Health & Hope

Jan. 31--From her post as an intern at a psychiatric facility, Deanna Flood watched individuals in need of counseling struggle to secure assistance. Without insurance and with no extra funds to cover the expense, the underprivileged face a choice between paying for groceries and utilities or counseling.

Rather than a necessity, mental health ranked as a luxury.

Something needed to be done, the husband and wife team of Lance and Deanna Flood decided.

"As freely as you have received, freely you should give," Lance Flood said, referencing a Bible verse from Matthew. "It is our responsibility to address the community's needs. Churches here do great things to physically take care of others, but not as much is being done emotionally."

Last month, the Floods organized Tennessee Valley Pastoral Counseling and welcomed their first client.

Based out of Point Mallard Parkway Baptist, the Flood's home church, the nonprofit organization provides free Christian counseling for families, couples, adults and children. Donations from churches and individuals provide financial support.

Rather than using money to ensure clients become vested in the therapy, the Floods determine a client's involvement by assigning homework.

"Every study out there says you should make them pay something. I understand that concept, but it is very difficult for me to rationalize doing that in this case," Lance Flood said. "All we want to do is help people find hope and peace."

The counselors, both members of the American Association of Christian Counselors, see the spiritual, mental and physical healing as intricately entwined.

"Clients are not required to be Christians. We do let them know up front that our practice is rooted in faith," Lance Flood said. "To truly find peace, we believe that Christian component is very important and that salvation is found through Jesus Christ."

They pray with clients dealing with divorce, addiction, depression, anger, grief, trauma, finances, abuse and infidelity.

"I don't care why they are here, I just want them here," Lance Flood said. "When they come through that door, they need to know we will not judge them and they can't tell us anything our virgin years can't handle."

"We also don't beat people down with the Bible or tell them they have problems because of sin in their life," Deanna Flood said. "We all have sin. My sin is no greater than theirs."

The Floods based Tennessee Valley Pastoral Counseling on a short-term therapeutic model. The three-stage approach of "encounter, engagement and disengagement" is designed around 12 sessions. If clients need more in-depth therapy after 12 weeks, the Floods will refer them to other counselors.

Along with individual and family therapy, the Floods plan on providing counseling to pastors.

"Pastors are like anyone else. Sometimes they just need to vent. We want to be there just to listen," Deanna Flood said.

At 48 and 43 years of age, Deanna Flood, with a passion for crisis and trauma counseling, and Lance Flood, trained in marital and family counseling, saved money in order to concentrate on free counseling full time. This, they said, is their calling.

"We recognize in these times a lot of people are unable to afford traditional counseling," Lance Flood said. "We are just sharing with the community what God has blessed us with."

For more information about the organization and ways to help, visit www.tnvalleypc.org.

Catherine Godbey can be reached at 256-340-2441 or cgodbey@decaturdaily.com. Follow on Twitter @DecaturLiving.

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