Our Team

Karen McDonald
President & Counselor

Karen obtained a Master’s Degree in Christian Counseling from Covington Theological Seminary in Rossville, Georgia. From there, she earned her Ph.D. in Religious Philosophy from Logos University in Jacksonville, Florida in 2011.

Karen McDonald is Board Certified in Sexual Abuse and in Domestic Violence through the National Center for Crisis Management and the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress. She is a trauma expert and works primarily with divorcing families, adoption identity issues, domestic violence and sexual abuse cases. She sees children ages three and up as well as adults.

Karen grew up with domestic violence and sexual abuse on a daily basis. She survived and developed a passion for helping others find restoration from abuse. Because she has struggled through her own journey of recovery, she knows how much courage and determination it takes to overcome the fears, shame and guilt, and spiritual confusion that survivors face. Furthermore, she has wisdom, training and skills to pass along techniques to those who are ready to change their lives.

Her love is and has always been children. From a childhood of protecting younger brothers to 25 years as a childcare provider to serving the littlest of victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse through counseling, her heart remains with protecting and empowering children.

Karen is the author of Blind Trust, A Child’s Legacy, written under the pen name of Karen Austin.
See below.

Susan Hixson
Treasurer & Counselor

Susan’s passion for counseling began through the Cobb Pregnancy Services organization where she mentored women struggling with a crisis pregnancy. She began to see the interweaving of many unresolved childhood issues that brought these women to this point in their journey. A compassion to help with their healing process catapulted her into training to do just that.

Susan Hixson is a board-certified Christian Counselor through the Georgia Board of Examiners for Christian Counselors and Therapists. She received her master’s in Christian Counseling from Logos University in Jacksonville, Florida. She is certified as a temperament counselor by the Sarasota Academy of Christian Counseling. She has done advanced studies in abuse issues and has had Grief Support training through the Center for Loss and Life Transition. Susan is a member of the Georgia Christian Counselors Association. 

Susan currently counsels women with family issues, co-dependency issues, depression, anxiety, abuse, post-abortion, forgiveness and grief issues. She uses her clinical skills as well as Biblical truths to address the specific problems. Her goal is to identify and resolve personal, relational, and spiritual issues through the power of Jesus Christ.

Susan and Karen co-lead The Rest of the Journey retreat events for women who are ready to be free from the symptoms and consequences of their abuse. 
She currently counsels individually locally and via Zoom. 

Laura Ashley Herrera
Vice President

Laura Ashley Herrera is a middle school teacher in Cherokee county Georgia where she has taught for 17 years. She, along with her husband and 3 children, are bilingual and are fluent in Spanish and English.

Shelley luehder Hill
 director of marketing & fundraising

Shelley Hill "wears a bunch of hats". So much so that about 20 years ago her husband named her the Indispensable Organizational Wizard. She is co-owner, XO and an instructor at their business called The Complete Combatant. They focus on teaching their community self protection options from the first signs of danger, making good nonlethal, less than lethal, and lethal decisions, "tool" cycling, getting to safety and even dealing with the aftermath of calling 911.

For many years, Shelley has been heavily involved with nonprofit organizations that focus on helping survivors of sexual abuse and domestic violence. She has been a supporter of Dr. Karen McDonald's and Susan Hixson's retreats that entire time and is one of their main fundraisers. Shelley is currently the Marketing & Fundraising Director of The rest of The Journey.

Blind Trust, A Child’s Legacy

Karen McDonald is the author of Blind Trust, A Child’s Legacy, written under the pen name of Karen Austin. This autobiographical novel chronicles her spiritual and psychological journey. Before changing careers to the counseling arena, Karen owned and operated a day-care business for 25 years. This was a forerunner of preparation for her current career as she worked with all kinds of families and many children in crisis. She also worked with all kinds of parents from unwed teen moms to late-in-life parents, from those who needed a few hours away from their children each week to those who struggled to find a few hours to be with their children. Her experience in working with families from all walks of life gives her a solid background in helping individuals and families heal from the wounds sexual abuse causes.

Dr. Karen McDonald’s educational background includes three year’s study at Kennesaw State University before receiving her bachelor’s degree and master’s in Christian Counseling from Covington Theological Seminary. She earned her Ph.D in religious philosophy from Logos University in Jacksonville, Florida, where she wrote her dissertation on “Beyond Play Therapy: Treating the Traumatized Child.”

If you, or someone you know, has been the victim of sexual abuse, and/or domestic violence issues, contact us today to get more information about The Rest of The Journey programs to begin your journey to emotional health.

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