Much of our care at Fieldstone Counseling unfolds in the quiet corners of our office (or in thoughtfully tended remote spaces). Our counselors and office staff do most of our work in ways that largely remain unseen. As counselors interact with counselees in discussing various challenges, questions, and concerns, the actual “work” of counseling is not necessarily observable. Unfolding over time, marked by subtle shifts or growth, we can sometimes assume there isn’t much happening at all, or we grow frustrated that what is happening isn’t happening fast enough.
When troubles overwhelm us, we might conclude that we’ve brought them upon ourselves or that we are merely at the mercy of a distant and discompassionate God. At Fieldstone, our mission is to offer lasting hope for life’s hardships, regardless of the circumstances that prompt you to reach out for help. When counselors begin learning about the particulars of your situation, we do so with the awareness that our work together may not produce quick or clear results. God has provided ample instruction about the slow process of change in his Word, given to us as both reminder and promise that it is he who accomplishes the transformation of a life. In Proverbs 4:18, we find imagery likening growth to the sun, which doesn’t burn at its brightest at the outset:
The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
Shining brighter and brighter until midday.
This comparison can be a helpful image of the counseling process, which more often than not looks like a slowly unfolding light that burns brighter and warmer little by little. Similarly, when we look back at the growth we’ve experienced at Fieldstone since our inception in 2017, we find an ever-increasing light spilling outward with impacts we likely didn’t anticipate or know to hope for at the time. Yet God, in his kindness, continues to abundantly deliver far beyond what we could ask or imagine (Eph. 3:20) eight years in! Consider with me some of the highlights we have been able to thank God for in 2025:
Winter
Our two online courses, Standards of Care and Advanced Standards of Care, launched for a second year, drawing over 100 participants combined!
We established our newest office in Ann Arbor, seeking to expand our ability to provide lasting hope for life’s hardships by offering in-person counseling care just minutes from the University of Michigan campus and vibrant surrounding areas.
A bright spot in February was the arrival of our 30-plus remote counselors, who traveled in to join our Ohio staff and counselors for our annual Fieldstone Team Retreat.
Spring
A regular favorite for our Fieldstone team is our semi-annual opportunity to provide counseling consultation sessions at one of our partnering schools in the area. Counselor Visitation Days allow teachers and faculty to receive a one-time consultation either on campus during our team's designated care visitation or via a remote session. Oftentimes, these visitation days coincide with an equipping seminar tailored to the school's requests.
Summer
Throughout the summer and early fall, Fieldstone had the opportunity to share our mission at events across the country and online with counselors representing us at conference exhibitor booths. They also presented at local churches and Christian camps, offering care through seminars and workshops.
In August, Fieldstone celebrated its eighth anniversary! What began with a small group of humble visionaries has multiplied to a team of 40-plus counselors/staff, over two dozen ministry partners, and many generous donors who continue to make this ministry possible in 2025.
Fall
A topic we engage with regularly in the counseling room is family estrangement. In our efforts to further care for and support those facing this complicated and painful experience, Fieldstone hosted the seminar Four Truths For Estranged Families, in a live and recorded format. Several of our counselors also contributed to our accompanying Broken Bonds, Healing Hope blog series.
Fieldstone Forward is our annual fundraising dinner, and this year we welcomed our largest attendance ever with friends new and old. It was a wonderful evening where we gathered, listened, and gave thanks for the way the Lord worked amongst us, and introduced Fieldstone to a new group of potential partners.
Like the description from Proverbs of the sun burning in slowly revealed stages, our lives rarely shine with dramatic conversions or rapid renewal. Similarly, when I reflect on the unfolding of God’s work at Fieldstone as an organization, I’m reminded that while we may want change to happen fast, it’s more often the outcome of deliberate thoughtfulness and open-handed planning. When we gather as a team to consider what’s next, we do so with an awareness of our dependence on a God who delights in shining his presence upon us — sometimes in bright rays to direct us immediately, and other times, casting a gradual glow on the path he has marked out for us.
We would love to invite you to continue journeying with us as the year draws to a close. We have curated some of our holiday resources if you find yourself in need of support during these weeks. If you have considered counseling or know someone who needs care, reach out to us. Would you consider an end of the year donation to Fieldstone Counseling? All gifts are tax-deductible; you can make a gift here: https://fieldstonecounseling.org/give.
Melissa Affolter has served in various aspects of counseling and discipleship ministries for nearly twenty years in the local church.
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