About Rachel

My journey to becoming a Christian psychotherapist started as a teenager. I grew up in a rough neighborhood and my home life was not perfect by any means. I gave my life to Christ at a church 2 miles from my home and it changed my life. I was there every time the doors were open. It was in that space that I learned about leadership, character, integrity, and what family is supposed to look like (amongst a trillion other things).

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When I was in my twenties and in ministry school, I sat under a brilliant woman named Sandy who created a faith-based emotional healing course. The healing that I got from taking that 6-month course was immeasurable to me. From there, my passion to bring the principles of emotional wholeness to the Body of Christ was ignited. 

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It would not be long after that I would get married, face major traumas in my marriage, a bad car accident that caused me to have neck surgery, and a scary brush with melanoma (where I had to have 6 inches of my flesh scooped out and a sentinel lymph node removed). These events coupled with several other major losses and moves caused a decade to painfully fly by. 

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The passion I had for wholeness and healing never abated. By the grace of God alone, I completed my bachelor's and then went to Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon to complete my master's.... during Covid. There were times when I would have to hold rocks as a grounding tool during class because I was still dealing with PTSD symptoms. 

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In the final year of my degree, I got pregnant with our first child, Raphael (aptly named God heals). I had my son and returned to classes within three weeks. Not surprisingly, I dealt with an intense case of postpartum anxiety. Again, by the grace of God alone, I finished all of my course work and graduated with honors. 

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Why do I share all of this? Because I get it. Unfortunately, as American Christians, we often hide behind our church and ministry masks. We act like we have it all figured out when just under the surface, we are in emotional and at times, physical, agony. That is not the gospel. Just one quick read through Corinthians and we see that the believers had some crazy stuff they were walking through in their marriages, with their children, and even within themselves. It is when sin is brought into the light and we are honest about what's really going on that we can not only heal, but we can grow in community and intimacy. It is in this space that there can be wholeness in the Body.

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In 2022, I started Illuminate Christian Counseling to provide clinically informed counseling that is soberly seen through the lens of the Bible. I am up front about my worldview as a Christian because it is how I see everything in the world around me: people, history, politics, human nature/worth, sin, trauma, pain, loss, grief, and even sex.  I value and regularly employ the insights gained from professionals in my field that have gone before me, and I know that at the end of the day, they fade in comparison to the scriptures. Coupled with the fact that nobody heals like Jesus. Nobody. I have seen too many miracles to not hold that truth.

 With decades in church ministry, and a whole lotta life experience, I’m dedicated to fostering emotional well-being and supporting growth in relationships with God and others. 

• I have a deep understanding of spiritual abuse and offer compassionate support to those healing from such wounds, aiming to help them move toward recovery while preserving their faith.

• For ministry leaders and their families, I provide a supportive space where you can be encouraged and find healing amidst your many roles.

• Teens and young adults navigating relationships, life transitions and challenges in their faith will find a welcoming environment to process their emotions and feelings. 

• Couples facing challenges, whether due to infidelity or other issues, will receive dedicated support, empathy, and candor, as you work towards healing and renewal (whether that means together or separate).

• For singles, the scriptures unfold the sadly often hidden truth of your invaluable worth in The Body of Christ.

• I personally and professionally know the impact of CPTSD and trauma and how it can wreak havoc on every part of a person's life and can offer tools to decrease and even heal its wounding.

• And, for those wrestling will sexual addiction, porn addiction, infidelity, and sexual challenges, there is hope. So much of your healing will come from accountability, community, and dealing with your trauma.

Overall, my approach to counseling is to tailor fit the treatments to your unique perspective, ensuring you are heard and understood throughout your therapy journey.

 

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​Certifications & Experience

Certifications​​

• Trauma-Focused CBT Course Completed

• Gottman Marriage training (Level 2)

• SYMBIS (pre-marital)

• QPRT (suicide prevention certification)

• Tier 1 and 2 Training in serving Military through Star Behavioral Health

• CPR, First Aid, AED certified

• Certified Life Coach

 

Experience

• Behavioral Technician for 3 years providing ABA therapy for children with ASD

• Trained facilitator for a Christian emotional healing course

• Youth Leader for at-risk youth for over 10 years

• Three years of ministry school training with a license

• Three ministry leadership internships spanning from the ages16-24.

• Two years running ICC as a solo practice and two years interning during my master's program at Western

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Now serving in both Washington and Texas via Telehealth.

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