Gary and Sarah Armour give a balanced alternative to families who are looking for a counselor. Their 50 years of marriage (to each other) gives a stable foundation for their practice in marriage and family therapy. In fact, much of their work in the counseling field has been a great help to their marriage in applying principles of strong families to their lives. Sarah and Gary have three adult children and two grandchildren. Their greatest delight is spending time with our extended family and being “Grand” Parents for Avery and Addi.
The fact that Sarah and Gary provide both a male and female perspective in counseling families or individuals struggling with all kinds of issues, is a benefit as well. Sometimes, due to a person’s own set of stressors, the option of selecting a male or female counselor is important.
Gary’s background in serving for over 30 years in ministry, and Sarah’s commitment to share in creating a spiritual footing for their children, give them a common faith that may be included in the client’s healing experience. They also have empathy for pastors and others serving full time in ministry. The challenges can be overwhelming for families who desire to be faithful followers of Jesus and also fully committed to their family. The heartache and wounds that may occur in ministry are real issues that individual or family therapy may address.
Gary Armour
Excellence in family counseling is the gold standard in Gary’s practice. As a marriage and family therapist and pastor, he has counseled families facing death, terminal illnesses, identity issues, parent-child dilemmas, marital conflicts, and many other turbulent storms through which I have walked with families. The “therapeutic alliance” that is formed with the Family during therapy is a key ingredient in creating a safe haven for persons to heal.
Gary has provided pre-marriage counseling to 100’s of couples! The “PREPARE/ENRICH Inventories” for couples is one of the best tools for equipping couples in creating a marriage that has lasting values. “Couple communication” is also a helpful model for increasing couple satisfaction in understanding each other’s needs.
Faith and spirituality are included in Gary’s work with families who desire to include their spiritual life as an important ingredient in giving strength to the well being of their life and relationships.
A further unique feature Gary brings to individual and family counseling is his experiences as a prostate cancer survivor and a cardiac by-pass survivor. Gary has a personal perspective on men’s health issues which can help identify the dynamics within families living through the uncertainty of cancer or cardiac illnesses.
Issues of aging and working families who are “sandwiched” between parents of advanced years and children still at home, are also stressors on families that the therapeutic process can give encouragement and assistance.
Learn more about my background and experience.
Gary is an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and a licensed clinical marriage and family therapist. Gary has a Master of Divinity from St. Paul’s Seminary. He has done further graduate course work in Marriage and family therapy at MidAmerican Nazarene University, and Northern Seminary in Chicago.