About Us
Mission Statement:
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To bridge the gap between faith and mental health (wellness)
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To transform lives by redefining the process of healing and Freedom
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To transform lives through healing and wellness
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To provide an environment of love and acceptance for healing, freedom, and transformation to take place.
Vision:
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The Church will lead, and the world will follow in the area of mental health (wellness).
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Where we all walk fully in our God given identity.
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A world where we are spiritually, mentally, and physically fit and operate in purpose.
What is the Hope Counseling Center?
Hope Counseling Center is a local and global movement that seeks to promote healing and growth for the whole person – soul, body, and spirit.
Why is the Hope Counseling Center Important?
No problem is too big or too small. If it impacts your life and relationships, then it’s worth fixing.
When your life feels chaotic, stuck, or hopeless. You can overcome this. The Hope Counseling Center will help you get the life you’ve always wanted.
Meet Our Licensed Professionals
We understand the importance of having a trusted confidante when life’s challenges seem too big to overcome on your own. Our professional, licensed counselors will share the tools and techniques you’ll need to move beyond the obstacles in your life. Our program is based on the client’s needs and tailored to achieving the best possible solution.
Clinicians
Karlene Hester
I am a dedicated Master’s-level clinician in Alabama, specializing in offering compassionate care to couples, adults, teens, and young adults. I earned my master’s degree in clinical mental health Counseling from Capella University and my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a concentration in Christian Counseling from Liberty University. My passion lies in working with couples, women, men, and adolescents who are facing various mental health and life challenges. With unique training and personal experience in working with couples and student-athletes, I am equipped to help adolescents and couples dealing with anxiety, relationship issues, family dynamics, and more. As a therapist, I deeply understand the difficulties of managing depression, anxiety, and family dynamics. Beyond work, I cherish spending time with loved ones, exploring new destinations, and seeking fresh experiences, all contributing to my personal growth journey.
Sharrold Hudson
Sharrold R. Hudson is a Birmingham native and received her education in the Birmingham School System. She graduated from Northcentral University (Master of Arts, in Marriage and Family Therapy, General Studies), Birmingham School of Law (Juris Doctorate), and The University of Georgia, in Athens (Bachelor of Arts Psychology).
She is licensed by Alabama Board of Marriage and Family Therapy as a Marriage and Family Therapy Associate and her supervisor is Dr. Debra Atchison, LPC-S, LMFT-S. She holds a Bachelor Level Social Worker (LBSW) license from the Alabama Board of Social Work Examiners.
Jerome Wells
James Charles Jerome Wells, commonly known as “Jerome,” was born in Ohio in 1967, raised in the rolling hills of Williamson, West Virginia. Jerome began his career in the United States Army, stationed in Fort Campbell, Kentucky. During this period, Jerome thrived in the areas of land navigation and communications and escalated to a Certified Air Borne and Air Assault Infantryman. Jerome also achieved the admirable recognition of Presidential Accommodation for Expert Marksmanship.
Thandi K. Wells
Thandi Wells is a wife, mother to a beautiful and strong daughter, 4 bonus sons, and 12 bonus grandchildren. She takes joy and pride in being the best woman, wife, and mother that she can be. Thandi is a graduate of the University of Alabama (Roll Tide) and is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Alabama and Maine. She provides counseling to children, adolescents, adults, couples, and family. She and her husband own Without Walls Counseling, that has offices in Birmingham, Oxford, and Montgomery. She enjoys working with people, spending time with her husband and daughter watching Animal Kingdom, reading, water aerobics, dancing, and serving at The Worship Center Christian Church.
Thandi’s therapeutic foundation focuses on healing from the root of the problem. Thandi incorporates Cognitive behavioral therapy, Dialectical behavioral therapy, and fundamentals of trauma- informed care. Thandi received a Master of Science in Professional Counseling and Addiction Counseling, and Educational Specialist degree in Counseling Education and Supervision. Thandi’s motto is, “Be yourself! There is only one you!”
Board Members
Dee Edwards
As Birmingham Business Journal 2019 Top 40 under 40, Dee Edwards is a Bestselling Author, Speaker, Serial Entrepreneur, Real Estate Investor, and Taxpreneur who is anointed to assist business owners to START, GROW, & BUILD profitable businesses preferably in the tax industry. Dee has been in the tax industry over 20 years and has grown from a one-person tax office to assisting others to build profitable tax practices nationwide by providing resources, tools, document solutions, coaching, professional tax software, and continuing education credits approved by the IRS through the IRS Tax Academy. Dee founded this school in 2016 and it was the first independently owned continuing education provider with the IRS in Alabama that has been recognized by Governor Kay Ivey. She is also the Alabama Ambassador for the Association of Black Tax Professionals, where she provides mentorship and assistance to other black tax professionals alongside other state Ambassadors and founder, Shonda Love.
Skip McDonald
Skip McDonald, R.N. BSN, ThB, has been on InterVarsity Christian Fellowship staff for 29 years. Skip serves in the southeast as a Regional Resource Specialist focusing on mental health, spiritual formation, Bible study and Nurses Christian Fellowship.
Skip has been a Registered Nurse for 45 years. She has a
strong desire to help others obtain and maintain mental and
emotional health. She worked extensively as a mental health nurse. She is also a certified Mental Health First Aid instructor. She has conducted classes to help train others as first responders in mental health crises. Grace Filled Mental Health: The Great Exchange is her faith based mental health training.
Charlie Morris
Mr. Charlie Morris is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 15 years of experience. He has experience in a variety of settings, including inpatient, outpatient, residential and correctional. His specialty areas include behavioral and emotional issues (such as defiance, conduct issues, anxiety, depression, mood swings, trauma), neuro-developmental issues (including attention problems, autism, sensory processing, repetitive behaviors and social skills) and issues involving pediatric clinical sexology (such as survivors of sexual abuse, LBGTQIA+ and problematic sexual behaviors. Currently, he is employed with a local medical non-profit who focuses on providing Integrative behavioral health services in a primary care setting.
While being a father to pre-teen son takes up the majority of his time, in his spare time (between midnight & 6 am) Charlie enjoys crossfit, softball, oversized coffee cups, traveling to new places, and lots of laughing.
T. J.
T. J. resides with his wife, Amanda, his adopted teenage daughter, Genesis, and Tizzy the Tripod Kitty in Nashville, TN. T. J. and his wife are foster parents and advocate for fostering. T. J. has lived a journeyman’s life with a variety of careers in journalism, the music industry, management, non-profit management, and education. He holds degrees in Liberal Arts, Organizational Leadership, and a Master’s in Education with licensure in Secondary English and Business. He is currently working on his certification to become a Spiritual Director through the Sustainable Faith school, expecting certification by May 2022. T. J. is the Executive Director of a statewide nonprofit in Tennessee called the Mental Health Active Response Team (MHART) which coordinates mental health care in crisis responses and operates a statewide Emotional Support phone line available for all TN residents. T. J. is passionate about the power of “story,” relationships, and enjoys talking to people from all different backgrounds. In his spare time he enjoys traveling, playing retro video games, reading, watching old professional wrestling and movies of all kinds, and making music.
Antoinette Washington
Antoinette Washington is a Senior Business Consultant and Coach, who has worked and lived all over the world, with a concentration in finance and healthcare integration policies, systems implementations, and conversions experience. Her experience includes banking, revenue, design and implementation of HR infrastructure, organizational planning, performance evaluations, leadership development, career path models, change management and operational transformations. Antoinette’s social engagement work includes harmonious relationship building between individuals, family and the community derives from spiritual principles. She has over twenty years of mentoring, guiding, coaching, and assisting individuals and families to improve or create new blueprints for their lives.
To have influence in the life of every individual whom I coach or encourage through the lens of integrity and a passion to serve.