Counseling Ministy
We seek to provide a culture of care.
You can find care and support.
We want to help guide you and connect you with help and support, whether it’s through counseling or pastoral care within the church, connecting you to a caregiver in Stephen’s Ministry, or referring you to a professional counselor in our community.
In our church, many people have spoken up and reached out, have already found support, and have been connected to people who walk alongside them in their struggles. Let us help you join our group of folks who have found care and support.
We want to train, equip, and give you the resources you need.
Marriage is hard.
Our vision within Marriage Ministry here at Cedar Springs is to come alongside our married couples to help you love each other well as you are loving God and serving the world together.
We wish to equip husbands and wives emotionally, relationally, mentally, and spiritually – all the while making each married partner feel seen, known, and loved deeply. Ultimately pointing you both to Jesus.
We desire to proactively strengthen marriages and families, by empowering, equipping, supporting, and resourcing. The hopeful outcome is the multiplication of healthy marriages and families within our church body and wider community.
We are not afraid to talk about the hard things in life.
We are a church searching for biblical truth. We are also a church not afraid to talk about hard topics. In fact, we believe the church is the best place to have these difficult discussions.
The truth is that many mental health issues like anxiety, OCD, addiction, and depression impact people around us. 1 in 5 adults live with a mental illness, 1 in 25 adults live with a serious mental illness, 50% of chronic mental illnesses start before 14 years of age, 75% of chronic mental illnesses start by age 24. The numbers don’t look much different for the church. If you are not impacted, chances are someone you love is.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is Counseling Ministry at CSPC?
Counseling Ministry seeks to provide counsel, support, and training for members of CSPC. Our Director of Counseling, Summers McMurray, Psy.D., is a licensed psychologist, and our Associate Director of Counseling, Stewart Scott, M.A., is a licensed counselor.
Who can be seen for counseling at CSPC?
We provide short-term counseling (~5 sessions) for adult members of CSPC, particularly when your counseling needs and schedules line up with one of our counselors. In some circumstances, after meeting and helping assess your counseling needs, we will refer you to a Christian counselor in the community.
How do I make an appointment with a counselor?
You can email either Summers or Stewart directly to make an initial appointment. We will respond and walk you through the steps to sign up for a meeting time.
What should I expect during the first meeting with a counselor?
You will be invited into the counselor’s office and given space to share whatever parts of your story you wish to share. The counselor will help assess your counseling needs and make a collaborative recommendation about ongoing counseling or other options.
How many times will I see a counselor?
Each person’s counseling needs are unique. We only provide short-term counseling here at CSPC. If you need more long-term counseling, we can refer you to specific counselors in the community.
Is there a cost for counseling at CSPC?
Because our counselors are paid staff members of CSPC, there is no cost for counseling for our members. If we refer you to a counselor in the community, we will discuss your financial needs and make appropriate referrals based on your needs.
Will everything that is shared in counseling remain confidential?
Yes, confidentiality is a hallmark of counseling. Everything discussed in a counseling session will be held confidentially.
What do I do in the case of an emergency?
Our counseling ministry is not staffed to serve as a crisis center. After-hour help and emergencies should be directed to 911, Crisis Stabilization Unit (865-539-2409), the suicide hotline (800) 273-8255, or a local hospital emergency room.
Still have questions?
If you still have questions about our Counseling Ministry, please reach out to our Counseling Ministry staff.
Summers McMurray, Psy.D., is a licensed psychologist with over 20 years of counseling experience. She received her Doctorate in Psychology and Masters in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary and worked for 9 years in private practice before transitioning to a full-time role at Cedar Springs in 2015.
Stewart Scott is currently a licensed professional counselor. He also has prior military and pastoral experience. He received his Masters in Counseling from Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS) in Orlando Florida. Stewart served in private practice before joining the Cedar Springs staff in 2024.
