New Marriage and Family Therapist Opens Doors

A new marriage and family therapist has opened her doors and is working to make a difference in the world

and in the families of Ashe County. Kim Furches, Family Therapist/Christian Counselor, is an Ashe County native who is excited to be able to help children, teenagers and families work through tough situations.

Furches works with families and young people providing Christian counseling to help people deal with depression, marriage issues, grief, pre-marital counseling, self-esteem issues, eating disorders, anger management and much more. She also often works with teens who are facing a variety of issues from problems with grades, to fitting in with peers and identifying a future career, just to name a few.

She said she enjoys working with families as a whole yet her favorite area of service is working with teenagers. "I worked in the schools with at-risk teens for five years and realized I could help the kids, but as time went on I began to see that it was like putting on a band aid or a quick fix unless the whole family was involved. God opened a door for me and I was able to get my master's degree in marriage and family therapy. This allows me the opportunity to offer assistance to the whole family," Furches said.

Furches said she likes to use the analogy of a trampoline; if an entire family is sitting on a trampoline but only one member of the family is jumping, each member is moving and being affected. "When one person in a family is having a problem, then the each member of the family is influenced. I truly enjoy working with all types of people, but I think my heart is drawn to working with teenagers and their families," she added.

Being a Christian therapist, to Furches, just means that while she always utilizes the Code of Ethics from the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, her foundation is biblical.

"To me this means that Christ has a purpose for my life as well as a purpose for the people I come into contact with and the people I serve. My clients have seemed surprised that I am not judgmental or rigid in my belief system and that I try to see my clients through the eyes of God without condemnation or a judgmental attitude."

She was careful to also point out that just because she is a Christian therapist, it doesn't mean that she possesses an extraordinary power, magic wand or a special ability to work situations out magically.

"I'm just an instrument that God can use to assist families in mending and healing relationships. I enjoy being with people and love to meet new people and hear people's challenges - it's not that I have any type of special ability to solve problems, but is gratifying to know that maybe I have helped them in some way to get going in the right direction again."

There are many things that both parents and teens face today from depression to underage drinking, Furches said, and she would like to work more to help families and kids facing these problems.

"I wish more parents would come and talk to me about these types of issues. I would be able to offer education to parents and teens and discuss issues such as warning signs, risk factors and basic information that we aren't privy to in everyday living," she continued. "When living with a teenager is difficult, a parent doesn't always know how to distinguish between normal behaviors and what behaviors may be risk factors or warning signs of an issue that needs professional attention. It's good to have someone to help you identify what is normal and what might need attention - someone to help assess symptoms and indicators."

According to Furches, people often ask her how she tolerates listening to people's problems all day long. She said she knows she owes her own family time and energy as well so in valuing her family, she leaves her clients and their problems at the stop sign at the end of Golf Course Road daily and picks them up again on her way back to her office. For her own therapy, she raises miniature donkeys and miniature sheep; she says the sheep look just like koala bears. She and her husband, Ken just recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary and are the parents of four children and grandparents of one grandchild.

Furches works with people on a case-by-case basis regarding fees for services. Her office is located at Bald Mountain Baptist Church at 1460 Bald Mountain Road. For more information, call (336) 877-0470 or (336) 877-1550 or e-mail her at kf23756@appstate.edu.