FundRAISING the Bar for Mental Health

Healthy leaders lead healthy organizations so join Chuck as he offers some of the most important relational nutrients that leaders both need and lead in.  Living in the non-profit world of the Church, Chuck will speak from his own personal experience and perspective as a licensed counselor on the effects of our profession on mental health.  Chuck will share his experience of leading others into healthy relationships, communication, and self-care as well as his own personal journey through professional counseling and self-care. Discussion topics will vary in the areas of physical, relational, emotional, and mental health care.

About the Speaker:

In the past 8 years as Pastor of Worship at West Ridge Community Church and Ministry Director of Celebrate Recovery (West Ridge), and Professional Counseling within the Church, Charles (Chuck) Edwards has developed a passion for seeing mental health issues brought to the forefront of the Church and businesses through the therapeutic relationship between client and counselor, employer and employee, or leader and volunteer.

At an early age Charles was affected by substance abuse and pornography. After 20 years of living life apart from Christ Chuck found himself becoming a person that he did not desire to be. After receiving Christ in his early 20’s Chuck embarked on a journey of healing and his journey has included both the highs and lows that recovery from past hurts, insecurities, and addictions often bring. Reaching a new low in his struggles in 2009, Chuck lost the job he thought he’d spend the rest of his life doing and nearly lost his marriage. This time he took a different approach to healing and began seeking both marriage and individual therapy as well as committing his life to the process of recovery through Celebrate Recovery. Over the last 13 years Chuck has witnessed God’s ability to transform His children as they engage the past hurts and habits that have been created by many character defects. The therapeutic relationships that Chuck engaged have changed his life by giving him new tools and understanding about who he is. Two years ago, Chuck engaged that understanding while receiving his master’s degree in Licensed Professional Counseling from the Townsend Institute at Concordia University in Irvine, CA. Chuck’s desire is to share how his identity issues and addictions affected his marriage and life and to serve all who are searching for a new way of living. 

Chuck is still married to his wonderful wife, Sasha, of almost 17 years and together they raise their three fun and active children Noah, Zeke, and Hadassah.