Meet Kimberley Montgomery, DBU Master of Arts in Counseling Alumna

Kimberley Montgomery was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, and grew up going to Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, where her family was very involved throughout her life. Kimberley's mother was involved with the children's ministry, and her father was a deacon and served in the men's and counseling ministries. "At a young age, I was taught the importance of a relationship with Christ, and my parents were an amazing example of what stewardship, leadership, and servanthood looked like as a believer."

Kimberley accepted Christ when she was eight and was baptized soon after. As Kimberley grew older, she acquired a deeper understanding of her relationship with Christ and what it looks like to walk with Him daily. As a teenager, she rededicated her life to the Lord and began volunteering in her church's children's ministry and the AWANA program. During this time, the Lord worked within her to develop a passion for spreading the love of Jesus to everyone. She continued to serve at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship through high school and college.

Kimberley earned a bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies from the University of Texas at Tyler, and after graduation, she began teaching first grade. She loved her time as a teacher, but she found that she had a passion for supporting and caring for her students and their families outside of the classroom. After her first year as a teacher, she decided to pursue becoming a counselor. 

Kimberley sought a faith-based institution to pursue a master's degree in counseling because, as she delved deeper into the industry, she desired to have the knowledge and foundation to be based on Biblical principles. She had heard many amazing things about DBU from friends and colleagues, so she applied to the counseling program, began her time at DBU in 2007, and graduated in 2009 with her M.A. in Counseling.

"My time at DBU was an invaluable one. The classes and professors I was blessed to learn from provided a firm foundation for how I wanted to provide hope, healing, and inspiration utilizing the gifts that God has blessed me with." Kimberley was thankful to gain hands-on experience in the faith-based and secular worlds of counseling. Through this, she discovered the type of counselor she desired to be. Kimberley made many lifelong friends at DBU and learned from the challenges set forth by her professors. She gained a renewed understanding of how marriages, cultures, and family dynamics impact how people view the world, how that view affects them, and how they navigate life from a mental health perspective. "The counseling program at DBU solidified my passion for serving people through counseling and the importance that mental health would eventually make in our society."

During her time at DBU, she interned at the Dallas Children's Advocacy Center and acquired a passion for working with children who have trauma from sexual abuse. She completed a course where her professor was the Director of Counseling at DCAC, so she was thankful for the opportunity to work there. Working in this field can be taxing physically, emotionally, and spiritually. At DBU, Kimberley learned to trust God and His plan despite our world's hostile, corrupt, and evil acts.

Since graduating from DBU, Kimberley has worked as a therapist and briefly served as the Director of Counseling for a program that provides individual and family therapy for non-violent juvenile offenders.

In 2017, Kimberley was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder called atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS). This disorder shut down her kidneys, and she was on dialysis from February 2017 until October 2022. During her treatment, Kimberley was unable to work and had to take medical leave. However, the Lord continued to work through her, and it was during this difficult time that she founded Therapy Inspired. This private practice partners with non-profits to provide low-cost counseling services to community members. Through this, she started a non-profit summer camp and mentorship program to provide children with social and emotional education free of charge.

The Lord inspired her to help those who were struggling with anxiety, depression, and trauma by using her own experience and circumstances. She gained a newfound heart for those with chronic illnesses and worked with them to show that God still has plans even amidst the pain and sorrow. "God used me to help many people find Christ during some of the darkest times in their lives."

Currently, Kimberley serves as the Assistant Director of Clinical Services at the Dallas Children's Advocacy Center, where she provides clinical and agency supervision for ten therapists while also advocating for children by providing expert testimony on child abuse and sexual abuse dynamics for the Dallas County Criminal Courts. She also provides training and coordinates continuing education opportunities for the clinical services team and the community on trauma, child abuse, and sexual abuse dynamics. Kimberley is also pursuing a Doctoral degree in community counseling focusing on trauma from Liberty University.

Kimberley married her husband, Brandon Montgomery, in 2006, and they are proud parents of four children: Camden, Jacob, Brooklyn, and Matthew. They live in Mesquite, Texas, and attend One Community Church in Garland, where they attend a couple's life group and serve in the children's ministry.