The Potomac Conference of Seventh-day Adventists provides an Anonymous Counseling Program to support pastors, educators, and other full-time exempt employees—as well as their families—who may be navigating highly sensitive personal or family challenges. This program is specifically designed for situations in which complete anonymity is essential.
The Conference recognizes that personal or family conflicts can affect both well-being and professional effectiveness. In response, leadership has established the Anonymous Counseling Program to ensure employees have access to confidential, high-quality support when standard avenues may not feel appropriate.
Most counseling needs can and should be addressed through the mental health benefits available under the Conference’s health insurance plan. The Anonymous Counseling Program is reserved for limited circumstances in which an employee believes complete anonymity is necessary due to the sensitive nature of the issue.
How the Program Works?
Counselors participating in the Anonymous Counseling Program are approved by the Administrative Committee and HR Department. Because the program requires providers who can ensure complete anonymity and demonstrate strong professional competence, identifying suitable counselors can be challenging. However, referrals from trusted counseling professionals and pastors within established faith communities have been effective in locating qualified candidates.
Counselors who wish to be considered for inclusion in this program may contact the HR Department for more information.
Who is included in this benefit?
At the start of each calendar year—or upon hire—employees receive 12 counseling coupons along with the Anonymous Counseling Program brochure, which includes a list of approved counselors and their contact information.
Employees may schedule an appointment directly with any counselor listed. For each session, the employee submits one coupon and pays the required co-payment.
How are counselors paid?
Counselors participating in the program agree to provide services at a discounted rate. While counseling fees in the Greater Washington area typically range from $75 to $200 per hour, the Conference has contracted a rate of $130 per session for this program.
Employees pay a $15 co-payment per session. The Conference reimburses the counselor for the remaining balance, up to $115. The co-payment is intended to support employee engagement and accountability in the counseling process.
Although the contracted rate is slightly lower than many insurance reimbursements, the program remains attractive to counselors because it requires no reports or session documentation, preserving both anonymity and confidentiality. One session is defined as fifty minutes to one hour.
How does the counselor receive payment?
Counselors submit invoices to the Conference for each session.
Invoices include only the following information:
Dates of service
Total charge
Co-payment collected
Balance due
An original coupon (not a copy) for each session
No identifying information—such as the client’s name, address, or phone number—may appear on the invoice. Additionally, no diagnosis codes are permitted on the bill.
The HR Department receives and processes all invoices before forwarding payment vouchers to the Treasury Department.
What are the safeguards to prevent misuse of the program?
Special counseling coupons are issued separately to each eligible employee and spouse. These coupons are printed on secure paper to prevent duplication.
At the first appointment, the employee must inform the counselor that they are using the Anonymous Counseling Program and present valid identification (e.g., employee ID or driver’s license). The counselor will verify the individual’s eligibility by checking the identification and the coupon.
What if someone needs more than four visits allowed?
Contact the HR Department for additional coupons as needed. The employee must request additional coupons for spouses and children.
Please choose a counselor from the following list:
Providers in Washington, D.C. & Maryland Areas
Bethany Nagel
1010 Dulaney Valley Road, Towson, MD 21204
301-518-6870
CentrePointe Counseling
Please refer to their website to choose a counselor in your area or call
800-491-5369 | CentrePointeCounseling.org
Amy Patrick, Intake Coordinator, Ext. 120
Experience counseling individuals, families, couples and children on anxiety, depression, stress, self-esteem, grief and loss, marital conflict, abuse, relational issues, learning challenges, ministry burnout and leadership coaching.
Locations in the following MD/VA counties: Anne Arundel, Baltimore City & County, Calvert, Carroll, Charles, Frederick, Harford, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George’s and Prince William, VA
Denise Crable Crarey, M.S.Ed, NCC, LCPC
Glenn Dale, Maryland 20769
202-437-2545 | crareycounseling@gmail.com
Life Christian Counseling
Please refer to their website to choose a counselor in your area or call
301-292-2778 | LifeChristianCounseling.com
Click on the Counselor tab for a listing of our counselors.
Click on the Counselor name for a full bio.
Peter Buckingham, Practice Manager
Practice includes counseling to individuals, couples, children and families dealing with a wide variety of issues, including marital and family problems, dealing with difficult people, and building healthy relationships. Multiple locations across Maryland, Virginia and DC.
Colleen Mitchell, PhD
8101 Sandy Spring Rd., Suite 250R, Laurel, MD 20707
301-876-4172 | therapists.psychologytoday.com/273886
Each person who enters my office has unique needs and goals. For that reason, I apply a client-centered approach that incorporates cognitive-behavioral and solution-focused strategies to help clients (adolescents, adults and couples) achieve direction and growth in identified areas of need, frequently in a relatively brief period of time.
Emmaus House Counseling
5515 Ridgefield Road, Bethesda, MD 20816
301-320-3600 | EmmausHouseCounseling.com
Kevin Schick, MA, LCPC, NCC
Specialties include relationship issues, depression, and spirituality. Counseling adults and adolescents with issues in addiction, anxiety or fears, loss or grief, sex addiction, and substance abuse.
Higher Change LLC
7201 Wisconsin Ave. Suite 440 Bethesda, MD 20814
240-342-6338 | https://higherchange.com
Dr. Thomas Luttrell
Providers in Northern Virginia
Real Life Counseling, LLC
1557 Bennington Woods Court, Reston, VA 20194
703-887-3088 | reallifecounseling.biz
Samuel Sierra, D. Min., BCPC
Counseling to individuals, couples, and families dealing with a wide variety of issues, including marital and family problems, dealing with difficult people, building healthy relationships and developing a healthy identity.
Associate Counseling Center
129 Park Street NE, Suite C Vienna, VA 22180
703-999-5567 | associatecounselingcenter.com
Janet Raymond, MA, LPC
John Raymond, MA, LPC
Associate Counseling Center
160 Warrior Drive, Stephens City, VA 22655
Practice includes individual, couple, marriage, premarital, family, and children, counseling.
Providers in Capital Area Virginia
Commonwealth Christian Counseling
1504 Santa Rosa Road, Richmond, VA 23220
804-254-7643
Charlotte Markva, LPC, LMFT, CSAC
Specialties include Christian counsel, marital restore, depression, and anxiety or fears. Other issues are addiction, adoption, anger management, ADHD, Child or adolescent, divorce, family conflict, infertility, loss or grief, parenting, relationship issues, substance abuse, trauma and PTSD.
Christian Counseling Associates
5352 Twin Hickory Road Richmond, VA 23220
804-592-2793 | ChristianCounselors4va.org
Please refer to the website to choose a counselor in your area. Jennifer Perkinson, MA, Intake Coordinator Practice includes counseling for children, adolescents, adults, and families, who have been struggling with various emotional, behavioral, and family issues.
Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care
Please refer to the website to choose a counselor in your area or call:
804-282-8332 | vipcare.org
Douglas M. Thorpe, Ph.D, M.Div, Executive Director
The Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care was founded in 1967 as an interfaith, not-for-profit counseling and educational institute. Today it is one of the leading pastoral counseling centers in the nation. VIPCare is accredited by the American Association of Pastoral Counselors as a counseling and training center, and is a recipient of AAPC’s Distinguished Program Leadership Award.
Providers in Southwest Area Virginia
Charles Rife, Ed. S., M Div, LPC, LMFT
5401 Fallowater Lane, Roanoke, VA 24018
540-989-1383
Works with individuals, couples and families treating emotional, behavioral and relational problems. Chuck’s areas of clinical expertise include treating depression; anxiety; panic; anger; grief/loss; substance abuse; addictive behaviors; abuse- sexual, physical, and emotional. His clinical expertise also includes counseling on the subject of sexual orientation.
Providers in South Central Virginia
Christian Counseling Services
22174 Timberlake Rd., Suite D Lynchburg, VA 24502
434-525-9006 | lynchburgcounselor.com
Larry Bell, M.S L.P.C & C.R.C J. Paul Marks, D. Min, MA, LPC
Whitney Smith, M.Ed, MA, LPC Beth B. Ulrich, MSW, ACSW, LCSW John Turner, LCSW Gary P. Wardlaw, MA, LPC
Ryan Vaughn, MA, LMFT, LPC
Practice includes counseling for individual, couple, marriage, premarital, family and children.
Light Counseling
2811 Linkhorne Dr. Lynchburg, VA 24503
434-384-1594 | lightcounseling.net
Mark Shadoan, Ed.D, LCSW Lynette Shadoan, MA, LPC, LMFT Amy Feigel, MA, LPC, LMFT Doris Demato, Ph.D, LPC, LMFT Dan Sullivan, MA, LPC Robert Sitler, Ph.D, LCP Elaine Johnson-Snyder, MA, LPC Michael Morykon, MA, LPC, LMFT Hitomi Makino, Ph.D
Practice includes experience working with adults, children, adolescents, and families. Specialties include: eating disorders, child/adolescent issues, relationship issues, sexual abuse, suicide, cutting/self-harm, and depression.
Wyndhurst Counseling Center
105 Hexham Drive, Lynchburg, VA 24502
434-237-2655 | wyndhurstcounselingcenter.com
Chuck Rodgers, MA, LPC
Steve Baker MA LPC CAC
John Thomas, Ph.D
Jeanne Brooks, Ph.D
Kirstin Magnuson, MA, LMFT
David Appleby, Ph.D
Tim Barclay, Ph.D
Michael Ramsey, M.Ed.,LPC,
Jason, Wright, Ph.D, LPC, LMFT
Practice includes therapy for individuals, couples, marriages, premarital, families, and children. We have extensive experience in counseling clients with depression, anxiety, adjustment issues, and grief.
Providers in the Tidewater Area of Virginia
Christian Psychotherapy Services
Please refer to this website to choose a counselor in your area or call.
Virginia Beach: 757-490-0377 Chesapeake: 757-312-8002
Newport News: 757-873-0735 Norfolk: 757-622-2114
ChristianPsychoherapy.com
Laura Anderson, Executive Director
Practice includes counseling for individual, couple, marriage, premarital, family and children. Specialty Issues: Anxiety, Depression, Step-parenting Issues, Family Issues, Women’s Issues, ADHD, Theophostic Prayer Ministry.
Covenant Counseling Services
3101 American Legion Road # 21B, Chesapeake, VA 23221
757-547-7877 | covcounseling.com
George Harvey, Ph. D, LMFT, LPC
Frank Gripka, Ph. D, LPC
Practice includes counseling from a biblical perspective for depression, anxiety, stress, anger, grief and loss, parenting and relational issues, religious and spiritual issues and pastoral issues.
Providers in the Valley Area of Virginia
Springbrook Wellness & Counseling
133 West Springbrook Road, Broadway, VA 22815
540-896-7687
Robin Breeden, LCSW
Lofton Anderson, LPC
Practice includes therapy for individual, couple, marriage, premarital, family and children.
Valley Pastoral Counseling Center
300 Chestnut Avenue, Waynesboro, VA 22980
540-943-8722 | valleypastoral.org
Emilie Thomas, MA, LMFT C.
Alan Melton, D.Min, LPC
Stephanie Sterling, MA, LPC
Bill Huffman, M. Div, MA
Melissa Hansen
Resident Practice offers therapy to individuals, couples, families, adolescents & children. Specialties include: adult intensive psychotherapy, family & marital therapy, depression, grief and loss, religious issues, anxiety, stress and relationship issues.
Virginia Center for Family Relations
1450 Sachem Place, Suite 101 Charlottesville, VA 22901
434-973-5640 | vacenterforfamilyrelations.com
Larry French, MA, LPC, LMFT
Peter Schmidt, MA LPC LMFT
Peggy Rudnick, LCSW, BCD
Adrienne Consylman, MA, LPC
Rodney Kibler, Ph.D, LSP, LPC
Merrilee Peske, LMFT
Felicia Aliano, LPC
Virginia Center for Family Relations
100 Mactanly Place, Suite B, Staunton, VA
540-885-3481 | vacenterforfamilyrelations.com
Jeffrey Watros, MA, LPC, LMFT
Practice offers therapy to individuals, couples, families, adolescents & children. Specialties include: adult intensive psychotherapy, family & marital therapy, depression, religious issues, anxiety, stress and anger difficulties, relationship issues, grief
Charis Institute for Psychological
& Family Services
21 Southgate Ct., Suite 101 Harrisonburg, VA 22801
540-568-1876 | charisinstitute.org
Randy Weber, Ph. D, LCP, MSCP
Ronda Weber, Ph. D, LCP, LCSW
Practice offers therapy to children, elderly, groups, family, marital couples. The philosophy is to provide a place where people can experience the healing touch of God’s grace.
Providers of Virtual: ELU Counseling, Consulting & Coaching
877-358-2998 | eluccc.org/
info@eluccc.org
Kim Cook, LCSW, Director
Anna Bearrs, RMHCI
Ellen Blasing, LCSW
Kielly Brew-Chann, LCSW
Nathan Chase, LPC-MHSP
Emily Dungey, LPC
Rebecca Horn, LPC
Kate Johnson, LCSW
Jordan Klett, LMSW
Sarah Matthews, LMSW
Toni Nicoletto, LCSW
Greyson Reesor, LMSW
Dominique Reyes, LCSW
Kara Stewart, LPC
Kelly Rao, LMSW
Lydia Torres, MS (bilingual, Spanish)