Dear Prospective Client,

I am Martha Oakley, a master’s level Christian counselor. I look forward to meeting you and hopefully offering help with the challenges you are facing. I have worked with people of all ages for many years. In the counseling session, I often use cognitive-behavioral therapy (talk therapy) with adults and may add training in breathing techniques, relaxation techniques, listening skills training, and art therapies if these apply. With children, depending on the age, I use Sandtray and Play Therapy. These are useful for children from 4 to 10 years old, approximately. As children mature, they are more able to express their needs with words. I would determine the right therapy for each person individually.

I am also trained as a Life Coach. This is a helpful therapy for guidance toward a goal, often occupational. As a coach, I work with the client to set goals and break down barriers into smaller pieces to make them more manageable. My job it to encourage and foster growth in any areas that need to be accomplished to reach your goals.

As a Christian counselor, I draw on Biblical principles to help clients cope with life-challenges.  I incorporate the Bible and prayer into my approach to counseling. This is not always part of a counseling session, but I will pray and research the Bible for each client of mine. Because religious faith can play a significant role in an individual’s life, clients who identify as Christian may feel more comfortable seeing a counselor who shares their beliefs, knowing that the subject of their faith is welcome into the counseling session. While I will also counsel with those who do not believe in Jesus, my guidance will still have the principles of the Christian faith, whether spoken or unspoken. Bible study may be part of the session when appropriate, or as homework for a client.

My fee is $50 per 50-minute session. Payment will be expected on or before the day of service. I offer a free 20-minute session for you to get to know me and see if you would like to continue with me. I ask that you please fill out the Client Intake Form before we begin a full session so I will understand as we begin what you would like to accomplish in our time together.

I look forward to serving you.

Sincerely,

Martha Oakley

Statement of Faith

I believe in God the Almighty Creator of the universe. I believe in Jesus Christ the Son of God, fully God and fully man. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the third person of the triune God. I believe all people have sinned and need a savior. The only Savior of the world is Jesus Christ. Salvation is given to an individual through faith in the work of Jesus Christ who paid the price for the sins of the world. The Lord Jesus gives eternal life to those who believe in Him, in His life, His sacrificial death on the cross and His bodily resurrection. When believing in Jesus, a person gives his/her life back to Jesus to follow and obey, making Him Lord of their life. I believe the Holy Bible is the inerrant Word of God, given to us to guide us and teach us about Him and to show us how we are to live in obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Christian Counseling – What is it?

As a Christian counselor, I draw on Biblical principles to help clients cope with life-challenges.  I incorporate the Bible and prayer into my approach to counseling. This is not always part of a counseling session, but I will pray and research the Bible for each client of mine. Because religious faith can play a significant role in an individual’s life, clients who identify as Christian may feel more comfortable seeing a counselor who shares their beliefs, knowing that the subject of their faith is welcome into the counseling session. While I will also counsel with those who do not believe in Jesus, my guidance will still have the principles of the Christian faith, whether spoken or unspoken. I use cognitive-behavioral techniques as well as relaxation, breathing exercises, Bible study, play therapies and any techniques that I have training in for specific situations.