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Happy New Year!
Winter Newsletter
January 2025
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Dear Life Connections Community,
We wish you a blessed 2025!
We are thankful for your continued support, prayers, partnership, and referrals. We are leaning into God's guidance and provision as we launch into our *32nd * year as a nonprofit, Christian organization.
Since late Spring 2024, we have been applying for Barnabas Program grants with the expertise of the team at Pathways to Growth. We recently experienced our first WIN. Praise God!
God is moving us forward to better serve the mental health needs of the Tampa Bay community. Thank you for your trust in us. The best is yet to be!
In His Service,
The Entire Team, Life Connections Counseling Center
Connecting Emotional and Relational Health to Spiritual Maturity since 1993
From Left to Right: Ross, Sheryl, Dr. Katherine, Lynn, Tina, Laura, & Jeff
(Not pictured: Dr. Jim Reed, Founder; Dr. Amy Green, School Psychology Resident)
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Check out our 2024 Highlights | | |
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Praise Report: Dec. 20, 2024
Community Foundation Tampa Bay granted Life Connections Counseling Center $10,000 to our Barnabas Program, our unique reduced fee (copay/scholarship) counseling program for local, motivated clients in financial hardship. This grant assists Barnabas Program clients in working through and overcoming the many stressors related to Hurrianes Milton and Helene.
$20,050: TOTAL funds raised in 2024 for Barnabas Program from all community donors, including Community Foundation of Tampa Bay grant, three local church monthly supporters (see below), The National Christian Foundation donors, as well as private local donors. Thank you all so much!
Since 2013: We have served over 340 local Baranabas households to improve mental health!
Donate Here for our Barnabas Program via National Christian Foundation!
Mission Verse: Galatians 6:10 (left)
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Dec. 10, 2024: Father Conner Penn and Deacon Mike Ryba of St. Timothy Catholic Church visited our Center, including our learning about our mission and our clinical specialities. We concluded with a tour of our Center. We are grateful for the many years of church partnership with St. Tim's, around the corner in Lutz (N. Tampa). | |
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Community Partnership Highlights:
CONVERGE MID AMERICA | CARIBBEAN | SOUTHEAST
We are an official counseling partner with the SouthEast/ Florida region of Converge, a church planting and strengthening organization.
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"Together Groups" for pastors and church teams: These quarterly gatherings feature impactful learning, lunch, and fellowship. We have been delighted to be invited by Pastor Dan Proctor and share about the Converge Minister's Assistance Program, for greatly reduced fee counseling to help pastors with the stressors of ministry life. | |
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Converge Connect Conference in Orlando, Oct. 2024 (above) & Together Groups (Sept. 2024 on far left, Fellowship Baptist Church, Thonotosassa, FL on US 301: Mrs. Deniece Proctor, Dr. Katherine and Mrs. Cheryl Grover).
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May 2024: Hats off to our former clincial intern: Sarah Holmes M.A. (above photo: middle center).
Sarah is now a nationally certifed counselor and licensed professional counselor at Seeds of Hope Counseling in Springfield, MO! We are so proud of her strong skills, caring work with clients, and her heart for her local community. Way to go, Sarah!
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A special THANK YOU to:
Revelations Cafe, Lutz
for graciously hosting us for
The Barnabas Encounter fundraiser on May 9, 2024.
We raised $2,600 that evening for Barnabas Program's scholarship portion. Every $50 raised covers one session of the 20 session maximum per household for appoved Barnabas participants (left photo and above flyer photo).
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April 28, 2024 Oakwood Church, Carrollwood: Ross Cannon LMHC & Katherine McKinney PhD facilitated discussions about healthy boundaries for teens (clear communication with friends and potential dating partners).
Additionally, Dr. Katherine met with the elementary youth to share how to use anxiety coping skills. We love Oakwood Church!
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Since 2012, we are honored to serve the local church with reduced-fee counseling via the
2024 Church Partnerships (Benevolence Program):
Church of the Suncoast
Crosspoint Church
Fellowship Baptist Church
First Baptist Church of Lutz
Grace Family Church
Green House
Gulfview Grace Church
Idlewild Baptist Church
Keystone Church
Mission Hill Church
Oakwood Community Church
St.Timothy Catholic Church
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2024 Community Partnerships:
Charles Nechtem Associates/EAP
Converge MidAmerica Minister's Assistance Program (MAP), Florida
New Life Solutions, A Woman's Place Medical Clinic (4 in Tampa Bay)
To learn more, please contact our Client Intake Coordinator:
Lynn Brooks
lbrooks@lc-online.org
813.265.3859 x1
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Special THANK YOU to our three monthly Church Barnabas Program Donors (below) via their local church missions. Please prayerfully consider joining our mental health movement!
$500 donation provides 10 sessions
$1000 donation provides 20 sessions
$40 client co-pay required each session for "skin in the game"
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Interested in our clinical team coming to your church, school, or organization for a FREE educational workshop?
Please contact Dr. Katherine McKinney:
kmckinney@lc-online.org
Recent topics include:
Psycho-Educational School Testing Overview (Parents of Students: PreK-12)
Effective Marriage Communication Skills (Research based, Gottman informed skills)
Teen Coping Strategies for Anxiety & Depression
Healthy Boundaries for Teens with Peers
Teen Suicide Prevention
Coping with Grief
Positive Parenting Skills
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Cambrige Christian School
Feb. 2023
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Gaither High School, Tampa
Nov. 2019
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Bay Hope Church, Lutz
Aug. 2019
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St. Timothy Catholic Church, Lutz:
Dec. 2018 & March 2019
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Italian American Club of Tampa Bay, Lutz, Barnabas Award 2021
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Christian Chamber of Commerce Tampa Bay,
Clearwater, 2022
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In His Service,
Katherine McKinney, PhD
Non-Profit Executive Director
FL Licensed Psychologist & Qualified Supervisor
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