New Ways Counseling Center
An NCCA Certified Academic Institution
New Ways Counseling Center is a Certified Academic Institute through the NCCA. Our Executive Director, Mariam Newton, is a Clinical Supervisor Trainer and offers courses through the NCCA to those in our community who are interested in learning more about Temperament Therapy. In these classes, Mariam takes the time to discipline and teach each student and in result, is commissioning out educated and helpful individuals back into our community. You may wonder what one of these classes looks like, and as a current student under Mariam, I would love to share.
New Ways Counseling Center is a 501(c)3 non-profit, faith-based organization. Our mission is “To bring hope and healing to our local community and beyond, in person and online, through professional, evidence-based counseling and care rooted in biblical principles.” New Ways is a little different than your standard secular counseling center. We are faith-based, and our counselors are masters-level educated, but rather than being licensed through the state, we are licensed Clinical Pastoral Counselors through the National Christian Counselors Association. We offer services that include grief counseling, marriage counseling, family counseling, individual counseling, and just about anything else you can think of. The most unique aspect of the New Ways’ model is that all of our services are totally free.
Yep, you read that right. All services at New Ways are free, we simply accept donations. This time last year, after charging on a sliding-scale basis, we were reminded of this simple fact that is at the foundation of New Ways: Salvation is free. And by the grace of God, our services are free too.
Annah Noyes is the office Manager and Chief Operations Officer for New Ways, Inc. She grew up in good ole Gilchrist County, Florida. After she earned her high school diploma as a third generation-Trenton-Tiger, she followed her mother’s footsteps to Saint Leo University. Amidst the pandemic, she earned her Bachelor's Degree in General Psychology, and taking a leap of faith, she earned an English K-12 Certification through the Florida Department of Education, and began a career as a middle school teacher. In a crazy turn of events, the Lord led her away from education in schools and pointed her in the direction of teaching in other ways. She has written curriculum for a local youth groups' summer camp since 2020, and then began her journey at New Ways as their Chief Operating Officer in 2023. For New Ways, she does everything from buying your favorite snacks to balancing the books, and recently, offering Educational Counseling to students of all ages and preparatory guidance for adults working towards their GED. Annah is passionate about mental health and learning, and loves sweet tea and Jesus with all her heart.
Annah’s hometown, a rural area of North Central Florida, mainly known for farming, timber, and beautiful crystal-clear springs, welcomed New Ways with open arms. Because hidden behind the cows and crops were a demographic of people who were hurting and in need of healing.
We meet each Monday for class and enjoy fellowship together over breakfast. Then we review our readings and each topic that we studied ourselves in the prior week. We share our notes, ask questions, and share with our peers the things that stood out to us. If it is a testing week, Mariam prays over us and proctors the exam. When we score high, she celebrates with us! If we score low, she is gracious to spend extra time going over the contents of the exam. Since Mariam has over a decade of experience in ministry and years in social work and counseling, she usually shares some knowledge with us before we leave. One week she may share a counseling technique or activity with us that we could one day use with clients of our own. Next, she may focus on examining and teaching us how to understand the temperament results of a client (Always confidential with no personal information shared, of course.).
Beyond Temperament Therapy, New Ways hopes to bring education to our entire community. To host trainings for Mental Health First Aid, bridge the gap between our faith leaders and community resources, and to teach how to best talk about and address mental health. While New Ways is a little different than your typical secular counseling office, I think we should set aside our differences, learn from, and listen to each other, and work together to make a difference.
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