Hello, my name is Rachel Church! I am a Jacksonville-native although my husband and I lived in Louisiana and New Jersey while he served in the U.S. Coast Guard. Those places were nice, but there is no place like home! We have been “home” since 1998 enabling us to raise our family in our beloved city.
As far back as I can remember, I have been a friend who was always ready to lend a listening ear. As the years passed, I discovered the joy of helping others work through difficult times. This led me into a rewarding career in specialized customer service in the financial industry. I also found great joy mentoring teenage girls at church. While my career and mentoring were incredibly fulfilling, I wanted to help others thrive in their personal lives and relationships which led me to become a marriage and family therapist.
Who I can help
Women: Learning to love oneself sometimes requires removing roadblocks. The roadblocks may have been placed by someone or even yourself, but things can change, and you can live the thriving life for which you were created. I am here to help.
Couples: Relationships can be tough. Sometimes we need someone to come alongside us as a guide to work through challenging times. Challenges come in many forms and compete for our happiness and peace of mind. If you’re struggling with communication, conflict resolution, or physical or emotional connection struggles, things can get better. You can experience greater intimacy and connection.
Families: Families come in all shapes and sizes. Whether related by DNA, marriage, or adoption, the relationships within a family are the ones that seem to hurt the most when conflict occurs. I can help your family communicate, safely navigate the conflict and reconnect.
Parents of Children with Special Needs: Raising a child with special needs can bring unique challenges to parents and couples. I am here to help you explore your feelings so you can experience peace.
Ministerial Couples and Families: If your family is in a place of ministry, you may feel like you live in a fishbowl. It can be difficult to carve out time to work through your own relationships when your life’s work is committed to those in your care. I provide a safe environment to work through the challenges your family is facing and strengthen your family bond.
Biography
I attended University of North Florida where I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Education. I earned a Master of Arts degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Liberty University and am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the state of Florida (MH21905). As a couples therapist, I am Level 1 Certified in Gottman Couples Counseling, a certified facilitator of Prepare/Enrich (an evidence-based assessment tool for premarital and marriage enrichment) and I have advanced training through Emotionally Focused Therapy Externship (EFT – a highly research-based couples treatment model) as well as training in other evidenced-based family therapy theories and interventions.
I am an EMDRIA Certified Therapist (EMDR is a leading research-based treatment for trauma) and a Board Certified TeleMental Health Provider (BC-TMH 3759) able to provide both phone and video-based sessions. I am also an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God and offer faith-integrated therapy upon request.
In my free time, I enjoy a good puzzle and spending time with my husband and our two dogs.
