DIRECTOR OF COUNSELING MINISTRY
Julie holds a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and is a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors. She is committed to ongoing education and holds several certifications. She has over 34 years of ministry experience, serving in various roles both vocationally and alongside her pastor husband. Julie uses an integrative approach to counseling best described as clinically-informed Christian counseling. She addresses a wide range of problems such as anxiety, depression, anger, grief/loss, insecurity/low view of self, life adjustments/transitions, spiritual doubts/confusion, relationship challenges, divorce recovery, acute trauma, life disappointments, recovery from childhood wounds, and living with chronic illness.
Julie and her husband Jeff have been married for 32 years, have four adult sons and daughters, and five grandchildren. They have made Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley their home for 28 years.
Chris has 20 years of full-time vocational ministry experience working with adults of all ages. He holds a Master of Arts in Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and is working toward his doctorate in Community Care Counseling through Liberty University, focusing on Marriage and Family Counseling. He is a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors. He has completed Level 2 Gottman Method Couples Therapy training, an approach that includes a thorough assessment and evidence-based interventions for work with couples. Chris uses the Seven Desires framework, emphasizing core needs such as being heard, understood, and affirmed.
Chris and his wife Cary have been married for 24 years. They have two teenage children.
Gina has been in full-time ministry at Cross Church for over three decades. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Family Studies and Child Development and is certified in Spiritual Formation and Biblical Counseling by Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation. Her ministry experience includes spiritual guidance and biblical training to parents with children ages birth through 18 years of age as well as mentorship and discipleship to women ages 12 years to senior adult. She addresses a wide range of problems women experience such as grief from loss, marital struggles, parent/child relational strain, distress from living with a painful past, anxiety, depression, chronic illness, loneliness, feelings of abandonment by God and others, and spiritual doubts.
Gina and her husband Ed have been married for 33 years, have two adult daughters, and one grandchild.
CROSS THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY RESIDENT
Sophia graduated from the University of Arkansas in 2019 and has been a member of Cross Church for 10 years, working in the Counseling Ministry since June 2024. She is pursuing a Master of Theological Studies from Cross Theological Seminary. She has served with CTHREE, mentoring and discipling college-age and young adult women, helping them develop spiritual disciplines, walk through various challenges and life transitions, and navigate present circumstances and issues. Her training includes a biblical counseling foundational class through Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary; she is currently completing a biblical counseling certification through Light University, a partnership organization with the American Association of Christian Counselors.
Cross Church has well-qualified pastors and ministry team members on staff, many of whom are seminary-trained and hold master’s degrees in various theological fields. While they are not formally trained in counseling, they have experience in helping people apply biblical principles to life and problems. Their approach to care is informal, however, and would not be structured the same as the above forms of care and counseling.
NOTE: No formal diagnoses or legal advice provided by the above-listed helpers. They provide church-based counseling only and are not licensed by the State of Arkansas. They are not professional counselors nor therapists, and do not identify as such.
Living Well is a branch of Arkansas Baptist Children and Family Ministries, part of the Southern Baptist Convention of Arkansas. There are 29 Living Well sites in 27 different Arkansas cities, with offices in Springdale, Fayetteville, and Rogers. Most all LW therapists offer Telehealth services, providing virtual counseling for anyone located in the state. All LW counselors are believers in Christ, and active in a local church. They all provide faith-based counseling congruent with the Southern Baptist Convention Statement of Faith.
Living Well is a community of licensed, professional counselors, certified and trained in various specialties such as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), child play therapy, sand tray therapy, family therapy, Emotion Focused Therapy, trauma-informed therapy, marriage therapy, and various other areas. They are prepared to counsel most any mental health challenge. Their services and expertise extend beyond the other forms of counseling and care Cross Church can offer, and can service all situations – individuals, couples, and families.
Visit the Living Well website for a more thorough understanding, arkansasfamilies.org/counseling.
ON-SITE LIVING WELL THERAPISTS (Springdale Campus)
Waylon holds a Master of Divinity with specialization in Counseling from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and is a licensed mental health therapist in the state of Arkansas. He is trained in Emotion-Focused Therapy and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). He has over a decade of professional counseling experience with individuals and couples. He also serves part-time as Associate Pastor of Discipleship and Administration at Elmdale Baptist Church in Springdale, one of Cross Church Network churches.
Waylon and his wife Michele have been married for 17 years and have a son, Isaiah.
Elizabeth holds a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from John Brown University. Elizabeth graduated from Cross Church School of Ministry in 2018 and has served in ministry for over six years, focusing on discipleship. She is trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and TF-CBT (Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy). She enjoys working with adolescents, adults, couples and families. She has experience working with PTSD, anxiety and depression, grief and loss, and working through family conflict. She believes each person and situation is unique, and tailors her therapeutic approach around what you and your family need.
Elizabeth and her husband Marcus have been married for 6 years and have 3 young children.
In addition to referrals to Living Well Counseling, Cross Church Counseling offers informed and targeted referrals to other trusted, Christian, professional counselors in the community for anyone regardless of church membership. If you would like us to custom-make a referral for you, please fill out a Request Help Form on the main Counseling Webpage.
Here are some of the Northwest Arkansas clinics we refer clients to:
Living Well Counseling (Springdale and Rogers) | 479-521-1296
Fresh Roots Family Counseling (Rogers) | 479-986-8655
Fellowship Bible Counsel and Care Center (Rogers and Fayetteville) | 479-659-3657
Stillwaters Family Counseling (Fayetteville) | 479-263-7602
Waterstone Counseling Center (Springdale) | 479-202-6300
