Billie Baker, Licensed Professional Counselor
If ever someone was actually “born” to do something, I believe that I was “born” to be a healing helper in the lives of others. After being a stay at home mom for 22 years, God reawakened my birth calling, and Joyful Restoration Counseling, and later Joyful Restoration Wellness, emerged after a long season of spiritual drought.
Life happens. Sometimes it happens, and we find ourselves spiraling out of control as though we are caught on a rollercoaster that we did not choose to ride. The twists and turns and 90-degree drops can leave us feeling sick, broken, alone and empty inside. Stress, depression, anxiety, relational issues, and child-rearing may feel like a non-stop trip with a pummeling of curveballs being thrown at every twist, turn, and drop. In my life, I had tried so hard in my own strength to “manage” the chaos of life that I found myself depleted of all energy, encouragement, hope, and joy. I was desperately broken and in need of a drastic heart and mind renovation. It was in this desolate and hopeless place that someone walked with me back to the One who had the power to heal me from the inside out. In my seeking, God reached out His hand, picked me up, dusted me off, gave me hug, and restored the peace and joy within me. The turmoil in my life did not “magically” go away, but God’s peace within me allowed me to respond to the turmoil very differently. I experienced a spiritual awakening and freedom when I realized that I am literally nothing apart from God; He has all of the control...not me! There is so much freedom in surrendering to Him because I don’t have control anyway! And, God is not done with me; He continually reveals, teaches, and encourages me to live in the chaos with a heart like His. When my identity is in Christ, then there is no amount of commotion that can shake me up. It’s been a journey for me, but I am so thankful for those who walked with me and continue to walk with me. “We are all broken...that is how the light gets in”—Ernest Hemmingway Yes, it can be overwhelming to be so broken that you feel alone and hopeless, but don’t worry…you don’t have to ride this alone. Walking alongside someone as they move towards their healing journey is one the most humbling and honoring positions to embrace. Sprinkling some prayer, scripture, and spiritual experiences into the mix I believe further deepens the healing experience. Exploring and processing the underlying trauma that drives the core of shame and self-destructive behaviors, ultimately helps people find or rediscover the joy that may have been missing in their lives. I earned my Bachelor of Arts degree from Texas Woman’s University and my Master’s degree in Professional Counseling from Amberton University. I specialize in working with couples, addictions, trauma, depression, and anxiety. I have significant training in experiential approaches, such as psychodrama and anger management. As a therapist, I have five levels of specialized training in Emotional Transformation Therapy (ETT) under Dr. Stephen Vazquez, the modality developer. This modality is used in individual therapy sessions to quickly manage symptoms of withdrawal from alcohol and/or drugs, decrease PTSD symptoms, as well as alleviate symptoms associated with depression and anxiety. My completion of the “Trauma Model Certification” training gives me a true understanding of the correlation between trauma, addiction, and mental health. I am passionate about healing the underlying trauma that drives the core shame and self-destructive patterns. In addition, I am a PACT (Psychobiological Approach to Couple’s Therapy) trained therapist who uses this teaching to encourage and promote secure functioning relationships within couples. I am a true native to Texas and have been married for 28 years to a man I have known since the third grade. I have two sons, a daughter, a son-in-law, a daughter-in-law, and a big yellow lab named Sadie. I enjoy spending time with my family, hiking, boating, and scrapbooking in my free time. I look forward to journeying with you towards your path to emotional and mental health healing. |
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