How It All Began

The Natural Relational Health Institute

The History of the Natural Relational Health Institute begins with a whisper — a gentle nudging to move beyond what seemed possible, to a vision and a dream filled with hope.

After years of working through my own trauma-based confusion, wounds, and relational devastation, I was more than content to enjoy the peace and rest God had brought to my life.  And when my husband Paul and I married in 1999, we looked forward to a bright and promising future. Devoted to God, our marriage, and our own individual growth processes, we hadn’t given a lot of thought to the idea of long-term career development and ministry. Or at least I hadn’t.

Until… God began to birth within my heart a desire to come alongside others and support their journey toward relational wholeness. To say I wasn’t excited about the idea would be an understatement. I was enjoying my new contentment and wasn’t really interested in being overly focused on recovery and healing-based endeavors. After all, I had done my work. That, in my mind, should be sufficient. And so to some degree, I spend a good bit of time trying to make my case to God about being content and happy with the way things were.

I secured a good-paying job and tried to settle into what felt like the most normal lifestyle I had known in a long while. But in the back of my mind, there was that quiet, sustained voice repeatedly nudging me towards more. And when God began to gently lead me toward expanding my educational endeavors by returning to college and finishing my bachelor’s degree, I began to soften.

Academia

Over time, with my husband’s encouragement, I enrolled at Indiana Wesleyan University and began working toward my bachelor’s degree in addiction counseling. From there, I applied for admission into the Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy program at Christian Theological Seminary. Being awarded a full-tuition scholarship seemed to confirm my path, and I eagerly waded into a growth process that continues to expand today.

Chrysalis Connections

In 2008, Paul and I co-founded Chrysalis Connections, LLC. I was still in school at the time, and while starting a counseling practice before I was even working in the field might seem odd to some, God was beginning to teach me about living by faith and seeing those things that do not exist as if they already do.

For the next several years, that vision was the sustaining force behind finishing my degree and creating the business plan for the private practice. Together, Paul and I dreamed and envisioned the framework for the practice, down to building the website, furnishing the yet nonexistent office, and developing a marketing strategy.

Our hope was to develop a relational counseling practice designed to support healthy relationships and strong families. A place where individuals, couples, and families could find the support and guidance they needed to build safe, Christ-centered homes, marriages, and families that bring glory to God and internal contentment and peace.

The Academy Building

Chrysalis Connections, LLC moved into a physical office at the historic Academy building in downtown Indianapolis in 2014. As the practice expanded, we eventually secured a second office and provided supervision support to resident-level therapists working towards licensure. The practice moved right along until we were unexpectedly asked to vacate our space due to an expansion project in the Academy Building.  

What happened next was truly remarkable. What we thought was a devastating blow turned out to be a great blessing. In an act of faith, Paul and I decided to move the practice into our home in Plainfield. Safe, discreet therapeutic services in a cozy, home-like setting. Perfect!

Best Decision Ever!

The home office setting provided a welcoming, safe environment for clients to explore their relational, emotional, and spiritual needs. The home setting lessened the clinical impact of therapy and allowed clients to feel more at ease. It was also such a gift from God for a woman who is essentially a homemaker at heart and thrives when allowed to manage both my work and my home in tandem. 

Today, Chrysalis Connections, LLC continues to act as our parent company but is gradually taking a less visible role as the practice grows toward an expanded vision. When I completed my doctorate in education, I knew some form of educational focus was on the horizon. While yet an somewhat unseen reality, the development of The Natural Relational Health Institute is the next step toward expanding the practice to include a strong teaching element. 

As the teaching platform begins to form, I will continue to provide direct client support through a traditional therapy framework. But I will also be directing more attention to the development of teaching and informational resources. I hope to provide a wide range of media and creative content, as well as articles and online workshops, focused on spiritual formation, relational wholeness, and family systems education. It’s a big calling, but I know that the God who called me will also equip me. 

In the weeks and months ahead, please continue to lean into the private practice aspect of the company. My heart will always be grounded in my love for therapy and the individuals, couples, and families who continue to be the foundation of the practice. The new resources will provide additional points of entry for people seeking relationally-focused support. 

Thank you to all of the wonderful clients and supporters who have encouraged Paul and me over the years. We look forward to serving you and all who seek to become better acquainted with our loving God through whom we learn to accept ourselves and love others. We pray that The Natural Relational Health Institute will be a blessing and rich resource to those seeking relational wholeness.   

Spiritual blessing and peace,

Teresa

Read More of My Story Here. 

“All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us!”

2 Corinthians 1:4 (The Message Remix)