A faith-based counseling business on Lexington Avenue has seen growth recently. In the last 18 months, Heritage Christian Counseling has grown from one counselor, to five.
Tom Russell, a PCCS who serves as Heritage’s President and Founder, resigned from his teaching job in Cardington in 1991 to attend Ashland Seminary with plans in starting his own practice in psychology and family counseling. After he completed the program, he started Heritage Christian Counseling in 1996.
The company’s website describes the business as “a counseling ministry that relies on the power of the Holy Spirit and the divine word of God to help and disciple people in their daily lives with the pain and challenges of life.”
In March of 2012, Russell bought the current building on Lexington Avenue and ventured into a privately owned practice. Russell said his faith-based business works to act as an asset to churches within the community.
“I think what makes us unique is how we are positioned as Christian counseling,” said Russell. “We’re like a resource to the church and we don’t exclude anybody.”
In terms of growth, Russell says the center has seen results from heightened visibility in the community. The four counselors, each with specialties in different areas, are housed in the current Lexington Avenue building. They are Tom Day, LPC-S; Chris Childers, PC; Laura Byrom, LSW; and Linda Emerson, LISW.
Each counselor makes his or her own schedule, but typically, one or more of them are in the building from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. They are encouraged to make relationships in the community, Russell said.
The company credits success in recent months to their presence on a local Christian radio station. Every Thursday mornings during the 8 a.m. hour on WVMC, Russell speaks on topics like marriage, family, depression and suicide.
When they first opened doors to their new location on Lexington Avenue, they invited the public in for an open house. Russell and the other counselors spent time answering questions about their work.
Heritage Christian Counseling Ministries specializes in marriage and family counseling but offer a variety of services that cover an array of emotional mental disorders. To make an appointment, call 419-526-5523. Visit their website for more information.
