The Gathering Place: Helping people heal, grow and connect. This counseling center offers variety of free support groups.

By SARA VANDEN BERGE

There is a place in Stephenville that helps people heal.

The Gathering Place Community Center offers professional mental health and nutrition counseling, classes and support groups that integrate mind, body and spiritual wholeness. 

Owner and founder Gina Martin and her team of independent professional counselors, nutritionist, fitness instructors and community volunteers work with individuals of all ages, as well as couples and families. 

“We all share a desire to help others heal and thrive in healthy relationships with others and with God,” she told Beneath the Surface News.

Gina, an LPC-S, earned two master’s degrees in education and counseling psychology from Tarleton State University and has had a private counseling practice in Stephenville since 2010. 

“Prior to opening my private practice, I spent three years as a Stephenville ISD counselor at Central Elementary,” she said. “I consider myself very blessed to live in a city where I could continue my education as my career dreams developed and changed over the years.

“I love working with people who take the time to invest in their mental health and their marriages and getting to see their lives be transformed as they learn and grow through therapy."

Therapists at The Gathering Place use a range of treatment modalities such as cognitive behavioral therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, emotional transformation therapy and play therapy for children. 

“I love the blend of counselors who practice here because it allows us to meet a wide range of needs,” she said.

“While there are conditions and situations that require a one-on-one therapeutic relationship with a licensed counselor, there are many situations in life that cause a great deal of emotional pain where what is really needed is comfort, connection and ongoing support by others who truly understand. 

“There really isn’t anyone better equipped to do this than another person who has walked through that same experience, which is why our support groups are led mostly by volunteers with experiential knowledge; people who have healed and are trained to facilitate a group.”

The Gathering Place currently offers several free support groups with more being added to the schedule in August.

A support group for those living with chronic pain is held from 6-7:30 p.m. on the first, third and fifth Thursday of every month.

A group to help those coping with divorce will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. every Monday beginning Aug. 19 (there is also a group for kids); grief share will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. every Tuesday beginning Aug. 20 and a group to help mothers deal with their adult children’s destructive choices will be held from 6:30-8:30 p.m. every Tuesday beginning Sept. 10.

A group to help those suffering from miscarriage and infant loss is also scheduled to begin this fall.

“Whether the focus of the group is on grief, divorce or one of many other difficult experiences, a group can provide tremendous emotional support,” Gina said.

“Group members often help and encourage each other as they begin to feel comfortable and open up to one another. We want to provide opportunities for people to draw closer to God through their struggles if that is what they are seeking.

“For this reason, each group contains spiritual content with applicable scriptural principles. For those who are not seeking spiritual guidance, there is no pressure to do so.”

For more information or to register, call 254-595-3751 or email info@thegathering-place.com.