About Us

Message From Our Founder

What We Do

Welcome

At The Balm of Gilead Ministries, we believe that God never wastes our pain. His Word reminds us that He comforts us in all our troubles so that we, in turn, can comfort others with the same comfort we have received. That is the foundation of our counseling ministry - to come alongside those who are hurting, to listen with compassion, and to help guide you toward the healing and wholeness that can only be found in Christ.

Who We Are

The Balm of Gilead is a Christ-centered Counseling, Education, and Resource Ministry. We are a team of counseling professionals and ministry leaders whose lives have been transformed by the healing power of God. Out of that healing flows our calling—to walk with others as they discover the same freedom, restoration, and hope found in Jesus Christ.

We are a trauma-informed ministry that recognizes the importance of addressing the whole person—body, mind, and spirit. We do not negate the psychological aspects of healing but rather integrate them with the transforming truth and power of God’s Word. Through biblically based counseling, education, and Christ-centered resources, we seek to see the chains of bondage broken and lives renewed - one heart at a time.

Meet the Team

Cecilia Trent

Board-Certified Christian Counselor (BCCC) | Certified Marriage & Family Specialist (CMFS) | State Certified Addiction Treatment Counselor (CATC) | Registered Addiction Specialist (RAS) | Trauma-Informed Counselor | Master of Divinity in Pastoral Counseling (MDiv.)

Cecilia Trent is the Founder and Director of Counseling, Education, and Resource Services at The Balm of Gilead Ministries. With a deep passion for Christ-centered healing, Cecilia has dedicated her life to helping hurting individuals and families find restoration, freedom, and hope through the truth of God’s Word and the healing power of Jesus Christ.

Her journey into ministry and counseling was birthed through both profound brokenness and profound redemption. After coming to faith in Christ, Cecilia longed to experience the abundant life Jesus promised, yet found herself struggling through deep emotional wounds, unhealthy patterns, and seasons of pain that ultimately brought her to a place of complete surrender before the Lord. In that place of brokenness, she encountered the restoring love, grace, and healing presence of Jesus in a life-changing way.

Alongside her late husband, James, Cecilia experienced God’s redemptive work not only personally, but within their marriage and family. What began as a testimony of God restoring hearts, healing wounds, and rebuilding what once seemed broken became the foundation and heartbeat behind The Balm of Gilead Ministries. Their story became living proof that God still restores, heals, redeems, and brings beauty from ashes.

Today, Cecilia carries a special burden for hurting families, marriages in crisis, individuals struggling with addiction and substance abuse, and those battling the effects of codependency, trauma, and emotional abuse. She is especially passionate about helping women who have experienced narcissistic or emotionally destructive relationships, women who often feel unseen, unsafe, confused, and spiritually weary. Cecilia believes these individuals need compassion, patience, truth, and a safe place to heal while rediscovering their God-given worth and identity in Christ.

As a trauma-informed counselor, Cecilia’s heart is not simply to help people survive painful circumstances, but to help them truly heal, grow, and walk in freedom. Her counseling approach integrates biblical truth, compassion, practical tools, emotional healing, and spiritual restoration with the belief that no life is beyond the redeeming power of God.

Now widowed, Cecilia continues to carry forward the legacy she and her husband began together, remaining faithful to the calling God placed upon her life and honoring the ministry vision they once shared. Her desire is to faithfully serve the Lord, continue pouring into hurting hearts, and one day be reunited with her husband in heaven. She is committed to finishing strong for Jesus and helping others discover the healing, hope, and restoration found in Christ.

Outside of ministry, Cecilia treasures spending time with her two children and six beautiful grandchildren, whom she considers one of the greatest joys and honors of her life. She loves being “Grandma,” creating memories with her family, and sharing the love and light of Jesus with the next generation. She also enjoys meaningful time with friends over coffee, heartfelt conversations, traveling, and simply encouraging others in their walk with Christ.

Patty Molina

Patty Molina
Board-Certified Christian Counselor (BCCC) | Certified Christian Codependency Specialist (CCS) | Certified Drug & Alcohol Specialist (CDAS) | Class Group Leader

Patty has a deep passion for helping women experience the healing, freedom, and restoration that can only be found through a relationship with Jesus Christ. After walking with the Lord for many years while still struggling with fear, shame, and emotional strongholds, Patty encountered the life-changing grace of God in a deeper way that transformed her heart and brought true freedom and victory into her life.

Through experiencing God’s forgiveness, healing, and unconditional love personally, Patty developed a burden for hurting and broken women who feel trapped in cycles of pain, bondage, and hopelessness. Her desire is to help women discover their identity in Christ, break free from unhealthy strongholds, and walk in the abundant life God intended for them. Patty considers it a privilege to be used by the Lord as a vessel of encouragement, truth, and healing as women journey toward freedom and wholeness in Christ.

As a counselor and group leader, Patty brings compassion, warmth, understanding, and a Christ-centered approach to those she serves. She believes healing is a lifelong journey of growing closer to the Lord and learning to walk in His grace all the way home to heaven.

Patty has been married to her best friend, Devin, for nearly 30 years, and together they have three beautiful children and three precious grandchildren. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, attending church, reading, listening to music, karaoke, movies, puppies, vacationing, and sharing laughter with the people she loves. Patty treasures the simple joys of life and praises Jesus for each day He gives her.

Christa Walton Winn

Christa Winn
Balm of Gilead Blogger & Daily Devotional Writer
Entry-Level Board-Certified Christian Counselor (EBCCC-1) | Certified Christian Women’s Life Coach (CCWLC) | Registered Nurse

Christa serves as the Balm of Gilead Ministries Blogger and Daily Devotional Writer, where she combines her love for the Lord, biblical encouragement, and compassionate care to minister to hurting hearts through writing and Christ-centered support. With a passion for emotional and spiritual healing, Christa desires to help women discover hope, restoration, and deeper intimacy with Jesus Christ.

Through God’s grace and divine intervention in her own life, Christa experienced profound healing as the Lord revealed and restored areas of unresolved pain within her heart. During that journey, God birthed within her a calling to walk alongside wounded women and help them discover the “Balm of Gilead” — the healing touch of Jesus Christ, the true Healer of Hearts. Her heart is to encourage women to partner with the Holy Spirit in their healing journey and to grow in freedom, wholeness, and identity in Christ.

As both a counselor and registered nurse, Christa brings a nurturing, compassionate, and faith-filled approach to ministry. She considers it an honor and privilege to serve as a vessel through which God can bring comfort, encouragement, and truth to His precious daughters.
In her personal time,

Christa enjoys gardening, cooking, home design, reading, and writing. She especially loves spending time with her family and treasures any opportunity to be on, in, or near the sea.

Terese Benzie

Terese Benzie
Board-Certified Biblical Counselor (BCBC) | Certified Christian Women’s Life Coach (CCWLC) | Certified Codependency Specialist (CCS) | Certified Drug & Addictions Specialist (CDAS) | Class Group Leader

Terese has a deep passion for helping women discover the transforming power, healing, and freedom that come through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Throughout her walk with the Lord, God has continually revealed deeper truths through His Word, showing her the life-changing power available to those who surrender their hearts fully to Him. Through both brokenness and healing, Terese has experienced firsthand the faithfulness of God and His ability to restore wounded hearts.

As the Lord worked in her own life, Terese began to recognize His calling to encourage and counsel others through biblical truth, compassion, and the hope found in Christ. After going through counseling and healing ministry at The Balm of Gilead, she knew God was preparing her not only for personal restoration, but also to walk alongside other women in their healing journeys. Her desire is to help women move from pain and bondage into freedom, identity, and victory in Jesus.

As both a counselor and group leader, Terese brings warmth, encouragement, authenticity, and a Christ-centered approach to ministry. She believes God can use every season of brokenness for His glory and to help others find healing and hope.

In her spare time, Terese loves spending time with her husband, children, grandbabies, making jewelry, traveling, and dancing. She treasures laughter, family, and the simple joys of life while continuing to grow in her relationship with the Lord.

Brooke Ballard

Brooke Ballard
Board-Certified Biblical Counselor (BCBC) | Certified Christian Women’s Life Coach (CCWLC) | Teen, Young Adult & Family Support Counselor | Workshop Group Leader, Associate of Arts in Theology

Brooke has a heartfelt passion for helping women, teens, and young adults encounter the love, grace, and freedom found in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Before coming to fully understand the heart of God, Brooke struggled under the weight of legalism, shame, and generational patterns that left her searching for deeper truth and connection. When she surrendered her life to Christ, she experienced the overwhelming reality that God is not distant, but deeply relational, loving, and personal.

That encounter with the Lord ignited within Brooke a strong desire to help others discover the same hope, healing, and significance she found in Him. She believes every person deserves to know the truth of God’s unconditional love and the abundant life available through Jesus Christ. Her heart is to walk alongside others with compassion and authenticity, helping them move from shame and brokenness into freedom, identity, and intimacy with the Lord.

Brooke has a special heart for ministering to teens and young adults, helping them navigate identity, relationships, emotional struggles, and their walk with Christ in today’s culture. In addition to counseling women, she is passionate about mentoring younger generations and creating a safe and grace-filled environment where they can feel understood, encouraged, and grounded in their identity in Christ.

Brooke’s counseling approach is Christ-centered, grace-filled, and rooted in biblical truth. She desires to create a safe place where individuals and families feel seen, heard, encouraged, and strengthened in their walk with God. Her greatest passion is making Christ known and pointing others toward His transforming love, healing, and freedom.

In her personal time, Brooke enjoys music and songwriting, traveling, experiencing different cultures, and, of course, drinking coffee—which she jokingly considers a hobby all on its own.

Donna Allan

Donna Allan is an Entry-Level Board-Certified Christian Counselor Intern and a Christian Women’s Life Coach | Certified Codependency Specialist | Workshop Instructor & Group Leader

Donna has a heart for walking alongside women as they navigate life’s challenges and discover healing, restoration, and their true identity in Christ. Her passion for counseling grew out of years of women naturally seeking her out as a safe place to share their stories—often things they had never spoken aloud before.

Through her own journey of finding her identity in Jesus, Donna experienced freedom from misplaced worth and now desires to help other women experience that same freedom. She gently guides women to move away from patterns of codependency, comparison, and striving for approval, and toward a deeper understanding of who they are in Christ.

Donna creates a compassionate and nonjudgmental space where women feel seen, heard, and valued. Her approach is Christ-centered, focusing on truth, encouragement, and practical steps toward emotional and spiritual healing.

She enjoys reading, walking, spending time with friends over iced coffee, playing cards, listening to Christian podcasts, mentoring women, and sharing laughter. Her greatest joy is connecting with others in meaningful ways that build one another up in the Lord.

Nathan Beber

Ministry Chaplain, Entry-Level Board-Certified Biblical Counselor Intern, Men's & Marriages in Crisis Counselor

Nathan Beber serves as the Ministry Chaplain for The Balm of Gilead Ministries and has a heart to come alongside men, first responders, individuals, and couples with biblical encouragement, discipleship, and Christ-centered support. With a deep love for the Lord and a passion for helping others grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ, Nathan desires to see people strengthened spiritually, emotionally, and relationally through the truth of God’s Word.

Nathan’s calling to biblical counseling began during his time attending a wellness center for first responders while serving as a Fire Captain. During that season, the Lord placed a strong burden on his heart to minister to first responders, men, and married couples as they navigate life’s challenges, trauma, emotional pain, stress, and relational struggles. Through biblical counseling and life coaching, his passion is to help others find healing, wisdom, and direction by applying biblical principles to everyday life while building a firm foundation through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Nathan is known for his compassionate heart, steady presence, and desire to create a safe and supportive environment where people feel heard, encouraged, and challenged to grow deeper in their faith. His approach is grounded in Scripture, practical application, and the belief that true transformation comes through Christ.

His hobbies include fishing, hiking, shooting sports, e-bike rides along the boardwalk, and enjoying the outdoors. Most importantly, he values spending quality time with his children, family, and friends while continuing to grow daily in his walk with the Lord.

Jessica Moya

Entry-Level Board-Certified Christian Counselor Intern| Women’s Life Coach | Certified Codependency Specialist | Workshop Instructor & Group Leader

Jessica Moya has a deep passion for walking alongside women as they pursue healing, restoration, and freedom in Christ. Her heart for counseling was born out of her own personal journey with the Lord as He lovingly healed deep-rooted wounds, unhealthy belief systems, and emotional strongholds that once hindered her faith and identity.

Although Jessica knew Christ, she recognized that unresolved pain and past trauma were still affecting her heart and relationships. Through biblical counseling, the truth of God’s Word, and the grace of the Lord, she experienced profound healing and freedom as God uprooted lies, restored her identity, and filled the voids in her heart with His everlasting love. Through that process, the Lord revealed to her that she is His beloved daughter and began leading her into a ministry of helping other women experience that same hope and restoration.

Today, Jessica has a heart for women who are hurting, struggling silently, or searching for love, worth, and security in the wrong places. She understands what it feels like to carry hidden pain while longing to feel seen, loved, and whole. Because of the comfort and healing she received from the Lord, she now desires to walk alongside women with compassion, truth, and encouragement—pointing them to Jesus Christ, the One who restores, heals, and makes all things new.

Jessica helps lead workshops and support groups through The Balm of Gilead Ministries, creating a safe and Christ-centered environment where women can grow spiritually, emotionally, and relationally while learning practical biblical tools for healing and freedom.

In her personal time, Jessica enjoys spending quality time with her family, especially her grandbabies. She loves reading, being in nature, traveling, meeting friends for coffee, and sharing meaningful conversations over a great meal. She also treasures the quiet moments at home with a good book and a warm cup of coffee or tea.