It's All About Relationships

Welcome to my Website

About Rev. Mary Ellen Garrigus, Ph.D

As a Pastoral Counselor and Coach - Prayer Minister as well as a Certified Eating Psychology Coach, Relationship Coach and Temperament Therapist, I have worked with many different types of clients throughout my 25 years of practice.

Everyone walking on the face of the earth has issues. To experience freedom, we need to get to roots of the issues and learn how to move forward. While changing behavior is important, we need to get to the root so this is not just about constant dieting, over-exercising, and behavior modification or telling yourself that you're ok.

Roots run deep!

When you were sad, were you given food to comfort you? That’s why it is call comfort food. When you were rewarded, were you given sweets and junk food like ice cream?
Were you told to finish your plate because there are starving children in China?
Could this be the root of comfort eating, junk food habits and overeating?

We all got messages that skewered our relationship with food. Could these be roots of disordered eating?

Did you learn how to communicate and handle conflict by watching how others did it - maybe like mom and dad? Good communication and conflict skills can be learned. We don't have to be mean or sarcastic or try to control others. Maybe those are power plays to avoid intimacy and being authentic.

Maybe you're not sure about how you act and more importantly why you act the way you do. Lot's of people put on a personality or mask to hide. Understanding your temperament is an excellent way to learn to be relaxed and to love yourself and how God created you.

Why not love yourself while you are on the journey to wellness? Have you ever thought about how you can nourish yourself? Can you really be free from dieting, the scale and toxic thinking and lies you believe. Experience breakthroughs in your personal and professional life.

I can help you learn to trust yourself and learn to love yourself, every part of you. I can help you learn to live in peace and experience freedom.

I am an Ordained Minister for Christ. I was baptized as an Episcopalian, raised as a Methodist and today I am a member of Grace Church on the Mount in Netcong, NJ. And yes, I admit I am a Christian mutt.

Even being raised in "church" I had an amazing salvation experience in 1979. I love Jesus and use biblical principles in all my coaching and pastoral counseling.

I received my Ph.D in the Philosophy of Clinical Christian Counseling in 2004.

I also offer training sessions and speak in webinars and seminars. Topics include communication and conflict resolution, overcoming negative thinking, eating psychology, self care, temperament and stress management.

I will not take a cookie cutter approach – it is individualized for you.

And I prayer for each of my clients as there is power in prayer.

Call me now and let’s work on a better way for you.