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Restore, a life-changing ministry of the YMCA!
The Restore Team
Scott Reall, Executive Director/Founder
Rebecca Griffith, Senior Program Director/Counselor
Lauren Zook, Development Director
Laurie Little Lokey, Counseling Area Program Director/Counselor
Christie Thalhimer, Development Associate
Lindsey Castleman, Program Coordinator
Charity Mulhern, Area Program Coordinator
Lindsey Campbell, Area Program Coordinator
Kelly Maxwell, Administrative Assistant
Founder Scott Reall
Scott Reall's passion for helping people break free from life controlling issues began while serving as Senior Wellness Director for the Green Hills YMCA in Nashville, TN. Though his primary role there was to consult with members regarding their fitness goals, he couldn't help but notice that many of his clients were also struggling with personal challenges including depression, loneliness, substance abuse, disordered eating, and codependency.
In accordance with the Y's mission of promoting the mental, physical and spiritual well-being of its members, Scott began facilitating a 12 Step recovery program at the Y in 1994. Six years and hundreds of participants later, Scott partnered with the Middle Tennessee YMCA system in 2000 to found Restore, a life changing ministry of the YMCA.
Scott's vision and passion for Restore comes out of his own difficult journey toward freedom from addiction. Scott hit rock-bottom more than once after turning to unhealthy vices to manage his feelings of loneliness and powerlessness. With two divorces and many broken relationships indicating his need for help, Scott searched for and found freedom in the proven 12 Step philosophy espoused most famously by Alcoholics Anonymous.
"The 12 Steps saved my life," Scott candidly proclaims, urging everyone he counsels with to consider how this proven philosophy might dramatically impact their own lives.
Scott is the author of the Journey to Freedom series, published by Thomas Nelson and available in bookstores and YMCAs across the country. It's designed to help people lay the foundation for change in their lives. He is currently writing workbooks that address more specific struggles: there will be one on self-esteem, one on fear, one on body image and health, and one on grief and loss.
Rather than promising a quick fix, Scott encourages people to consider the 12 Steps as a practice for life. "It's about progress, not perfection," says Scott. "Even though I have found much freedom from my issues, I still consider myself in recovery. This is a process for me just like it is for anyone else. I work my recovery every day ... It works if you work it."
If numbers are any indication, something is definitely working. "We've grown from just 50 participants in 2000 to over 5000 who will have gone through the program by the end of 2007," says Scott. "Restore Ministries is now seen Journey to Freedom meetings happening all across middle Tennessee and YMCAs in other cities across the country."
In addition to writing curriculum, as the director of Restore, Scott is responsible for the leadership and development of their group based programs, which are hosted at various partner churches in the Nashville, TN area. He also devotes much of his time to one-on-one consultations with group facilitators and those walking out the 12 Step process, as well as to the business of promoting and expanding Restore's visibility in communities across the country.
Even though the workload seems daunting, Scott couldn't be more enthusiastic. "I believe this is what God created me for," says Scott. "Everything I've gone though in my life has brought me to this place where I can deliver this healing ministry. I can't wait to see how God grows it!"
After founding Restore, Scott won The National YMCA Earl P. Armstrong Scholarship Award and began studies for a Masters of Theological Studies at Covenant Theological Seminary. He is a certified grief recovery counselor of The Grief Recovery Institute, has completed Ernie Larson's Stage Two Recovery Life Management Program, and was recently ordained as a minister through St. Paul's Community Church. Scott earned his Bachelors of Science Degree from Otterbein College in Westerville. He lives in Nashville, TN where he is the father of three grown children and a member of St. Paul's Community Church.
Rebecca Griffith, MA, Senior Program Director/Counselor for Restore Ministries
Rebecca is the full-time Senior Program Director for the Restore Counseling Center. Rebecca is responsible for hiring and supervising Restore therapists, area coordinators and the masters level student interns. Rebecca also manages all tracking and reporting for the Restore program.
Rebecca received her MA in Clinical Psychology from Wheaton College and worked as a counselor in private practice for 9 years in Columbia, SC before moving to Nashville in 1998. She has been married for 21 years and is the mother of 4 daughters, ages 7 -18. Rebecca is a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors and the Association for Play Therapy.
Laurie Little Lokey, MA, Counseling Area Program Director/Counselor for Restore Ministries
Laurie works full-time for Restore Ministries as an Area Program Director and counselor. She oversees the programs for the Maury County YMCA and the Maryland Farm YMCA. Laurie also enjoys training new facilitators and helping experienced facilitators continue to develop new skills.
Laurie received her MA in counseling from Trevecca Nazarene University. She did both her counseling practicum and internship working with Restore Ministries. Laurie is currently working toward her licensure as an LPC. She is also studying under Lee Norton, PhD to get her certification in traumatology.
Laurie's passion is to know and understand the effects of trauma and how they get "played out" in addictive behaviors. Her areas of speciality include sexual abuse, eating disorders, addictions and couples work. She is a mother of two grown daughters and is a member of Christ Community Church.
Lauren B. Zook, Development Director of Restore Ministries
Lauren Zook has been with the YMCA of Middle Tennessee since 2004. Lauren oversees the annual fundraising campaign of $120,000 for Restore Ministries as well as the $330,000 annual campaign for the Green Hills Family YMCA. Prior to coming to the YMCA, Lauren worked in the Major Gifts Development Office in the Planned Giving and Annual Campaign departments at WGBH in Boston, MA.
A native of Knoxville, TN, Lauren and her husband Mark have been in Nashville since 2003. They have a young daughter and are expecting their second child in the winter of 2006/2007. Lauren is a member of the North American YMCA Development Organization, American Fundraising Professionals and Jr. League of Nashville.
Christie Thalhimer, Development Associate of Restore Ministries
Christie serves as the Development Associate of Restore Ministries. She helps run Restore's We Build People campaign and helps plan the annual Celebration of Hope.
Christie received her BA in Sociology and her BFA in Studio Art at Wake Forest University. She moved to Nashville in the summer of 2006 from Richmond, Va. Along with working at the YMCA, Christie Volunteers at Vanderbilt’s Children’s Hospital.
Lindsey Castleman, Program Coordinator for Restore Ministries
Lindsey works full-time for Restore Ministries as a Program Coordinator. Her main focus is on communication and awareness with Restore programs. Lindsey has been with the YMCA of Middle Tennessee since 2000. She began her career in YMCA membership and came to love Restore through facilitating Journey to Freedom classes.
Lindsey received her BS in Public Relations from Middle Tennessee State University. She is married to Kevin, her high school sweetheart and they have a hyper dog named Bono. Kevin and Lindsey attend the People's Church in Franklin. They love to camp, be with friends and family, laugh and see people come to know and love Christ in their own lives.
More ...
Scott Reall, Executive Director/Founder
Rebecca Griffith, Senior Program Director/Counselor
Lauren Zook, Development Director
Laurie Little Lokey, Counseling Area Program Director/Counselor
Christie Thalhimer, Development Associate
Lindsey Castleman, Program Coordinator
Charity Mulhern, Area Program Coordinator
Lindsey Campbell, Area Program Coordinator
Kelly Maxwell, Administrative Assistant
Founder Scott Reall
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In accordance with the Y's mission of promoting the mental, physical and spiritual well-being of its members, Scott began facilitating a 12 Step recovery program at the Y in 1994. Six years and hundreds of participants later, Scott partnered with the Middle Tennessee YMCA system in 2000 to found Restore, a life changing ministry of the YMCA.
Scott's vision and passion for Restore comes out of his own difficult journey toward freedom from addiction. Scott hit rock-bottom more than once after turning to unhealthy vices to manage his feelings of loneliness and powerlessness. With two divorces and many broken relationships indicating his need for help, Scott searched for and found freedom in the proven 12 Step philosophy espoused most famously by Alcoholics Anonymous.
"The 12 Steps saved my life," Scott candidly proclaims, urging everyone he counsels with to consider how this proven philosophy might dramatically impact their own lives.
Scott is the author of the Journey to Freedom series, published by Thomas Nelson and available in bookstores and YMCAs across the country. It's designed to help people lay the foundation for change in their lives. He is currently writing workbooks that address more specific struggles: there will be one on self-esteem, one on fear, one on body image and health, and one on grief and loss.
Rather than promising a quick fix, Scott encourages people to consider the 12 Steps as a practice for life. "It's about progress, not perfection," says Scott. "Even though I have found much freedom from my issues, I still consider myself in recovery. This is a process for me just like it is for anyone else. I work my recovery every day ... It works if you work it."
If numbers are any indication, something is definitely working. "We've grown from just 50 participants in 2000 to over 5000 who will have gone through the program by the end of 2007," says Scott. "Restore Ministries is now seen Journey to Freedom meetings happening all across middle Tennessee and YMCAs in other cities across the country."
In addition to writing curriculum, as the director of Restore, Scott is responsible for the leadership and development of their group based programs, which are hosted at various partner churches in the Nashville, TN area. He also devotes much of his time to one-on-one consultations with group facilitators and those walking out the 12 Step process, as well as to the business of promoting and expanding Restore's visibility in communities across the country.
Even though the workload seems daunting, Scott couldn't be more enthusiastic. "I believe this is what God created me for," says Scott. "Everything I've gone though in my life has brought me to this place where I can deliver this healing ministry. I can't wait to see how God grows it!"
After founding Restore, Scott won The National YMCA Earl P. Armstrong Scholarship Award and began studies for a Masters of Theological Studies at Covenant Theological Seminary. He is a certified grief recovery counselor of The Grief Recovery Institute, has completed Ernie Larson's Stage Two Recovery Life Management Program, and was recently ordained as a minister through St. Paul's Community Church. Scott earned his Bachelors of Science Degree from Otterbein College in Westerville. He lives in Nashville, TN where he is the father of three grown children and a member of St. Paul's Community Church.
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Rebecca is the full-time Senior Program Director for the Restore Counseling Center. Rebecca is responsible for hiring and supervising Restore therapists, area coordinators and the masters level student interns. Rebecca also manages all tracking and reporting for the Restore program.
Rebecca received her MA in Clinical Psychology from Wheaton College and worked as a counselor in private practice for 9 years in Columbia, SC before moving to Nashville in 1998. She has been married for 21 years and is the mother of 4 daughters, ages 7 -18. Rebecca is a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors and the Association for Play Therapy.
 |
Laurie works full-time for Restore Ministries as an Area Program Director and counselor. She oversees the programs for the Maury County YMCA and the Maryland Farm YMCA. Laurie also enjoys training new facilitators and helping experienced facilitators continue to develop new skills.
Laurie received her MA in counseling from Trevecca Nazarene University. She did both her counseling practicum and internship working with Restore Ministries. Laurie is currently working toward her licensure as an LPC. She is also studying under Lee Norton, PhD to get her certification in traumatology.
Laurie's passion is to know and understand the effects of trauma and how they get "played out" in addictive behaviors. Her areas of speciality include sexual abuse, eating disorders, addictions and couples work. She is a mother of two grown daughters and is a member of Christ Community Church.
Lauren B. Zook, Development Director of Restore Ministries
Lauren Zook has been with the YMCA of Middle Tennessee since 2004. Lauren oversees the annual fundraising campaign of $120,000 for Restore Ministries as well as the $330,000 annual campaign for the Green Hills Family YMCA. Prior to coming to the YMCA, Lauren worked in the Major Gifts Development Office in the Planned Giving and Annual Campaign departments at WGBH in Boston, MA.
A native of Knoxville, TN, Lauren and her husband Mark have been in Nashville since 2003. They have a young daughter and are expecting their second child in the winter of 2006/2007. Lauren is a member of the North American YMCA Development Organization, American Fundraising Professionals and Jr. League of Nashville.
Christie Thalhimer, Development Associate of Restore Ministries
Christie serves as the Development Associate of Restore Ministries. She helps run Restore's We Build People campaign and helps plan the annual Celebration of Hope.
Christie received her BA in Sociology and her BFA in Studio Art at Wake Forest University. She moved to Nashville in the summer of 2006 from Richmond, Va. Along with working at the YMCA, Christie Volunteers at Vanderbilt’s Children’s Hospital.
Lindsey Castleman, Program Coordinator for Restore Ministries
Lindsey works full-time for Restore Ministries as a Program Coordinator. Her main focus is on communication and awareness with Restore programs. Lindsey has been with the YMCA of Middle Tennessee since 2000. She began her career in YMCA membership and came to love Restore through facilitating Journey to Freedom classes.
Lindsey received her BS in Public Relations from Middle Tennessee State University. She is married to Kevin, her high school sweetheart and they have a hyper dog named Bono. Kevin and Lindsey attend the People's Church in Franklin. They love to camp, be with friends and family, laugh and see people come to know and love Christ in their own lives.
More ...
©2008 The YMCA of Middle Tennessee