and are a great option for using your benefits without being limited by in-network availability.

Call or visit our website to schedule an appointment and we’d be glad to walk you through your options!

08/27/2025

🐾 Meet Ruthie! 🐾

Ruthie is a 7-year-old Goldendoodle and a curly ball of sunshine with a heart as big as her tail wags. She’s currently a certified therapy dog through Pet Partners, a national program that qualifies animals to provide emotional support and encouragement in schools, counseling offices, hospitals, and other community settings. Ruthie especially loves supporting kids—you’ll often catch her with a big, goofy smile whenever she makes a new friend.

When she’s off duty, Ruthie enjoys watching the world go by from the window, chasing deer, savoring her favorite treats (peanut butter anything is always a win), and taking her humans on walks around the neighborhood. She’s a social pup who loves playing with her best friends Jackson, Ruby, and Winnie, and she brings playful joy wherever she goes.

Like any kid at heart, Ruthie has her quirks—baths and haircuts are not her favorite, and she’s still figuring out how to coexist peacefully with her energetic 1-year-old brother, Chewbacca. But her calm, loving nature and ability to connect with people of all ages make her an exceptional therapy dog and a true comfort to those who need it most.

To schedule an appointment with Ruthie and Tara, call (205)-974-2124 or contact us on our website (link in bio). Tara is in network with BCBS and accepts private pay clients!

08/25/2025

✨ Counselor Spotlight - Tara ✨

Introducing Tara, the newest addition to the Fortify team! Tara brings 25 years of experience counseling children and families alongside her therapy dog, Ruthie.

🌿 Tell us about your family!
- My husband Jeff and I have been married for 24 wonderful years and have 3 beautiful children: our oldest is a personal trainer in NYC, our younger daughter is studying nursing at UAB, and our youngest son is in the 8th grade and keeps us on our toes. We also have two fun-loving fur babies, Ruthie & Chewbacca. 💕🐾

🌿 What are your hobbies/interests?
- I’m all about coffee and Jesus to tranisiton into the start of the day, spending time outside with Ruthie and Chewie, and getting creative with scrapbooking and needlepoint. I love planning (and taking) family vacations (espeically if they involved a beach or water) and of course soaking up everything Auburn!

🌿Favorite Birmingham spot?
- My favorite birmingham spot would be at my parents house on Fowler Lake off Highway 41 in Shelby County. It is a small peaceful lake and we enjoy s’mores by the firepit, kayaking, and nature walks. I also enjoy spending time at Oak Mountain State Park. 

🌿What made you want to be a counselor?
- When I was in elementary school, through a ministry at our church, I became a pen-pal with a girl living in a group home in North Carolina. As I learned more about her story, the Lord began to develop in me the spiritual gift of mercy. From that point forward, I knew I wanted to work with children—helping them build connections and learn how to thrive despite challenges.

🌿 What do you wish more people understood about counseling?
- Over my 25 years of experience, I’ve learned that counseling is not just about sitting down and talking one-on-one about your problems - it’s really about connection, trust, and creating a safe space. It looks so different for everyone—especially kids. Sometimes healing happens through storytelling, pretend play, or even playing a game of Chutes and Ladders.

To book a session with Tara, contact us on our website (link in bio) or call 205-974-2124!

08/22/2025

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07/29/2025

✨ Counselor Spotlight - Susanna ✨

Introducing Susanna! Susanna is Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and Board-Certified Professional Counselor with the Board of Christian Professional and Pastoral Counselors. She is also a Biblical Counseling Coalition Partner and a certified PREPARE/ENRICH assessment facilitator for premarital and marital counseling. She has completed the Fundamentals Training Course with the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors.

🌿 She is currently accepting new clients for Clinically Informed Biblical Counseling! To book a session with Susanna, contact us on our website (link in bio) or call 205-974-2124!

07/08/2025

✨ Counselor Spotlight - Dr. Jerra ✨

Introducing Dr. Jerra! Jerra is an experienced counselor, life coach, and ministry leader certified in trauma-informed care, Christian CBT, and EFT and is a facilitator for PREPARE/ENRICH.

🌿 Tell us about your family!
- Married Randy 33 years ago; blended family of his four and my one, ages 11 to 17. It was an exciting time and a hot mess at the same time. Today, we live alone with Bandit, our Shih Tzu, and we have five grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

🌿 What are your hobbies/interests?
- Teaching doctoral students at Liberty University, creating online courses for Gracefull.org; and taking a gentle ride in my deck boat, Reel Therapy.

🌿Favorite Birmingham spot?
- Honestly? Sunday mornings, playing piano for the hottest choir in the South! Pelham First Baptist Church.

🌿What made you want to be a counselor?
- I actually had a pretty lousy childhood, but God gave me the spiritual gift of encouragement to help me see his goodness that was working all around me even when things didn’t look so good. Counseling is a way of encouraging others, not with a false sense of hope, but with a practical understanding of how God operates in our lives to always be producing good in us, through us, and around us. 

🌿 What do you wish more people understood about counseling?
- Your brain, thoughts, and emotions are not afterthoughts—they’re part of God’s intentional design. A clinical counselor understands how trauma, stress, and anxiety work in your brain and body. A Christian counselor brings that knowledge under the authority of Scripture and the healing presence of Christ. “You don’t have to choose between therapy and theology. Good counseling honors both.”

To book a session with Dr. Jerra, contact us on our website (link in bio) or call 205-974-2124!

07/02/2025

✨ Counselor Spotlight - Matt ✨

Introducing Matt! Matt is a licensed minister on staff at the Church of the Highlands and is currently completing a Master of Clinical Mental Health Counseling to become certified as an ALC.

🌿 Tell us about your family!
- I have been married to my wife Alexandra for almost 9 years and we have 3 children together, Eli (6), Asher (3), and Noa (1).

🌿 What are your hobbies/interests?
- I love to play in the backyard with my kids, mostly golf and baseball. I also love to run, play golf with friends, huge Alabama fan, and doing pretty anything with my lovely wife.

🌿Favorite Birmingham spot?
- Our current favorite spot is The Backyard in Leeds, we love the miniature golf course, pizza, and outdoor area for our kids to run around and play.

🌿What made you want to be a counselor?
-I have been in youth ministry for over 10 years and my favorite part was always the one on one meetings where I got to learn more about the person. Being with people brings life to me and I could not imagine a better path for myself than counseling others to find mental wellness.

🌿 What do you wish more people understood about counseling?
- Counseling is not just for those in crisis or tragedy, but for anyone looking to understand themselves and their story better and discover the mental wellness that God wants for every person.

To book a session with Matt, contact us on our website (link in bio) or call 205-974-2124!

06/16/2025

✨ Counselor Spotlight - Brandon ✨

Introducing Brandon! Brandon has a Master of Divinity (M.Div) in Great Commission Studies and is currently completing a Master of Clinical Mental Health Counseling to become certified as an ALC.

🌿 Tell us about your family!
- I have been married to Cameron for a fresh six years! We have a fluffy dog named Yogi (who one day may be joining me as a therapy dog!), and we are days away from welcome our newest addition, our son Rudy.

🌿 What are your hobbies/interests?
- I am an avid board gamer, rock climber, and fantasy book reader. I also enjoy playing basketball and spending time outdoors, hiking, camping, and backpacking.

🌿Favorite Birmingham spot?
- It’s hard to beat Oak Mountain State Park. The King’s Chair Loop has incredible scenery and is a good mixture of relaxing-to-hike while being good exercise.

🌿What made you want to be a counselor?
- I have been helped by counselors tremendously while I was in my 20s, and I honestly am recognizing how much I could have been helped by counselors when I was a teenager if I had not let the stigma of counseling stop me from going. I want to provide help and care for others like it has been provided for me.

🌿 What do you wish more people understood about counseling?
- Your life does not have to be on fire and in shambles (although if it feels like it is, counseling can be good for you, too) to benefit from counseling. Sometimes, having an outside, objective party help make sure your life and your choices are aligned with your values can be just as valuable. Additionally, you get to set the stage for what counseling looks like each time you visit! If you’re nervous about it looking a certain way, tell your counselor, and they’ll make sure you feel comfortable with how the time is spent.

To book a session with Brandon, contact us on our website (link in bio) or call 205-974-2124!