Daniel R. Borden, MA, MAMFT, LPC
Traveling was always a part of my life. I moved to Zimbabwe at age 7, and then to South Africa at age 12 as my parents were career missionaries. I’ve always enjoyed meeting people from diverse cultures and backgrounds. That was the exiting part of growing up overseas! My childhood was filled with change and ‘home’ changed so much! Together, my many ‘homes’ hold a kaleidoscope of memories, conversations, friends, cultures, and various forms of other things left behind. My list of ‘homes’ currently numbers around twenty-two.
As I grew older, I began to realize that I had a lot of pain and grief that I didn’t know how to deal with in a healthy way. I loved the experiences of living in other cultures, but when I returned to the United States, I battled with transition. I became depressed, angry, got anxious easily, and had a host of other feelings I didn’t know how to process. Thankfully, I’ve learned that the battle is not meant to be fought alone. That’s a recipe for disaster! I learned that when I was loved by others, even when they saw my mess, then true healing could take place. Through my own struggle with culture-shock, depression, and anxiety, God placed in me a desire to help others who had gone through similar difficulties as well.
I went to Reformed Theological Seminary, in Jackson, Mississippi to study marriage and family therapy and counseling in the summer of 2014. It was there that I learned how family history affects us, how our backgrounds mold us, how trauma influences our behavior, and how there is true hope for change! Every person is made in the image of God, is to be valued, and yet sin and brokenness distorts that image. Life is messy, but through understanding and experiencing the gospel through relationships, there is healing. While I was there I worked in the counseling center and gained experience in working with a host of issues including couple counseling, grief-work, depression, anxiety, sexual addiction, shame, and trauma. I’ve attended Gottman Level 2 training for couples-work and am trained to implement the premarital assessment of Prepare/Enrich. I’m also a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors.
I’ve also been drawn to working with clients who have been ‘spiritual abused’ as well. By this I mean clients who have had God’s Word twisted and manipulated to mean things that were not intended by the loving Father who gave us His Word. Everyone’s story is different, and topics such as physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, misuse of authority, etc. may have been justified through the use of ‘spiritual language.’ If such words resonate with you, I would love to sit and learn more of your story. This is one website that gives voice/stories by some who have come from such a background https://www.recoveringgrace.
I’m glad to be part of the team here at Journey, and happy to be in the Harrisonburg area once again after being away in grad school for 4 years. I met my bride, Melissa here (JMU grad) and we have been blessed with two children. Charis Joy will turn 5 this year, and Micah William will be 2. We will celebrate our 8th year wedding anniversary this year as well!
I would love to meet you and to come alongside you in whatever life-stage you are in, and I look forward to hearing your story as well! I can be reached at 678-763-1728 or danielrbjcm@gmail.com.