I’m Nicholas Bernier, and I look forward to the opportunity to walk alongside you toward growth and healing.
Through my initial experiences with counseling, God showed me the transformative power that the therapeutic relationship can bring. Since that experience over ten years ago, I believe God has given me a deep desire to serve others in whatever way I can. With the help of many friends, family, and professionals around me, I took a step closer to starting my graduate program in the Spring of 2023 at Richmont Graduate University.
This program has taught me many things and surfaced plenty of challenges along the way. Through this, I have discovered true identity and peace through God. Before, my identity was in myself. I felt consumed with worldly desires and my own expectations for what life should be. Although I thought I was happy, I gained no fulfillment from any of it. While I had convinced myself that I could do it on my own, I could not. While fearing my sin was too much for God’s love, I was shown boundless love and forgiveness.
Community and fellowship were vital for this change to occur. Showing up honestly with others was met with love and acceptance. My inexperience, lack of knowledge, and lifetime of sin meant nothing to those who were happy to see me come home. Similar to the Prodigal son, I was welcomed by an all-loving and forgiving father despite my wrongdoings. Through this, I was able to form my identity as a unique and divinely created son of God. Though we all fall short, this is reality. Maybe you feel that your sins are too great for God’s love. I assure you, God is calling you home and wants a relationship with you more than anything else.
A piece of scripture that has led me through this time of growth and change is Romans 12:2, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Reading this verse, I feel God’s call home. Although I am drawn to the pleasures and calls of the world, I am reminded that true fulfillment and transformation are found in an active relationship with Christ.
As for a bit about me, I am a (self-described) uncle-extraordinaire and love Nerf wars and building with Legos. I try to spend lots of time in God’s creation and love to travel all over the world. I am a lover of (almost) all music and college football.
As God continues to work in my life, I hope to walk alongside others in their own journeys in counseling. I am grounded in a person-centered approach and see inherent value in all, while providing CBT-based tools in order to help facilitate learning and growth. Come as you are!
I would love the opportunity to get to know you! You can reach me at Nicholas@restorationcounselingatl.com or schedule an appointment through our admin team at admin@restorationcounselingatl.com.