Care that meets families in their hardest moments

Pathways, our counseling ministry, provides professional, Christ-centered counseling to children and families in our care programs. Our counselors help them navigate trauma, loss, and the challenges of foster care. They also extend professional counseling to the broader community, offering guidance and healing for anyone facing life’s toughest moments — people like Lauren.*

When her husband died by suicide about ten years ago, Lauren felt her world collapse in an instant. Her boys, Eli and Mason were only four and two at the time, far too young to understand the loss, yet already carrying the weight of it. In those first weeks of grief, a member of her church told her about Pathways.

Lauren said she was drawn to Pathways because they accepted very young children—something many counseling programs don’t do. “That was one of the appeals [of Pathways],” she said. “They were so young…I think different places won’t even see children until they're five.”

Her sons have grown up with Pathways. Now ages 12 and 13, they’ve walked through childhood and grief with the steady guidance of their counselor, Rhett. “My youngest is definitely the more emotional of the two,” she shared. “Rhett has really helped us work through those big emotions.”

Over the years, Rhett became the first person they turned to when something felt too heavy to navigate alone. “’We don’t know how to handle this. This is something we need to talk to Rhett about.’ I just picked up the phone and called Rhett and said, ‘This is what we’re dealing with. How do I handle this?’ That was just awesome to have that resource.”

Some of the most meaningful moments were when Lauren sat in the counseling room with her boys. “The most helpful times have been when I’ve been able to go in with Eli and Mason… just have honest and frank conversations…What we are going through and what we have been through is hard.” Rhett introduced them to tools like the feelings chart, helping the boys name emotions they didn’t know how to express.

Today, Lauren is married to a wonderful man, and her children are flourishing. “I feel like my children are thriving today because of the conversations and godly counsel they have received,” she said. “I hope I have expressed my gratitude and appreciation for Pathways sufficiently. I just feel like it has made such a significant impact, giving me the tools to help my children transition through different life stages while grieving…and I'm just forever grateful for that.”

This year, Pathways counselors have spent over 13,040 hours with children, families, and community members. They’ve listened, guided, and supported them through some of life’shardest moments.

For families like Lauren’s, who faced unimaginable loss, these hours weren’t just counseling. They were a bright light shining in the dark

*Name has been changed for privacy.