Biblical Counseling

Biblical Counseling for Women in Dandridge, Tennessee

Giving hope, discipling, and seeing people transformed through the ministry of the Word.

“Striving to present every man mature in Christ” (Col. 1:28)

Suffering, sin, and problems are familiar to us all! I am committed to compassionately coming alongside you, bringing hope and help from God’s Word, and leading you to a fruitful, vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ.

Common Reasons Counseling is Sought Out:

  • marriage difficulties
  • problems in parenting
  • depression
  • anxiety
  • anger
  • grief
  • difficulty with your painful past
  • past sexual abuse
  • suffering
  • self harm
  • or other life-dominating sins

What Is Biblical Counseling?

Biblical counseling is the compassionate personal discipleship ministry of God’s people to others under the oversight of God’s church, dependent upon the authority and sufficiency of God’s Word (1 Tim. 3:16) through the work of the Holy Spirit. The primary goal of biblical counseling is to see every person mature in Christ (Col. 1:28).

It is my joy to come alongside you to help you develop a whole-hearted love for God and others, and learn how to handle life’s problems God’s way!

How Does Biblical Counseling Work?

With God’s Word as our authority and guide, biblical counseling seeks to reorient disordered desires, affections, behaviors, thinking, and worship toward a God-designed anthropology in an effort to restore people to a right fellowship with God and others.

This goal is accomplished by speaking the truth in love and applying Scripture to the needs of the moment. Comforting the suffering, encouraging the fainthearted, giving instruction, offering hope, and calling sinners to repentance, work to make saints mature as they abide in Jesus Christ.

Who Is Biblical Counseling For?

Biblical counseling is for those who wrestle with a variety of issues that life can bring, including anxiety, fear, anger, depression, self-harm, past sexual abuse, marriage problems, pornography, addiction (life-dominating sins), parenting struggles, relational conflict, and more.

Regardless of the issue you bring, I’m confident the Bible is sufficient to help you in your time of need! I desire to see you experience the rest, joy, and peace available in Jesus Christ. There is always hope!

Frequently Asked Questions

I understand that there are situations where parents desire to seek help for their children!

If you initiate counseling for your child, I would like to meet with you, the parent, first. We can conduct this meeting over the phone, in person, or via Zoom. In our time together, we will assess the situation and the need for counseling for your child. My desire is to support and come alongside you as the primary disciple-maker in the home!

When counselees are under the age of 18, I require parents to be involved in the counseling process, which includes the following: counseling sessions with the child (depending on the child’s age), homework, and/or accountability for their child.

For those outside of our local church, I charge a fee of $75 per session. This covers any resources we may use (books, booklets, etc.), and technology fees.

  • Sessions generally last for 1-1.5 hours. Your first session will typically last around 90 minutes.
  • I expect regular church attendance during the counseling relationship. Read more below under the question, Do you require church attendance during counseling?
  • If you own a Bible, please bring it to all meetings.
  • I assign weekly homework meant to encourage lasting change. This homework will be much more valuable than our weekly meetings, and with this investment, you will see the most growth. I ask that you turn your homework in 24 hours before your appointment. This helps me prepare for our time together!
  • Habits take time to change! I ask that you commit to regular counseling appointments lasting 3 to 4 months (8-12 sessions). Depending on your needs, cases may last longer.
  • Expect to receive help and hope from the Word of God!

While I prioritize our members, I am glad to meet with members of other churches. In an effort to honor the local church and the authority of the local pastor, I require that the Pastor/Church Recommendation Form be completed by your pastor before scheduling counseling. Please email me at kelly@kellytarr.com if you have any questions!

Yes! If you’re not local, I do offer counseling over Zoom.

Yes! In these cases, I counsel with my husband or our pastor. I only counsel women individually.

As a busy wife and mom, I can only take on a limited number of counselees! We can work together to find the best time that works for both of us.

I counsel under the authority of my pastor and elder at Dandridge Community Church. In addition, I’m part of the Biblical Counseling Center at Grace Reformed Church.

I completed training and certification with the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC), pursue 10 hours of continuing education a year, and am currently pursuing a Master’s in Biblical Counseling (MABC).

Yes. If you’re not a member of a local church, you are expected to attend our local church, Dandridge Community Church, during the counseling process. If you’re not local, I will assist you in locating a biblical church near you. This is for your benefit! The local church is a means of grace to His people, providing us with the blessing and discipleship that come through the preached Word, relationships with other believers, and opportunities to participate in building up the church by serving with the gifts the Lord has given us. The Lord also intends and commands His people to meet together regularly as an act of worship and obedience (Heb. 10:25). Biblical counseling is a wonderful gift, but it’s meant to be received in the context of participating in the life of the local church. My desire is for you to experience all there is in Christ! For an in-depth explanation of the significance of the local church, I encourage you to read the article, The Indispensable Community.

Request Counseling

If you’re struggling and want to learn more about biblical counseling, please contact me for a free consultation about how biblical counseling can help you grow and change. If you’re ready to pursue counseling, please contact me to obtain the counseling application and agreement. In addition, if you are not a member of Dandridge Community Church but are a member of another church, your pastor must complete a Pastor Recommendation Form before counseling can be scheduled (see FAQ). After receiving and reviewing the forms, I’ll contact you to schedule an appointment.  If you have any questions, please email me at kelly@kellytarr.com.