I’m Becky Philo, and I am honored to walk with you on your journey.
God planted a seed in my heart to be a counselor almost thirty years ago. I put that dream on hold as I became a wife, mother of four daughters, and now a grandmother. Though I stayed busy caring for my family and my career as a piano teacher, I continued to desire to serve others through counseling. In 2022, the doors opened for me to graduate school. Going back to school as a seasoned adult has been challenging and rewarding. I see the timing was perfect, as I needed personal healing and growth.
I have discovered that one can build an abundant life around difficult and even unchangeable circumstances. The things that happen to us do not have to define us. A bigger story is unfolding, and I want to help people find their place in it. Every failure, weakness, and unmet expectation can serve a purpose in our life stories.
For the last six years, I have mentored women from my church, using a cognitive behavior therapy approach based on Scripture through a ministry called Renew. The principles of CBT resonate with me, as I have often found my thoughts determine my outlook on life. This is not to say that positive thinking is the goal, but that the goal is to identify and change unhelpful or untrue thoughts. I am thankful this ministry has allowed me to work with women of various ages, from teens to adults. The mentoring experience has helped to prepare me for this new season as a counselor.
Through graduate school and mentoring, our family has grown, and we will have seven grandchildren by the end of May. I have learned that the behaviors my children used to do to try my patience are the same things that bring me laughter and joy when my grandchildren do them.
A Scripture verse that has meant much to me during this stage of life is Psalm 18:35, “You protect me with your saving shield, you support me with your right hand. You have stooped down to make me significant.” As I read this verse, I can picture myself stooping down to meet one of my grandchildren at eye level. I delight in giving them my focused attention, and nothing they say or do, even if they are misbehaving, could ever make me love them less. Delighting in his children is what God does for you and me, according to Psalm 18:35. He stoops down to give us significance. He is invested and interested in every aspect of our lives, and the lens through which he views each of us is one of love and pure enthrallment. When a person can feel genuinely loved, they are better able to find meaning and purpose in life’s challenges and difficult circumstances.
As God continues to write my story, I want to participate in the lives of those who will sit with me in counseling by listening carefully to what their stories are teaching me. I follow a trauma-informed approach to therapy to ensure that everyone feels safe and understood. I would love to sit with you as you process your story.
You can reach me at becky@restorationcounselingatl.com, or schedule an appointment through our admin team at admin@restorationcounselingatl.com.