Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church

Office Phone: 865 692-2390
Fax: (865) 692-2393

Mailing Address: 151 Sherway Road, Suite 1
Knoxville, TN 37922-2236

Email: LauraShearer@holston.org

Laura Shearer is both a Licensed Professional Counselor and Ordained Elder in the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church, serving as Pastoral Counselor and Director of the Pastoral Counseling Center.

In my counseling work, I use my training in professional counseling and theology, my own ife experience and my professional experience as a counselor and pastor as resources. Before fulltime appointment as pastoral counselor, I served 5 years in the Holston Conference in two appointments. 

My professional experience in counseling includes working with children, adolescents and adults as individuals and in couples and family groups in both inpatient and outpatient settings. I have particular experience working with older adults with life issues related to aging. The primary issues in my practice relate to marital and other relationships, parenting and individual and family development including vocational life,  life stage adjustment, bereavement issues, and issues related to anxiety and depression. Also I offer premarital counseling to couples contemplating marriage.  I counsel children, adolescents and adults. 

Certain premises about people, their families and relationships guide my work as a therapist.  I understand solutions to problems not as narrow with limited choices but as full of possibliity. My assumption  is that all persons have strengths on which to build to resolve crises or problems and move to resolution.  The counseling process can help clients to discover and claim individual strengths and supports or reclaim forgotten strengths as we explore the individual, couple or family's life together and work toward helpful solutions. As a counselor, I partner with clients to offer support in the person or family's work toward goals.  Clients define their goals for therapy and we clarify those goals and work collaborately in session to meet them. 

Counseling sessions are typically 50 minutes, and I prefer to meet with clients weekly or biweekly. 

Through the Pastoral Counseling Center I am available for consultation or therapy with clergy and their families by appointment in different locations in the Conference.  Appointments may be made by phone or email.  Additionally, I facilitate support groups for clergy or family members as the need arises. Also, I am available to serve as a spiritual director by appointment.

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Tennessee, a National Certified Counselor, having been granted this credentialing from the National Board for Certified Counselors by examination in 1994. I am a professional member of the American Counseling Association and  the International Association of Marriage and Family Therapy.

Family-- I have been married since 1994 to John Shearer who is a native of Chattanooga, a professional writer and teacher. My family includes three sons, and five grandchildren.

Curriculum Vitae

Employment
July 2010 -- Director, Holston Conference Pastoral Counseling Center
Feb. 2005- 2010 -- Counselor and Associate Director, Holston Conference Pastoral Counseling Center
July 2005- June 2008 -- Associate Pastor, Church Street United Methodist,Church, Knoxville, TN
July 2003-June 2005 -- Pastor, Westside Parish Churches, including Mt. Zion, Savannah, East View United Methodist Churches, Cleveland, TN
September 2000-May 2003  -- Student and degree candidate, Candler School of Theology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
July 1998 – July 2000 Director of Christian Education, Signal Crest United Methodist Church, Signal Mountain, TN
May 1997 -  March 1998, Senior Life Center ( outpatient) Whitwell, TN Hospital, Case Manager
September 1995 - April 1997 Senior Life Center at Parkridge Medical Center, Chattanooga, Case Manager
February 1995 - September 1995 New Horizons Adult Psychiatric In-Patient Unit, Parkridge Medical Center, Chattanooga, Contract Case Manager
September 1992-December 1994 --Student and degree candidate in Community Counseling in the School of Education at Augusta College, Augusta, GA
1992-1994 -- Copy Editor, Augusta Chronicle and Herald, Augusta, GA
1991-1992 --  Copy Editor, Chattanooga Free Press, Chattanooga,TN
1989-1991 --  Office Manager, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Chattanooga, TN
1970-1972 --  Teacher, Aiken County Schools, North Augusta, SC
1969-1970  --  Teacher, Richmond County Schools, Augusta, GA

Higher Education
2000-May 2003 -- Master of Divinity, Candler School of Theology,Emory University, Atlanta, GA
September 1992-December 1994 -- Master of Education, with emphasis in Community Counseling, Augusta College, Augusta, Georgia
September 1965-May 1969 -- Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism with emphasis in Public Relations and Advertising

Professional Credentials
Licensed Professional Counselor, State of Tennessee (#2522)
Endorsement in Pastoral Counseling, United Methodist General Board of Higher Education and Ministry Endorsing Agency
Ordained Elder, United Methodist Church (2006), Serving under appointment within the Holston Conference
National Certified Counselor – Certification date by examination: 10-11-1997 
Graduate, Hinton Colleague Forum in Spiritual Formation, August 2005
Member, American Counseling Association since 1994
Affiliate Member, American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, Since 2005
Member, International Association for Marriage and Family Therapy

Counseling-Related Service to Church and Community

Divorce recovery workshops at Red Bank United Methodist Church in Chattanooga, 1996 and Bayside Baptist Church, 1995.
Speaker at the East Tennessee Multiple Sclerosis Society Family Conference, Chattanooga, 1997 on the topic: “Uncluttering Our Lives.”
Speaker for staff training at Psychiatric Services, Valley Hospital and Parkridge Medical Center, 1997, “Avoiding Burnout.”
Clergywomen's Retreat Leader -- “Creativity as a Healing Practice,” 2004.
Instructor in Pastoral Care at Holston Local Pastor School since 2005
Knoxville Mental Health Association Awareness Week Panel, Summer, 2006
Leader, Holston Conference Clergy Transition Workshops since 2006
Women's Spiritual Retreat, Church Street UMC, fall 2007
Clergy Spouse's Retreat, spring 2009
Women's Spiritual Retreat, Wesley Woods Camp, spring 2009
Trauma Summit Panel Participant, Iowa Conference, UMC, fall, 2009
The Power of Forgiveness seminar discussion panel, spring 2010

My Services
By appointment, I am available to counsel Holston Conference United Methodist clergy and their family members for individual, couple, or family therapy, as well as for consultation or spiritual direction.  I facilitate clergy leadership groups in Family systems (since 2006) in different locations throughout Holston Conference. I also am available to present workshops or lead retreats on relationship, marriage and family or life issues or to lead spiritual retreats as needed or requested.

Phone: 865 692-2390
Fax: (865) 692-2393


Physical Location and Mailing Address:
151 Sherway Road, Suite 1
Knoxville, TN 37922-2236
Email: lashearer2@comcast.net;