Counselors

TERRIE ENSLEY
clinical director

Terrie is a licensed clinical social worker (L.C.S.W.) who has been providing Christ-centered counseling since 1998. In 2005 she and Kathy Eggold partnered to form Cross Connections.

In addition to her duties counseling individuals and families, in 2008 she took on the role of administrative director and a year later moved to the position of clinical director, where she uses her clinical skills to supervise Cross Connections' professional counselors and covenant partners.

Terrie is accredited by the National Association of Social Workers and is a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers (A.C.S.W.), the American Association of Christian Counselors, and the Fellowship of Christian Counselors.  She has a master’s degree in social work from Indiana University and has worked as a counselor at Stepping Stones Mental Health Center in Van Wert, Ohio, Family Care Center in Fort Wayne, and Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne.  She is a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church.

KATHY EGGOLD
clinical director

Kathy is a licensed mental health counselor (L.M.H.C.) and co-founder of Cross Connections, which she formed with Terrie Ensley in 2005. She provides premarital and marital counseling to engaged and married couples, respectively.   As clinical director, Kathy conducts assessments for new Cross Connections clients and provides clinical supervision for counselors and covenant partners. 

Kathy has a master’s degree in mental health counseling from the University of St. Francis. She is a member of the American Association for Christian Counselors and the North American Association of Masters in Psychology.

Prior to creating Cross Connections, she counseled at Family Care Center and Bethlehem Lutheran Church, both in Fort Wayne.  Kathy is a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne.

ELIZABETH SHERMAN
professional counselor 

Elizabeth has extensive experience providing in-patient care to emergent and residential patients in psychiatric hospital settings and possesses a passion for working with children and adolescents.

As an undergraduate at Valparaiso University she double-majored in psychology and theology and went on to earn a master’s degree in counseling from the same institution as well.

After devoting several years to raising her family, Elizabeth joined Cross Connections as a counselor in the beginning of 2008. She is currently working toward obtaining her license in mental health counseling.  She is a member of American Association of Christian Counselors.  She works out of the S.W. site located at Southwest Lutheran Church where she also is a member. 

GARY YOUNGHANS
professional counselor

Gary is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT).  He has a master’s degree in counselor education with a focus on marriage and family counseling from Indiana University.  He earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Purdue University and holds an additional master’s degree in public administration from IU. He has also completed training programs in Marriage Mentoring and Prepare/Enrich for couples.

In addition to experience with the Youth Services Bureau and Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Gary worked with children and families during his internship at Park Center’s Family Education Center.

He is a member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Counselors and the American Association of Christian Counselors.  Gary's office is at Augustine Hall at the Concordia Theological Seminary.  He and his family are members of Aboite Lutheran Church.

AMY RAST
professional counselor, covenant partner coordinator

Amy has been a counselor specializing in family relationships with children and adults for over 20 years. She earned a bachelor's degree from St. Francis University and a master's degree from the University of Michigan, both in Social Work. She is currently enrolled in the M.A. in Deaconess Studies at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne. 

Amy is a member of the North American Association of Christians in Social Work, the American Association of Christian Counselors and the regional Fellowship of Christian Counselors.  Amy is a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne. 

John 10:27- 28 (Jesus said) "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.”

BELINDA ZIKO
professional counselor

Belinda has a master's degree in counselor education with a focus on marriage and family therapy from Indiana University Fort Wayne. She also holds a bachelor's degree in human services from Purdue University Fort Wayne and is an instructor in the Human Services program at Ivy Tech.

Prior to joining the Cross Connections staff as a professional counselor, Belinda completed the inaugural 18-month covenant partner training and was commissioned in March of 2008.

Belinda is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Counselors and American Association of Christian Counselors.  She is a member of Concordia Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne.

VICKI GRAFT
professional counselor, covenant partner coordinator

For the past 18 years, Vicki has been a licensed elementary school counselor retiring in 2011. She is experienced in individual, group, classroom and family counseling and, at Andrews, was also in charge of student testing. 

Vicki is also a graduate of the first Covenant Partner training class and has been working in the area of emotions.  She has a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Master of Science degree in Counseling, both from Indiana University.

In July of 2011 Vicki accepted the position of Covenent Partner Coordiator.  She and Amy Rast are responsible for supervising and teaching Cross Connections Lay Counselors.   

She is a member of the Indiana School Counselors Association and American Association of Christian Counselors.  Vicki is also a member of Southwest Lutheran Church.

TERRI BROOKS-NELSON
professional counselor

Terri has a bachelor's degree in business and a master's degree in social work from IUPUI. As part of her master's level preparation, she completed internships at Ward Alternative School and Crossroads. She previously worked at McGee-Lytle Counseling Agency, primarily with children, teens, and young adults.

Terri has two teenage sons and is a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church. She is also a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors.

GARY MAST
professional counselor

Gary holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from Huntington College and an M.A. in Elementary Education and Guidance and Counseling from Ball State University.  He has also taken additional courses in Educational Administration at Ball State University and Indiana Purdue in Fort Wayne.  He has been an educator for 35 years having worked at six different elementary schools as a teacher, guidance counselor, coach and principal.

Cross Connections welcomes Gary as the newest member of our team.  He counselors children and families part-time as he continues his employment at Andrews Elementary School (Huntington County) as a School Counselor.  Gary is a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors.

MARIA BUECHSEL
professional counselor

Maria is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) with a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology from Wheaton College.  She also two Bachelor's degrees from Babaes Balayai University in Romania.  Those degrees are in Theology and Social Work and Psychology.

Prior to joining Cross Connections, Maria worked as a professional counselor at a Christian agency in Wheaton, IL., providing counseling to adults and families struggling with depression, anxiety, grief, and relational issues.  Maria strongly believes in bringing God's hope, healing, and restoration thru the spreading of the Gospel.  Maria is a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne. 

BOB BROCKMANN
counseling intern

Bob is finishing his Masters Degree in Social Work at the University of Southern California and is currently a counseling intern at Cross Connections. As part of his master's level work he worked as a therapist (intern) at Park Center; a community mental health center. He also has a Master's Degree in Theology from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne and has earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business from Hillsdale College located in Hillsdale, Michigan.

Bob also serves on the Cross Connections Board of Directors as Vice-President as well as a member of the Development Task Force.

Bob is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Counselors, American Association of Christian Counselors and American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.  He is also a member of Aboite Lutheran Church.

CANDY BRASSFIELD
counseling intern

Deaconess Candy Brassfield has a Master's degree in Theology from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne and is also a rostered Deaconess for the LCMS. She currently serves as a called Deaconess at Cross Connections and is also a counseling intern as she completes her Master of Science in Counseling through Concordia University Wisconsin.

Prior to joining Cross Connections she completed her Deaconess Internship in Wisconsin with the Chaplaincy Ministry for Health Care Centers where she specialized in the spiritual care needs of the aging and those suffering from dementia and alzheimers. She completed her required Deaconess fieldwork at Lutheran Social Services and St. Paul's Lutheran Church and while a student at the Seminary also worked as a caseworker at Lutheran Hospital and as a trained Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer, all of Fort Wayne.

Candy also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from Regent University, Virginia Beach, and is a member of both the American Association of Christian Counselors and also the Fellowship of Christian Counselors.