God calls us to shepherd our children’s hearts with love. In this session, you will explore how to prioritize connection before correction by reflecting Christ’s grace while guiding your children toward wisdom and obedience.

Resilience grows when children learn to lean on God’s strength through life’s ups and downs. This session will help you learn how to nurture faith, character, and perseverance in your children so they can stand firm in Christ no matter the challenges they face.

Parenting shifts as children grow closer to independence. This session will equip you with biblical and practical tools for you to guide, support, and prepare your children as they grow closer to adulthood with both confidence and faith.

I’ve been a counselor for the past 17 years, and during this time it’s been a true joy to walk alongside individuals and families as they face life’s challenges and experience healing and growth.

I earned my Master of Social Work degree from the University of Oklahoma in 2009.  The early years of my career were working with teens and families in residential treatment settings, helping them rebuild trust, restore connection, and work through difficult behavioral and substance abuse issues. Presently I work in private practice with both teens and adults, supporting them as they work through depression, anxiety, anger, trauma, relationship struggles, and more.

For the past 12 years, I have been doing Christian counseling and am so grateful to be able to participate in and witness God's healing presence in people's lives.  

My wife Angela and I will celebrate 24 years of marriage this October (woohoo!), and we have four wonderful kids: Maddy (19), Grace (18), Noah (14), and Jordan (6). We’ve been part of the Anthem Church family for the past three years and are so thankful for the community we’ve found here.

In our free time, we love playing all kinds of games, getting outside for adventures, and spending time with family and friends.

Kristen received a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of North Texas, and spent 15 years as a coach and teacher in public, private, and homeschool settings. She received a master’s degree in Counseling from Oklahoma State University in (2008) with both School and Community emphasis. After graduate school, she was a school counselor in a local mid-high, and eventually transitioned into outpatient mental health in order to work more directly with children and families.

Kristen is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Supervisor, Registered Play Therapist, TBRI Educator, Infant Mental Health Endorsed Level 3 Therapist, and Board-Certified Neurofeedback practitioner, and has worked in a variety of school-based, non-profit, and agency settings. She is also a trained Circle of Security Facilitator and a certified Oklahoma teacher and school counselor.   In 2016, Kristen founded Connect and Restore, LLC in 20016 and currently leads a team of 23 therapists who treat over one thousand children, families, and couples every month.  Additionally, she consults all over the United States with schools and churches on strategies to manage difficult behaviors in students and provide professional development on classroom strategies that are trauma-informed and based in relationship and connection.   A wife of 30 years, a mom of four adult children and a grandmother of one precious newborn named Ronny, Kristen is passionate about helping families.  She loves working with parents as they navigate raising children who love Jesus, are securely attached to their parents, and are resilient and prepared for the complex and challenging world in which we live.

Doug and Marcie Demaree are celebrating 35 years of marriage and 29 years of parenting this year! They are the grateful parents of twins Meredith and Mikayla, and their sweet Madison, who passed away in 2007.

 Meredith is married to Duncan White and recently welcomed Doug and Marcie's first grandbaby, Wrigley Isaac. Mikayla married Grady Higginbotham in September. The family loves doing life together, with the kids living only a block apart in Jenks and Doug and Marcie just a few miles away.

Throughout their marriage, Doug and Marcie have served congregations in Oklahoma, Indiana, and Arizona. They have been a part of Anthem Church since 2011. At the heart of their story is God’s grace, and they are thankful for the opportunity to share about their continuing journey as parents!