Jennifer Wood, LPC-s

co-Owner and Counselor

Jennifer graduated from East Texas Baptist University in May 2000 with a BA in Psychology. In the fall of 2000, she moved to Monroe, LA to attend The University of Louisiana at Monroe. In 2002, she graduated with a MA in Marriage and Family Therapy. After college, Jennifer worked with the Texas Youth Commission and with Adult, Child, and Family Counseling. In June 2006, she became a Licensed Professional Counselor, and since that time, she has worked in various settings to provide counseling to adult, families, and children for, but not limited to, marriage and family issues, play and art therapy, eating disorders, grief and bereavement, anxiety, depression, and spiritual issues.  Jennifer feels a true heart calling from the Lord to work with those who are hurting and in need. She believes that we are created to fellowship with the Lord, and the only way to experience a life of joy is through a personal and growing relationship with God through Jesus. Jennifer and her husband have been married for 22 years. They have 2 sons and live in Tyler, Texas.

Erin Young, LCSW-S

co-Owner and Counselor

Erin is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Supervisor (LCSW-S) with two degrees in Social Work, a Bachelors degree from The University of North Texas in Denton, TX in 2002 in Social Work and a Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work in 2004 from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA.

In addition to private counseling practice Erin has experience working in a variety of counseling settings, including services for foster care and adoption, elementary education, and children’s health care.

Erin is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Brain Gym, and Trauma. She incorporates these tools into her counseling sessions. Erin specializes in the treatment of PTSD, complex trauma, anxiety disorders, depression, complicated grief, phobias, dissociation, pain disorders, fibromyalgia, conversion disorder, and ADD/ ADHD. Erin is also trained in family therapy and Heart-Focused Biblical Counseling. Her specialty is counseling children, adolescents, individual adults, and families.  

Erin works closely with The Epilepsy Center at Northeast Texas Neurological Associates located in Tyler, TX, specializing in stress based psychogenic nonepileptic seizures and stress based illnesses.  She leads a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy program that is committed to helping patients take control of their seizures and health, thus improving their quality of life.

In Erin’s spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two children. She enjoys yoga, reading, and traveling.

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

After college, Haley began her career in the correctional environment and now works full-time in private practice.   Most recently, Haley has completed training and is fully certified in perinatal mental health. Did you know that 1 in 5 to 7 women experience postpartum depression? Many times, this begins in pregnancy. Haley’s desire is to help shift the focus of pregnancy and postpartum from something that is feared and painful, to a redeemed and hopeful story. It is by God’s grace alone that He brings forth life - even when that life is cut devastatingly short. God has a desire for us to lean into Him in the midst of pain, heartache, and tribulation. He alone has the power to redeem your story. 

She also specializes in working with identity, adjustment, anxiety, depression, grief, and abuse. She has a history of working with teenagers and young adults as they transition through life’s difficult and strenuous situations. She searches for scripture to speak the loudest when words are inadequate, allowing the Lord to provide hope to the weariest of souls. 

Haley has been happily married since 2017 and with a beautiful growing family.  

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” Hebrews 6:19

Jill Kirkley, LPC

Counselor

Jill Kirkley is a faith-based, licensed professional counselor with over 20 years of clinical experience.    

Jill points individuals to seek faith in an all-sufficient God who offers hope.  Our faith in Christ forms the foundation and framework for sound decision-making and there is wisdom in seeking biblical guidance in order to sort through and resolve life’s challenges.  At times, we place our trust in others to meet our needs or even in our own ability to control our circumstances, only to find them insufficient.  Meaningful change is a work of the Holy Spirit as we submit to God and seek his will.  He has given us a Helper, the Holy Spirit, who empowers, comforts, and guides us through each step.   Ultimately, God is interested in changing our hearts, for out of the heart flows all the issues of life.  

Jill works with adult individuals and couples who are struggling with relationship issues, coping with life transitions, trauma recovery, grief and loss, resolving guilt, anger, shame, depression, anxiety, abuse recovery, spiritual issues, and ministry issues. She is trained in focused relaxation which calms the mind and body.

Jill earned a bachelor of science degree in Rehabilitation and a Master’s in Counseling from Stephen F. Austin State University.

She is married to a minister who has been in ministry for over 40 years, and finds joy in her relationship with her spouse, her kids, and grandkids.

“May the God of hope fill you with all peace and joy as you trust in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  Romans 15:13

Brooke is acutely aware of issues that students must face every day. Our children are increasingly expected to make very adult decisions during critical periods of their physical, emotional and spiritual development.  

Teaching children how to grow the fruits of the Holy Spirit is essential in order that Christian love can effectively counter the world’s challenges: poverty; depression; violence; consumerism; materialism; and the many peer pressures of the digital age. Brooke seeks to integrate all methods of effective counseling practice with adequate spiritual support to help ease the fraught and perilous transition to adulthood.  

Brooke is married, has five terrific children and a loving husband and lives in Bullard, Texas.  When she is not changing lives, she enjoys outdoor pursuits and horseback riding.

Nathan (Nate) Edmundson, Psy.D.

licensed clinical psychologist

Nate is a licensed clinical psychologist who enjoys providing both psychotherapy and psychological testing. He graduated in 2010 with his Psy.D. from Azusa Pacific University with an emphasis in systems thinking, integration of faith/spirituality, and diversity. He is also enrolled in a graduate certificate program in biblical counseling.

Over the course of his career, Nate’s work has consisted of individual, couples, and family therapy; psycho-diagnostic and neuropsychological assessments (e.g., autism, ADHD, bipolar); and social security disability evaluations. He has specialized training in autism treatment, primary care behavioral health, and military mental health intervention.

Nate has a passion for working with men (late teens to late 30’s) who are struggling with emotional/mental health issues relating to depression, anxiety, faith/spirituality, life-direction, and relationship-difficulties. His approach to therapy is eclectic, often borrowing from emotion-focused therapy, mindfulness-based cognitive-behavioral therapy, and interpersonal psychotherapy. He provides psychological assessments and psychological testing. He has a special interest in helping men find passion in life and live out their life purpose.

When Nate is not providing psychological services, he enjoys engaging in physical fitness, expanding his learning, travelling, and trying new restaurants. He is also a fiction-author and is in the process of having his first novel published.

ALYXANDRAH WHITE, LMFT, CIMHP

LICENSED MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPIST

Alyxandrah (Alyx) is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with an undergraduate degree in Family and Community Services and a graduate degree in Marriage and Family, both from Oklahoma Baptist University. She is also a certified in Nutritional Psychology. She graduated with her bachelors in 2015 and her Masters degree in 2018.

She began her career in Enid, Oklahoma with a community counseling agency and in 2019 she and her husband moved to North Central Kansas where she practiced at a group private practice until June 2022. She and her family recently moved back to Texas, where she was born and raised at the end of June 2022.

Along the way she became certified in Prepare Enrich (Biblical marital and premarital) and Gottman level 1 couples therapy models. She is also trained in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and works primarily with pre-teens,adolescents and adults. She also has experience working with life transition periods, adjustment, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and Bi-polar disorder in individuals as well as communication, conflict and adjustment in family groups(such as between siblings, co-parents, blended families, and parents and their adult children.

She is excited to finally work in an environment where she can utilize her faith in the Triune God and empower others through scripture and prayer, using Gods' words to echo truth when her own training and words are not enough.

Alyx has been happily married since 2016 and has 2 children under two. She is glad to be back in Texas where her own family of origin and in-laws also reside and to blossom her own family relationships with the ones that raised her in Christ.

"But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

2 Corinthians 12:9‭-‬10 ESV

Kelley Bell, LPC

Licensed professional counselor

Kelley is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC).

Kelley has worked in the field of education for over 30 years, serving as a professional school counselor in both public and private Christian schools for the past 18 years. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics, a Master of Education in Guidance and Counseling, and a post graduate Certificate in Mental Health Counseling. Working as a school counselor, she has a desire to encourage her students to recognize their value and embrace their worth in the Lord and choose to find joy in all circumstances. She is excited to extend this passion by serving her clients at The Bridge.

Kelley has been involved in prayer ministries for teens, young women and mothers of teens for many years and is passionate about sharing the privilege of being in God’s presence. She is a member of Grace Community Church in Tyler where she is active in the women’s ministry. Kelley and her husband have been married for 33 years and they are blessed with two children, two children-in-law and two grandsons.

Kelley is passionate about helping teens and young adults who are struggling with anxiety, depression, stress, grief, self-harm, and family issues. She also desires to help parents through the challenges that can come with parenting as well as working with young married couples to develop healthy marriages centered around the Lord. Kelley is trained in Cognitive Processing Therapy and uses various techniques throughout the counseling process. She truly believes that counseling from a biblical perspective allows one to experience an unexplainable joy as they journey through the healing process.

Kelley’s life verse is 1 Thessalonians 5:16, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Jenny worked as a Juvenile Probation Officer for 10 years where she recognized the need for mental health professionals in the Juvenile Justice field. After working as an officer, she felt a strong calling to become a counselor where she believes she can help adolescents and at-risk youth on a more meaningful level. She also works with children and adults, and is passionate about working as a counselor to help her clients recognize their strengths so their confidence and hope can grow making life’s challenges easier to face.

Jenny and her husband live in East Texas. They have been married for 10 years and have 1 daughter.

“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, ‘I used everything you gave me.’ -Erma Bombeck-

GABRIELA CAMPOS, BA

MASTERS STUDENT

Gabby graduated from The University of Texas at Tyler with a BA in Psychology. She is pursuing a MSW, Masters in Social Work, at Baylor University. Gabby is supervised by Erin Young, LCSW-S. 

Gabby understands just how beneficial a trusting relationship can be for emotional and physical development. She strives to provide clients a safe and non-judgmental space to process emotions, develop effective coping strategies and foster resilience. Gabby believes that we all have the innate ability to navigate through all of life’s highs and lows. Life can be complex and challenging, and she would be honored to walk alongside you in your journey to healing, clarity, and growth. Gabby specializes in working with children, adolescents, and young adults. She is bilingual in English and Spanish.

During Gabby’s free time, she enjoys reading, taking walks, and spending time with her dog and her family. 

colleen long, MBA

health coach

Colleen is a health coach and mental health advocate. She was a collegiate athlete and received a full-ride soccer scholarship to Belhaven College in Jackson, MS. Colleen graduated in 2004 with a BA in Biblical Studies and earned her Masters in Business Administration in 2006. 

She is a 200 hour trauma informed yoga instructor and a 95 hour children's yoga instructor. She is certified in Skill of Stress, which focuses on trauma’s impact on your nervous system and treatment. She is also certified in the Art of Breath, which provides science and application of breathing for day to day life and for athletes.  

Colleen created a mental health nonprofit in 2018, hosted several community events raising mental health awareness, and built a kids yoga program for schools during the pandemic in 2020. She is now the Program Manager of Youth Yoga Lab at Next Step. Colleen teaches a Yoga for Anxiety class at beFree Yoga Studio, the only trauma informed yoga studio in Tyler, TX. Colleen works with clients privately and travels around the country helping facilitate wellness retreats.

Colleen's specialty is helping kids, adolescents, adults, and athletes navigate and reset their nervous system. She focuses on cultivating self-awareness by offering mental health tools that help her clients feel safe in their body. Colleen's program incorporates yoga, mindfulness, meditation, breathwork and sound therapy. Her goal is to help people connect with themselves so they can live wholeheartedly and feel empowered to respond instead of react.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3: 5-6

CHRISTIE LATHROP

OFFICE MANAGER

Taking a leap to investing in yourself, or asking for scriptural advice doesn’t come easy for everyone.  That’s where I can assist.  I will help walk you through the process to find the right counselor who fits your needs.  I can answer all your questions about insurance and billing, in addition to scheduling your appointment.  Greeting our clients with a warm and friendly atmosphere is my top priority.

I am a wife and mother to three beautiful boys and a silly dog Max.  I love to cook, spend time with my family, and love on the kids at our church.  East Texas is home for us and I am eager to serve you.  

Proverbs 11:25 “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”