Jay Farris, MS, LCPC, LPC, NCC

Following 26 years of military service Jay Farris joined Life Christian Counseling Network as a therapist working with individuals and couples. Jay has a tremendous amount of experience in leadership, arbitration and mediation, mentoring, team building, crisis management, marriage and family therapy, as well as cognitive and behavior therapy. God has uniquely prepared Jay through his extensive life, work, ministry and educational experiences to provide support and guidance to those working toward reconciliation, healing, and the development of life skills that free them to experience and share the hope, love, joy, peace and purpose that God intends for them.

As a military veteran who served in Iraq, Jay has personal knowledge of the special challenges our military veterans and their families endure. Jay has served the Lord as a Gideon, in numerous church leadership positions, in prison ministry through Prison Fellowship, and within the community as a coach of youth sports teams. Jay earned a Bachelor’s degree in Criminology and a Minor degree in Psychology from Florida State University, a Master of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from Michigan State University, and a Master of Science degree in Counseling from Capital Bible Seminary.

Significantly, Jay has earned further certification with Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT). He is currently pursuing certification through the Beck Institute in Philadelphia and is a Certified Human Behavioral Consultant and Certified Human Behavioral Studies-Trainer Provider through the Insights Institute in Atlanta.

Jay has earned the following certifications: Gottman Couples Method Training Levels 1,2,3 and training as a Gottman Seven Principles Leader and Couples Counseling Method Provider; Certified Christian Family Mediator through the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC); Certified Human Behavioral Consultant and Certified Human Behavioral Studies-Trainer Provider through the Insights Institute in Atlanta, Georgia. He has also received training from the Beck Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in Cognitive Behavior Therapy for emotional disorders, personality disorders, treatment of children and adolescents, and persons suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Jay has also been trained in arbitration and mediation at the University of Southern California (USC) and crisis intervention training at Florida State University.

Jay is a husband of 40 years, a father of three married children, a father-in-law and grandfather.

Counsels: ages 12+, male and female Individuals, couples, premarital counseling, married couples, family.

Works with: Foster parenting, eating disorders, gender identity, IEPs, MMPI, DBT, EMDR.

Specializes in: Pre-marital, adolescents, parenting, marriage, blended families, adoption, family, suicide, domestic violence - abuser, victim (current and past), trauma, PTSD, substance abuse (drugs and alcohol) - addict and family member, sex abuse - abuser & victim, childhood sex abuse - abuser, adult survivor, current survivor, sex addiction - addict and partner of, depression/anxiety, pornography, infidelity, ADD/ADHD, grief/loss, anger, divorce and divorce recovery, post-abortion, mood disorders, self-harm, Asperger's and Autism, OCD, ODD, Narcissistic Personality - individual with and partner of, bipolar, personality disorders, Life Coaching, DISC, and military issues. Small group marriage enhancement classes and anger management groups.

Advanced Certifications: Approved Counselor Supervisor in Virginia and Maryland; Certified Anger Management Specialist-III; Authorized Gottman 7 Principles Presenter; Certified Human Behavioral Consultant; Accredited DISC Personality Style Training Provider; Certified "Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts" Assessment Facilitator.