About Me
Amber Marshall, MSW, Ph.D

Hi there! Welcome to Abounding Hope Counseling!

 

Successful counseling is built on mutual respect, trust, and a strong therapeutic connection. It’s important that you feel comfortable with and confident in your counselor, so I’d love to share a little about myself.

I earned both my Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work degrees from the University of Georgia in 2002. Go Dawgs! (Please don’t hold that against me!) In 2023, I completed my Ph.D. in Clinical Christian Counseling through Jacksonville Theological Seminary, along with advanced certifications in Marriage and Family Counseling and Grief and Loss Counseling.

 

My counseling accreditation and certification are through the National Christian Counselors Association (NCCA). I am also a certified Prepare/Enrich Facilitator, helping couples build strong, healthy marriages at every stage of their relationship, including premarital counseling. In addition, I have completed Levels 1 and 2 of Gottman Method training. The Gottman Method is based on more than 40 years of research identifying the key factors that help marriages thrive—or struggle.

 

I also hold a certification in Sexual Addiction and Recovery Coaching. God offers hope and healing after infidelity and betrayal, and I have worked with many individuals and couples navigating sexual addiction, betrayal trauma, and the challenges that follow. I am passionate about helping couples rebuild trust, promote healing, and restore connection in their relationships.

 

In Florida, Clinical Christian Counselors are provided an exemption from state licensure that allows them to offer clinical care within a biblical framework. This exemption gives me the freedom to integrate Scripture and prayer into counseling sessions when desired, both of which can play a vital role in restoring hope and bringing healing to wounded hearts.

 

My professional background includes work with the Department of Children and Families, school social work, ministry within local churches, Christian education, and serving as the Director of Social Services for a private adoption agency. For more than 15 years, I have worked with children, individuals, couples, and families in both secular and church settings. My education, professional experience, and personal journey have deepened my passion for encouraging others as they navigate life’s challenges and pursue growth and healing.

 

My husband and I have been married for over twenty years and are the parents of eleven children, including one special daughter with an incredibly rare chromosomal abnormality. (Yes, I gave birth to all of them!) As a family, we have experienced many of life’s joys and sorrows, including the blessings and challenges of marriage and parenting, the loss of income and livelihood, the heartbreak of miscarriage, and the grief of losing loved ones. These experiences have given me a deeper understanding of suffering, resilience, God’s faithfulness, and the hope that remains even in difficult seasons. It is a privilege to walk alongside individuals, couples, and families as they pursue healing, restoration, and a deeper relationship with Christ.