[5 min. read—newsletter announcement]
As some of you may have read elsewhere, my time as Executive Director of Bridgehaven Counseling Associates is coming to a close in the not-too-distant future. In the coming weeks, our next Executive Director, Beth Broom, will be transitioning to Bridgehaven.
Beth comes to Bridgehaven with a wealth of knowledge and experience. More importantly, she is a godly woman who loves the Lord and is passionate about bringing trauma-informed care to the Church, as well as working closely with other counselors and vocational ministers to create materials and resources in trauma healing for pastors, counselors and church-based ministries.
Beth was the founder and director of a private counseling practice in Denton, Texas, where she worked primarily with married couples, vocational ministers and survivors of abuse. Beth has been a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor (LPC-S) in Texas, and is currently a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, Level 2 (CCTP-II). She is also the Executive Director of Christian Trauma Healing Network, a nonprofit organization that offers resources, training and collaboration to Christian mental health providers, pastors, lay counselors and advocates.
As Beth and her family move to North Carolina, Beth will first join us as a Staff Counselor. She will begin seeing clients through Bridgehaven the first week in April. Then, over the following months, Beth and I will be working closely to ensure a smooth transition in leadership. Beth and I will officially “switch seats” the first week in June, as she becomes Bridgehaven’s Executive Director, while I continue to serve as both the Internship Supervisor and as a Staff Counselor at Bridgehaven. The plan is for me to maintain those dual roles until Beth is feeling up-to-speed, at which time I will take a step back from the Internship Supervisor role, too.
In advance of Beth coming on board with Bridgehaven, we thought we would take some time to invite you in on a short introductory conversation with Beth. And with that, please join me in welcoming our next Executive Director, Beth Broom!
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TONY: Hey, Beth! Everyone here at Bridgehaven is really excited that you are coming on board as the next Executive Director. As we begin to introduce you to our community, I’d love for us to start with you sharing a little about yourself—your background, your family, your upbringing—all that good stuff. So, what was it like growing up as Beth?
BETH: Thanks! I’m so excited as well. I grew up in a small town in west Texas near Amarillo. My parents helped plant a church when I was very young, so we were always very involved in whatever the church was doing. They were also both school teachers, and education was very important in my home. My brothers were athletes, and I started taking ballet lessons when I was five. This turned into a great passion! I eventually joined a semi-professional ballet company when I was in high school. So amidst church activities, my brothers’ games, and my ballet classes and performances, we were always on the go. And as far as what you might have thought about me when I was a kid…you would probably have thought I was a hard worker, strong-willed, and passionate (sometimes to a fault). 🙂
TONY: Yes! Yes! I can totally hear that, and that brings to my mind a question I want to ask. But first, since at Bridgehaven we seek to provide really competent clinically informed biblical counseling, and obvious question I’m sure is on everyone’s mind is a how did you come to know the Lord?:
BETH: As I mentioned, I grew up in a Christian home and was always involved in church activities. When I was nine years old, I asked my dad if I could become a Christian. My parents and church leaders had been teaching me about the Lord, and I felt a longing in my heart to have a relationship with Jesus. My dad prayed with me and then baptized me. I remember that moment so vividly – it was truly transformative. I sensed the Lord giving me a joy and a passion to know him and make him known. And then I continued to be discipled well in my church family, which only grew my love for him and desire to serve him.
TONY: Thank you for sharing that. That’s such a precious story. You know, I mentioned your upbringing brought a question to mind: at Bridgehaven we often say “we comfort others out of the comfort we receive from the Lord.” (2 Cor. 1:3-7) With that in mind, I’m curious: how did you get interested in counseling? And maybe more specifically, how do you believe the Lord has used your story to shape you to serve others as a counselor?
BETH: Well, my story really does mirror that passage in 2 Corinthians. Growing up I was pretty sheltered. I was a rule-follower and was always afraid to get in trouble, so I didn’t engage in typical teenage activities that might be dangerous. But when I was seventeen, I was assaulted. It was such a shock to my system and sent me into a season of seeking to understand God’s goodness amidst suffering. During that time I remember asking God to grow my compassion for other people, and he really did. As I healed and grew, he brought others alongside me who needed that same healing and growth. So from my early twenties, I was leading groups for abuse survivors (even though I was sometimes the youngest person in the group!). And being with other sufferers made me want to learn more about how to care for them. I read everything I could find from a Christian perspective, and eventually I went back to school to get my Masters in Counseling.
There are a lot more elements of my story that have also shaped my heart as a counselor, but we’ll save those stories for another time. I believe the Lord uses all our suffering – He creates beauty from ashes (Isaiah 61:3). I’m not glad I have suffered, but I know it has been redeemed so beautifully that I can’t help but worship when I think back on all that God has done. And I long to see him do that same work in others.
TONY: ….. And maybe along that same line of thought, how do you believe the Lord has prepared you to serve as BCA’s next Executive Director at this time?
BETH: Well, my journey in ministry has provided me with LOTS of lessons, many of which I learned through the crucible of what not to do. I served as the Care Minister at our church for many years, which taught me so much about how to come alongside people within the Body of Christ and bear their burdens. I also learned a lot during that season about how to organize ministries and events, as well as how to lead teams of people. Owning a private counseling practice for five years has taught me about the business side of ministry, and I’ve supervised several other counselors in training (which I absolutely love to do). Starting a nonprofit ministry has also done a lot to equip me for leadership. And the most I’ve learned about how to minister to others has come from my counseling clients. I feel like I learn something new from them every day.
TONY: WOW! As I hear all of that, it is so clear to see how the Lord has uniquely equipped you to serve at Bridgehaven, dare I say, “for such a time as this!” But as the Lord moves you here from Texas, it’s not just a move for you, but for your husband, Kenny, and for your kids, too. How is your family approaching the move here to RDU?
BETH: We are actually really excited. While Texas is dearly loved by us all, we are eager to start a new adventure in the RDU area. It’s actually a huge answer to prayer that my kids are all excited to move. We are a very close family, so it feels really good to have unity in this decision. Right now we’re knee deep in boxes and paint fumes, so we appreciate your prayers for patience and continued unity!
TONY: And so…and this may be a little more of a delicate question…but as you guys are all born-and-bred Texans, how are you feeling about North Carolina BBQ?
It is definitely a delicate question. My husband, in particular, is a BBQ lover. In fact, he has a smoker out back where he barbecues all manner of meats. He doesn’t like NC BBQ, but I told him he can educate everyone on the beauties of Texas barbeque. I think we’ll become the most popular house in the neighborhood! 🙂
TONY: Okay, that’s good to know! What are you really looking forward to about this move (to NC), and maybe more specifically, about serving with our amazing counselors and staff here at Bridgehaven?
BETH: The most exciting thing about serving at Bridgehaven is definitely getting to work with the counselors and staff. I don’t know if you’ve ever experienced this, but sometimes I meet someone and get the sense that we are kindred spirits who will be lifelong friends and ministry partners. That’s how I felt when I met the Bridgehaven team. It’s going to be amazing. I’m also excited about serving the RDU community. I have heard there is a great need for strong Christ-centered care and counseling, and I’m eager to join in that work. And one last thing about moving to RDU…and this is also a delicate subject…we are huge Duke Basketball fans, so being close to Duke will be really fun. My husband is already scheming about trying to get season tickets.
TONY: That’s hilarious! But it’s clear you guys are definitely “all-in!”
I really appreciate you taking some time to let us hear a little about you, your family, and your excitement about coming to Bridgehaven. As we wrap up, I’m wondering: How can we be praying for you and your family as you start your transition to the Triangle and begin your ministry at Bridgehaven?
BETH: Thank you for asking. Moving is a huge endeavor, and it’s stressful. Pray for our hearts to stay confident in God’s provision and providence. We are trying to sell our house and find a new home, so please pray for that process to go smoothly. And most of all, we’ll be grieving the loss of our community and friends in Texas. Please pray that we will grieve well and enter this new season with hope.
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Please join me in praying for Bridgehaven’s next Executive Director, Beth Broom, as she and her family prepare to transition to RDU in the coming months.
It has been a privilege and joy to serve as Executive Director for the last seven years. But I can honestly say, I truly believe Bridgehaven’s best days are ahead, and that Beth is just the right person to lead this ministry into the future. In fact, I cannot wait to see how the Lord uses Beth and the rest of the Bridgehaven family to continue to provide gospel-centered, clinically-informed biblical counseling to individuals, couples, and families, and to equip and resource professional and lay counselors, pastors, and churches to care for one another as image-bearers of God.
Blessings,
Tony