OUR COUNSELORS
Marilyn Lucas
At this point in my life I have much life experience, education and training in counseling, as well as almost a decade of experience working in the field of addiction. My personal life experiences include much diversity and because of working with clients that struggle with addiction my scope of diversity was greatly increased. Because of this I have had the opportunity to assist others in improving all areas of their life.
I see one of the main purposes of counseling as assisting clients in becoming aware of issues that may deter their growth and reduce their positive interactions with others. I think many lack needed coping skills that can be learned. I am here to listen and work together with you.
I bring the unique quality to work with a very diverse clientele and provide fresh insights into your issues. I work to challenge and motivate you. By making often only minor changes one can regain balance of mind, body, and soul while working towards achieving peace, tranquility, and serenity.
Gene Whitten
I am a Licensed Mental Health Associate in the state of Indiana. I received my undergraduate degree from Lincoln Christian College, my master's in counseling from Huntington University. I am currently a doctoral candidate at Liberty University where my focus is on Behavioral Health Management. I believe education is important, especially within the field of behavioral and mental health. But more important to me than that is my faith in Jesus Christ. As a Christian counselor, I see the world through a Christian worldview enabling me to focus on you the person and what is needed to help you overcome your problems. I am passionate about working with men and male teens. I specialize in men's issues, helping teens find purpose, and parenting education for parents struggling with their teen's negative behaviors.
With a Christian worldview and a desire to help people, I provide a safe and comfortable environment where my clients can come and begin the process of change under a skilled professional.
Doug Colgrove
I have been a professional Christian counselor and consultant since 1985 and have worked with a wide range of issues with both groups and individuals. I know the world of mental health from all aspects and I believe I am doing what I am supposed to be doing. It all began when I volunteered as a youth leader for Young Life in Muncie, Indiana. I began to see how positive relationships can change lives.
I spent the next four years learning about adolescents and their needs in relationships. I knew then that working with others with a relationship with Jesus Christ as the base was what I wanted to do. I pursued a degree in Psychology and Bible from Milligan College, finishing in December of 1987. While there, I worked full time at Woodridge Psychiatric Hospital in the Adolescent and Intensive Treatment units. The experience was life changing! I began to understand others at their weakest moments and learned how to interact with them to rebuild hope.
Coming home from Milligan, I accepted a similar position at St. Francis Hospital in Beech Grove, Indiana. I worked primarily with the adolescent population. I also pursued my Master’s Degree in Counseling and Counselor Education while at St. Francis, finishing in 1996. In February 1998, I was promoted to the manager of the Employee Assistance program. My ministry there consisted of counseling employees and their family members on a variety of issues as well as educating hospital departments on topics such as (but not limited to) Stress Management, Team building, Effective Communication and Conflict Resolution. In addition, I consulted with business leaders on the management of their employees, use of EA services and methods to improve employee productivity. In 1998, I became certified in Critical Incident Stress Management. In October of 2012, I began a two-year service to the Indiana Chapter of the Employee Assistance Professionals Association as President, and in 2012, I served as Vice President. I concluded the ministry at St. Francis in July 2013.
Concurrent with the position at St. Francis, I began counseling with Christian Counseling Associates (CCA) in 1988 and built a part-time counseling ministry in Hendricks County, Indiana. I served many churches in the area and learned how to effectively use Scripture in counseling under the guidance and mentorship of Rick Sudsberry. I left CCA in 1998 to take on the full time management position at St. Francis. However, in 2013, I returned to Hendricks County to provide a full range of counseling services. This counseling is faith-based and specializes development of self to tackle and attain life goals.
In addition to business leadership experience I gained at St. Francis, I have developed a passion to take those skills and assist ministerial staff with the massive amount of stress and dysfunction that exists in the ministry. Through it's ups and downs and all the challenges, this ministry continues to grow and develop.
It has been an amazing journey so far. I have gained so much insight into the behavior of others and have seen so much hope and growth through the life changing use of God’s love. Through it all, I have been blessed to be married to my wonderful wife, Johanna, since 1985. God saw fit to bless us with one child, Michael, who joined us in 1993. During Michael’s youth, I was blessed to serve as President of Ben Davis Little League for 2 years and served on its' board for 6 years.
Some of the specialties that I have developed over the years are:
Adolescent Issues
Trauma Care
Grief issues
Spiritual Issues
Critical Incidents: debriefing/defusing
Leadership Consultation
Church/Workplace issues
Ministerial Care
Attachment Issues
PREPARE/ENRICH Hope-Focused Couple Counseling