Becky Ward, MA, LPC

Tending the Vineyard

I’m a trauma survivor who is in love with Jesus and is passionate about blending my faith with my counseling skills to provide the best possible outcome for my clients.

As a counselor, I'm fascinated by the way trauma effects people, and most importantly, the ways in which it can be healed. I’ve walked the path of healing from physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and neglect, scapegoating, gas-lighting, spiritual abuse and more. I’ve been there – I’ve done the work, and my life gets better every day. So can yours.

Did you know that trauma is a brain issue? It is not a character defect or something that happens just to weak or frail individuals. I believe that everyone experiences trauma in life. Many individuals are able to resolve it with good support systems or early treatment and it does not cause disturbance years later. For others, it turns into post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety disorders, depression, or panic attacks. It can rob them of the ability to feel safe with others and to enjoy intimacy (feeling safe to share one’s deepest thoughts and feelings) in their relationships. Life becomes chaotic, it is hard to set and keep realistic goals, and there may be no sense of control even though one is trying hard to change. Shame grows and it is hard to hope.

The good news is that trauma is not a life sentence. There are many ways to treat trauma today, to put it behind you and to find new ways of engaging life and relationships. I can truly tell you that there is reason for hope.

I use a teamwork approach with my clients: they are the experts on their life, and I have tools, education, and skills to offer. Between us, we identify the issues that cause the most disturbance for them and then work together to determine the best way to address those issues. I am privileged to be there when miracles happen.

I am a wife of 43 years, a mother and grandmother who repressed (or buried) her abuse for 45 years but still experienced symptoms as the trauma tried to work itself out. I secretly thought I was crazy and was terrified that people could tell. I credit my faith and God’s tender loving care for the healing I have received, and I consider it both a joy and a blessing to work with others who have similar struggles.

My life experience includes working as a waitress, bartender, assembler, and customer service representative. I was a room mother, I went on field trips, coached soccer, volunteered at my church, was a Cub Scout leader and a 4-H leader in addition to taking care of my home and family. I also owned my own business for a short time before going back to school in my late 50s.

I’d like you to know that it is never too late to make positive change in your life, not if you really want it and are willing to do the work to make it happen. This is especially true when we include God in the healing process.