Stephen Walters, M.Div., M.A.

Licensed Professional Counselor
Sugar Hill Site Lead

“He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” – Jim Elliott

Stephen provides counseling services to individuals, couples, and families. He works with individuals 12 through end of life. His main areas in counseling are trauma, anxiety and depressive disorders, spiritual integration, career and future concerns, grief processing, marriage therapy, premarital counseling, and family counseling. Stephen has extensive experience working with faith communities and individuals in ministry settings. He also has experience with childhood trauma survivors, veterans, and domestic violence.

Stephen believes everyone is made to make a difference in this world. Often, life events, anxiety, fear, grief, and loss may hinder our ability to know and make our difference. His hope in counseling is to work with individuals, couples, and families to strengthen them to make their difference. Stephen’s main theoretical orientation is Cognitive-Behavioral Theory. He believes that how we think will impact how we feel and behave. To live the way we desire, we often need to adjust the way we think about the world, others, and ourselves. Stephen likes to help process life experiences that have impacted the beliefs we have about ourselves and work on strategies to engage life in a fulfilling and meaningful way, so that we can all make a difference.

Stephen attended the University of Georgia and majored in Psychology with a Religion minor. After graduation, he attended Candler School of Theology at Emory University. He began working in the local church in 2000 as a youth minister and has served as an Associate Pastor at two churches and the Lead Pastor at four churches since then. In 2016 Stephen made the decision to leave full-time church ministry to return to school to obtain his counseling degree from Richmont Graduate School. He began his work at Summit as an intern 2017 and then as a  Staff Associate Therapist in 2018.

Stephen is a native of the Atlanta area. He attended high school in Gwinnett County with his future wife. They were married after college and have two sons. Their family loves to hike and be outside. Stephen enjoys sports (Go Dawgs!), music, and coffee. His greatest accomplishment occurs on the days “I am faithful to living out his difference.” He is a member of the APCE (formerly American Association of Pastoral Counselors) and the American Counseling Association. Stephen is an Ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church and has worked in the local church since 2000.

Education

• Bachelor of Science in Psychology, University of Georgia
• Master of Divinity, Candler School of Theology, Emory University
• Master of Arts in Clinical and Mental Health Counseling, Richmont Graduate University

Licensure, Certifications and Professional Affiliations

• Licensed Professional Counselor
• National Certified Counselor
• Certificate in Trauma Counseling, Richmont Graduate University
• Trained, Gottman Marriage Therapy Level I
• Certified, Prepare/Enrich
• Trained, Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
• Member, American Counseling Association
• Member, APCE

Classes

• DREAM (Diversity and Racial/Cultural Identity)
• Soul Shop
• Mental Health First Aid

Online Presentation

• Hope and Healing 2021 – CURE Childhood Cancer
  Each year CURE hosts their Weekend of Hope and Healing for parents who are dealing with the pain of having lost a child to cancer. This year, Stephen discussed 2 truths and a lie when it comes to grieving from a Christian faith perspective.