Our Story

Biblical counselor, pastor, teacher — and someone who takes every struggle seriously.

I’m Cody Shores. I hold a Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling and a Master of Divinity, and I have spent many years serving, teaching, counseling, and walking alongside people through difficult seasons of life.

Our Method of Biblical Counseling is:

Christ-centered. Scripture-grounded. Practical.

I believe Scripture gives us more than comforting words for difficult moments. It gives us a framework for understanding ourselves, our fears, our desires, our suffering, and what it means to live faithfully when life does not give us the certainty we so strongly want.

That means biblical counseling isn’t simply finding a bible verse that makes anxiety vanish.

We may spend time understanding why a particular thought has become so important, identifying the ways you have learned to respond to fear, and recognizing behaviors that provide short-term relief while unintentionally keeping the struggle alive.

Then work towards a different response.

Sometimes that means learning to tolerate an unanswered question. Sometimes it means doing something you've been avoiding. Sometimes it means recognizing that another round of reassurance isn't actually helping. And sometimes it means learning that faithfulness does not require feeling entirely certain before taking a step forward.

Throughout that process, the goal is not merely less anxiety.

The larger goal is learning to live with greater freedom, wisdom, courage, and faith in Christ—even when uncomfortable thoughts and feelings are still sometimes there.

What You Should Anticipate:

Counseling should be a place where you can speak honestly without feeling as though you need to clean up your thoughts before saying them out loud.

I will listen carefully, ask questions, help you understand patterns that may be difficult to see from inside the struggle, and bring biblical truth to bear in ways that are practical rather than merely theoretical.

You will not be rushed. We’ll talk. We’ll think carefully. We’ll look at scripture. And we’ll look at concrete ways to work on responding differently between sessions.

You don't have to have everything figured out before we begin.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Biblical Counseling engages life’s struggles through a christian understanding of humans, suffering, change, wisdom and hope. Scriptures gives the foundation and framework for how I engage the various issues of life. While sessions also involve careful listening, thoughtful questions, useful instruction, and concrete actions and steps towards change.

  • No. Biblical counseling and licensed mental-health treatment are not the same thing. I provide biblical counseling rather than psychotherapy or clinical mental-health treatment.

  • My particular area of focus is helping people dealing with intrusive or disturbing thoughts, anxiety, persistent fears, OCD-like patterns, repeated reassurance seeking, difficulty tolerating uncertainty, and related spiritual fears.

    Biblical counseling can also address broader questions of suffering, relationships, grief, decision-making, faith, and everyday struggles of life

  • Yes. Sessions are available online, allowing us to meet regardless of where you live, as well as in person in the Springfield, Missouri area.

  • A 60-minute biblical counseling session is $75. A free 15-minute consultation is also available if you'd like to ask questions and determine whether biblical counseling with me would be a good fit before scheduling a full session.

  • There isn't a predetermined number. Some people come with a fairly focused issue and meet for a shorter period; others benefit from meeting longer.

  • Yes, what you share stays between us.

    There are, however, circumstances in which confidentiality may be limited by safety concerns, legal obligations, or other narrow situations. All of which are outlined in the terms.

  • That's exactly what the free consultation is for. You don't have to commit to counseling simply to ask questions.

  • You don't need to have everything figured out spiritually before meeting with me. You should, however, understand that what is being offered is Biblical Counseling and scripture shapes what is discussed.

  • Yes, I have a long history of counseling a variety of issues: Marital Counseling, Depression, Grief, Pre-marital Counseling, Divorce, Lust, Anger, and many other subjects.

Not Sure Where to Begin?

If you'd like to tell me a little about what you're facing, learn more about how I counsel, or determine whether this would be a good fit, start with a free 15-minute conversation.

Schedule a Free Conversation

Or, if you’re ready to begin:

Meet Together