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Mission statement: To cultivate a team of clinically trained, professional Christian counselors who have a calling to bring healing to others and a desire to counsel based on the inerrant truth of the Bible.

Fig Tree Therapy

instilling hope and inspiring change

Fig Tree Therapy was founded in 2012 with the commitment to serve God through service to others. We are a diverse team of clinically trained, professional, Christian therapists who have a calling to bring healing to others and a desire to counsel based on the inerrant truth of the Bible. We hold a Judeo-Christian worldview and believe the Bible is the final authority on all things.  We do understand that not all of our clients hold these beliefs.  While our application may change based on our client, our value systems remain steadfast in the Word of God.  One of our goals is to help our clients recognize false beliefs and assumptions that prevent them from walking in freedom.

Our team believes the mind, body and spirit are intrinsically linked and each component has a significant influence on the other. We believe in the sovereign power of God, His ability to bring healing to an individual, marriage and family and the value of following Biblical principles.

We have witnessed the impact of trauma on a person’s body and mind, and how God can use psychotherapy as a tool in bringing relief and hope to many.  Most of us are trained in a psychotherapy called Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing; some of use Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Cognitive Behavior Therapy.   We strive to faithfully incorporate these modalities under the authority of God’s Word and may adjust its application to “meet our clients where they are”.

Therapy requires active participation, honesty, commitment to change and the willingness to take responsibility for one’s own growth and development.  While we are clinically trained to treat various problems, we also understand not all problems are pathology.

What is EMDR?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is a psychotherapy that involves the treatment of trauma related symptoms including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.  This type of therapy can be short term (dealing with a specific trauma) lasting 3-5 sessions or can be more intense if complex trauma is present.  Some of our therapists are able to provide intensive sessions, lasting 2-3 hours. We have witnessed the effectiveness of this approach for over a decade.  This process allows the person to identify the negative and distorted beliefs associated with the memory and replace them with more accurate beliefs, thereby, desensitizing the intensity of the memory and its impact on core beliefs.

What is DBT and how do we incorporate this approach? 

Dialectical Behavior Therapy is a structured, skills based approach originally developed by Marsha Linehan, PhD.  This approach involves learning skills to regulate emotions, navigate distress well and develop effective interpersonal skills.  Mindfulness is foundational to all of the other skills and utilizes the power of noticing the present moment with curiosity.  A dialectical approach encourages us to tolerate the tension of opposing emotions, views and behaviors while learning to dialogue with others with respect for their position.

Many of our therapists are trained in DBT and incorporate it in our individual sessions.

Trauma, DBT & Life Skills Class

We offer an adult class that incorporates DBT principles while teaching about trauma and how it impacts the brain and body, attachment styles and lifestyle choices. Tina Motley, LCSW has been facilitating DBT groups for years and is also an EMDR consultant trained in many modalities.  She will be leading a 15 week group she has named “DBT Infused Trauma Group”. She will lead discussions and teach the application of concepts such as mindfulness, emotion regulation, attachment styles, brain science and lifestyle choices. Each group is $50. 

Living From The Heart Jesus Gave You Group

Facilitated by Melinda Batalias, Intern Counselor

Do you find yourself feeling any of the following?

  • Isolated
  • Stuck
  • Wounded
  • Traumatized
  • Engaging in immature or unhealthy coping skills
  • Do you have a desire to achieve wholeness while living in a fractured world?
  • Do you want to learn more about trauma and work towards healing from the effects of trauma?
  • Do you want to improve your sense of belonging and learn to live from your heart instead of from your wounds?

In this group, we will seek change at the heart level using a combination of clinical mental health strategies (CBT, DBT, Mindfulness), brainscience, and improving our relationships with God, ourselves, and others.

We will be guided in our work by Living From The Heart Jesus Gave You by James G. Friesen, E. James Wilder, Anne M. Bierling, Rick Koepcke, and Maribeth Poole. ISBN: 978-935629-14-6

$30/group and Group is facilitated by Melinda Batalias, Liberty University Intern.

To register, please contact our office at 804-239-7688 or email [email protected]

DBT Skills Group for Adults & Teens

Faciliated by Stephen Handley, LCSW

Join Stephen to learn the core four skills of DBT: Distress Tolerance, Emotional Regulation, Interpersonal Skills and Mindfulness.

DBT teaches you to regulate your emotions, improve your relationships, understand your emotions without always acting on them, and reducing undesired behaviors.

FOR ADULTS: Stephen will be faciliating two groups, one virtually and on in person, beginning Wednesday, September 20th. Virtually from 12 noon to 1:30pm and in person from 5:15p to 6:45pm.

FOR TEENS: Stephen will be facilitating an in person group, every Thursday, from 4-5pm beginning September 21st.

The cost is $50 per week, due at the start of each of the four modules.

Please call 804-239-7688 or reach out via email as [email protected] for more information.

Meet Our Team

Tina Motley, LCSW & CEO

Tina graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2002 with a Master’s in Social Work and became licensed in 2009. She is currently a PhD student at Liberty University studying Psychology with a concentration in Behavioral Health Leadership.

David Hawxhurst, LPC, Spiritual Director

David began counseling as a graduate of the Lay Counseling Institute in Northern Virginia.

Valerie Caleb, LPC

Valerie earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Eastern Mennonite University and a Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling.

Kathryn Parker, LPC, NCC, CT & Clinical Director

Kathryn received her Bachelor’s degree in Human Services Counseling from Old Dominion University and graduated with Honors in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Regent University.

Michael Ingram, LPC

Mike graduated from Regent University (VA) where he received his Master’s degree in Counseling.

Scott Ellis, LPC, NCC

Scott is a married father of three and Licensed Professional Counselor who earned his Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a specialization in Christian Counseling and his Master of Education in School Counseling. He has a wide range of ongoing counseling experiences which typically involve helping people transform communication, behavioral and life patterns. 

Elizabeth Whittle, LPC

Elizabeth is a Licensed Professional Counselor and completed her Masters in Counselor Education at Virginia Commonwealth University. Elizabeth completed her residency in private practice and has extensive experience working with adolescents and adults.

Annie Kennedy, LCSW

Annie is qualified by her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Covenant College and a Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work.

Nicholas Junes, LCSW

Nick is passionate about supporting others who need help with connection and communication, relationships and marriage, life transitions, anxiety, depression, and integrating mental health with spirituality.

Kelsey Moffatt, LCSW

My area of specialization and deepest passion includes ethical integration of religion and spirituality into trauma therapy. Seeing firsthand the brain’s ability to grow from hardship and witnessing the human propensity for healing in a therapeutic relationship spearheaded my passion for working with individuals who experienced trauma.

Stephen Handley, LCSW

Stephen’s current focus is with young men ages 15-40 and young couples in the pre-marital/engagement stage. Stephen helps young men and young couples excel in their lives and overcome emotional, behavioral, substance-related issues, life transitions, and relationship difficulties. 

Misty Tafao, LADC/MH, LSATP, MAC

Misty understands the importance of engaging the whole person (body, soul, and spirit) in the healing process. She is a certified EMDR therapist and is trained in many other trauma focused methods, including Polyvagal theory, somatic work, and dissociation (Ego State/parts work). She also specializes in substance abuse/addiction, and is certified as a Master Addiction Counselor.

Jen Leftwich, Supervisee in Social Work

I have dedicated my clinical focus to the treatment of psychological wounding. Like physical trauma leaves visible scars as evidence of something having happened to you, wounding experiences also can leave a trail of evidence in our thoughts, emotions, bodies, beliefs, and perceptions that can impact our senses of self and safety, relationships, and quality of life. While what happens to us matters, how we respond matters more, and I believe we are more capable than the lies trauma can create would have us believe.

Brandy Rucker, Resident in Counseling

Brandy graduated from Texas Wesleyan University with a Master of Arts in professional counseling. After her USAF retirement, Brandy decided to pursue her love for counseling, coaching, and mentoring.

Diane Marcelle, Supervisee in Social Work

Diane brings a wealth of experience working directly with individuals, couples, families, and groups from adolescence to senior adults. She treats a range of issues including depression, anxiety, identity formation, life transitions, church-related hurt, trauma, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and relationship issues.

Rachel Mauro, Resident in Counseling, NCC

Rachel’s clinical area and passion is working with survivors of complex trauma, specifically female survivors of sexual and domestic abuse, including childhood abuse. She also works with depression, anxiety, and life transitions

Melinda Batalias, Master of Clinical Mental Health Counseling Intern

Melinda is an intern from Liberty University, working towards her Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, with an anticipated graduation date of December 2023.

Emily Clifford, Director of Administration

Emily joined Fig Tree Therapy in 2015. In that time she has served as a part-time assistant, Intake Specialist, Practice Manager and now, as the Director of Administration.

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