Katie Lyn Ubben, MS, LAC

Meet Katie

          I am so delighted that you are taking a moment out of your day to explore how counseling may benefit you during this season of your life. What a privilege to know that I may have the opportunity to join you for this portion of your journey!
I understand that it may be somewhat intimidating to consider sharing your story with someone you do not know, so please allow me to offer you some insight into who I am and how I approach the counseling process. I hope what you read below will be helpful and will allow you to make an informed decision as you take your next step towards growth and healing.

          My name is Katie Lyn Ubben. I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, with a minor in Sociology from Bethel College, (Mishawaka, Indiana) and a Master’s of Science degree in Marriage & Family Therapy, with an emphasis in Community Counseling from John Brown University (Siloam Springs, Arkansas). I am credentialed in the State of Arkansas as a Licensed Associate Counselor. You may visit the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling website for further information about the credentialing process: abec.arkansas.gov. Additionally, I am trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) for the treatment of trauma and approach counseling from a trauma-informed framework. Currently, I offer counseling services to individuals and couples at the Counseling & Care Center on the campus of Fellowship Bible Church in Rogers, AR.

          I believe that every person has profound value and the potential to have healthy, fulfilling lives and relationships. I also know that there are seasons in life when that potential may be hindered, for a variety of reasons. These difficult seasons of life can often be isolating and feel incredibly lonely. It is a natural tendency to experience feelings of shame, self-condemnation, false-guilt, failure, hopelessness and despair. We often fault ourselves for whatever it is we think we did to be going through whatever it is that we’re going through.  Counseling can be helpful during those times, as it provides an opportunity for you to be accepted for who you are in the moment while also offering support and resources as you seek to grow and continue becoming the person you hope to be.

         Our society values strength and independence, and is constantly promoting the façade of “having it all together.” There are so many masks we wear in an attempt to live up to that unrealistic expectation and we try to manage our lives and present ourselves to others in a way that proves that we really do “have it all together.” Or maybe we do admit to ourselves that our lives or relationships are not going how we would like them to go, but we are convinced that we can fix whatever isn’t working on our own and that we don’t need anyone’s help. Admitting that we are “in need” seems like a sign of weakness. Yet the beautiful paradox I have witnessed time and again is that inviting others to journey with us during the difficult seasons we find ourselves in is really a mark of strength.

         I believe that, at our core, we are relational beings. It is in relationship with others that we have the opportunity to experience profound joy; and at the same time, those relationships also have the potential to produce tremendous pain. Many of us have not experienced safety in our relationships with family, friends or other significant people in our lives and have been deeply wounded by those we trusted most. Because of this, it often seems safer to withdraw from relationships rather than risk being hurt again. Yet the healing we long to experience is found not in the false sense of safety produced by isolation, but in relationships where we are both fully known and completely accepted.

        I view counseling through the lens of relationships. As a counselor, one of my primary objectives is to create a space in which you experience the healing that occurs within the safety of an authentic relationship. You will be treated with the utmost respect and compassion. Please be assured that the parts of your story you choose to share with me will be guarded with the greatest care. I will make every effort, as far as it depends on me, to provide you with a positive experience in counseling. I want to meet you where you are, wherever it is. Whatever you bring to a session is enough to begin with. Small changes often lead the way to big changes.

        I hope you have found the last few moments to be a worthwhile investment of your time as you consider how counseling may be the next right step for you during this season of life. I look forward to the possibility of journeying with you for a while; it would be an honor.