Atlanta Mission counselors make a huge difference in the lives of those facing homelessness. In many of our stories of transformation, you’ll see a client reference their counselor and how that counselor played a big role in their life change. These counselors are dedicated to building trust with clients so they know they will have someone helping them navigate through their needs and seek the best possible solutions.

Once a client has decided they want to address the underlying causes of their homelessness, they complete a needs assessment in order to figure out next steps. It is here that they are assigned a counselor. These counselors play a big role in helping our clients discover their cause(s) of homelessness and work through any trauma they have faced. 

Doug is one of those counselors working with the men at The Potter’s House.

After spending 30 years in the banking industry, Doug’s life fell apart due to addiction. “I asked the Lord to show me what was next in my life and he led me into the counseling field.” Against all odds, Doug obtained his Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy hoping to help families just like his own that had been hurt by addiction.

After spending some time at Peachford Psychiatric Hospital, Doug fell in love with working with men and women struggling with drug and alcohol addictions. He found Atlanta Mission and became a counselor at The Potter’s House, working with our men facing addiction.

“Those of us who sit behind closed doors each day listening to some of the most horrific and tragic life stories understand the most rewarding part is God allowing us the privilege to sit in that space and be used by Him in whatever capacity He needs in those moments.”

While some days are tough, every day is rewarding for Doug. 

Here’s a look into Doug’s daily routine:

• 7:00 am – Arrive at The Potter’s House and have his own quiet time, preparing mentally for the day.
• 7:30 am – Complete appointment slips for client sessions for the day.
• 8:00 am – 10:00 am- Teach classes or conduct process groups.
• 10:00 am – 12:00 pm- Conduct 2 individual sessions.
• 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm- Eat lunch while keying all class information and SOAP notes into Salesforce for the morning.
• 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm- Individual sessions every hour on the hour.
• 4:00 pm – Ride home and type my SOAP notes for all the clients I saw in the afternoon.

What keeps Doug going are the relationships he has built and the life change he has seen.

“Early on, one of my clients was a life-long alcoholic who started drinking moonshine at age 7.  He was court-mandated for a year’s treatment at The Potter’s House and frankly, I didn’t think he stood a chance. He was now in his 50s and couldn’t remember a day he had been sober in the past 40 years. God did some great work on him during his time at The Potter’s House and he found a reason to change his life and remain sober.  He has been sober for over 4 years now, remarried, and owns his own business with his wife.  He is thriving and active in the recovery community in his area.”

Counseling is so important for individuals experiencing homelessness or addiction. It is through counseling we can build a strong relationship, something the majority of our clients do not have in their lives before coming to Atlanta Mission.

“People do not wake up one morning and decide they want to be homeless or become addicts. The overwhelming majority of our clients have been victims of some type of abuse (physical, sexual, emotional) or other significant trauma.  In addition, they usually suffer from some type of mental illness (depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, Bipolar, etc.) which requires trained professionals to see, diagnose, and treat effectively.  Counseling helps these individuals process through their “wounds” from the past and work towards healthier lives.”

We are so thankful for Doug and all of our counselors that change lives every day!

“God truly led me to Atlanta Mission, and He has me right where He wants me to be.”