Grant Nichols is originally from Heflin, Alabama and has recently moved back to the area after living in the Atlanta area for the past 23 years. He was a member of Cedar Creek Baptist Church during his young adult years. Grant was actively involved in First Baptist Church, DeArmanville for several years, and is now a member of Antioch Baptist Church. He graduated from Jacksonville State University in 1986, with a degree in Psychology, and Atlanta's Richmont Graduate University (formerly, Psychological Studies Institute) in 2006, with a masters in Marriage and Family Therapy. He has spent most of the past 25 years working in the secular business field until he began graduate school in 2003. He has been married for over 20 years.

Grant has a heart to minister to couples, families, and individuals struggling with life's challenges, and , working together with clients to help them find solutions, hope and peace regardless of background, culture, or religious affiliation. He has a special interest in couples and men's issues, as well as the impact of addictions on families.

1. How do I contact the counselor? By phone at (256) 831-5313, extension 309. If the counselor is not available, you may leave a message. Your call should be returned within 24 hours. You may also email the counselor at: counseling@antiochoxford.com

2. If I leave a message or email will my message be protected and confidential? Yes. The counselor's voicemail and email are confidential and password protected; only accessible by him.

3. What do I need to do in case of emergency? In case of emergency, immediately dial 9-1-1 or go to your nearest emergency room.

4. What are the counselor's credentials and educational background? Mr. Nichols has a master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, with a specialization in Christian Sex Therapy, from Richmont Graduate University (formerly, Psychological Studies Institute) in Atlanta. He is approved by the State of Alabama as a Marriage and Family Therapy Associate, under the supervision of Dr. H. Hugh Floyd. Dr. Floyd is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and a Board-Approved and AAMFT-Approved Supervisor.  Mr. Nichols is a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors and is an Associate member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy.

5. Where do I go? How do I find the office? The church is located at 2650 McIntosh Road, Oxford, AL 36203. For directions, please click here.

6. Can I use my insurance? If not, how can I pay? Unfortunately, the counselor does not take insurance. Checks made payable to Antioch Baptist Church or cash are acceptable for payment, and your counselor will be paid this way. Payment will remain confidential, with only the Financial Secretary or Treasurer of Antioch Baptist Church making deposits. Those deposits are and will remain separate from other church deposits and records.

7.What times are available for appointments? At the present time, appointments are accepted Monday through Thursday. Special appointment times (such as early mornings) may be available, and you may discuss that with your counselor.

8. Does the counselor have any special interests? The counselor's interests are in helping couples, families, and individuals with their challenges, approaching treatment from a family systems and relational perspective. This includes his specialization in Christian Sex Therapy. The counselor does work with individuals, and a considerable amount of that work will be from a relational perspective. He has a special interest in marital issues and men's issues, and how addictions impact families.

9. Will my information remain confidential and my privacy be protected? Yes, your privacy and confidentiality will be maintained except where limited by law and in supervisory case review. Your counselor can explain these limitations in more detail. In addition, since this is a smaller and somewhat rural area, the chances of running into your counselor in other places are probably greater than in a large metropolitan area. Your counselor will take steps to ensure your privacy in the community at large, including not initiating any public recognition or contact with you outside of your session. Of course, you may approach and recognize him if you wish.

10. What if I know the counselor personally or in another context? The counselor can discuss these concerns with you, even over the phone prior to your first meeting. Certain boundaries must be maintained for your welfare, benefit, and privacy. The counselor may determine that the existing relationship, whatever that may be, could impair his objectivity, and if so, he can work with you for an appropriate referral.

11. Do I have to be a member of Antioch Baptist Church? Do I even have to be a Christian? No. Counseling services are available to anyone in the community and surrounding areas who feels they need and someone to talk with.

12. Does the counselor use only the Bible and prayer for counseling? No. The counselor is Christian, but he will use proven marital-and-family therapy and psychological techniques that coincide with a Christian world-view. However, as appropriate, references to Scripture and prayer also may be used, but typically this would be in response to the client's wishes.

13. If I make an appointment, when do I need to show up, especially for the first session? For your first appointment, show up at least 30 minutes before your scheduled time to complete the necessary paperwork. After that, unless requested by your counselor, you may show up at any time prior to your scheduled appointment, but 5 minutes or less is suggested. Have a seat in the waiting area. Late arrivals may be taken, but the session will end at its regularly-scheduled time.

14. Where will the forms be for me to fill out? Just prior to your scheduled arrival, the counselor will leave the necessary paperwork and clipboard on a table in the waiting area with a note showing only your first initial(s) and the time of your appointment.

15. What can I expect from therapy sessions? Will there be any homework? The first two or three sessions will be spent getting to know you, and the counselor likely will ask you several questions to gather information and history. After that, he still will be gathering information, but he will work with you to develop a better understanding about the issues and join with you as a team to develop potential solutions. Depending on the need, your counselor may administer some assessments, use role-plays and other techniques during the session, assign some portion of a book or entire books for reading, and make homework assignments between sessions.

16. How long will my therapy continue? It varies, but it could take up to 6 months or longer. Ideally, it will last as long as it takes.

17. Will my session be weekly or what? Ideally, sessions are scheduled on a weekly basis at the same time on the same day of the week; however, sessions every other week may be possible if that better fits your work or school schedule, or financial situation. Monthly appointments, especially as your counseling winds down, also may be a possibility.

18. Can the therapist prescribe medications? No. However he will help refer you to an appropriate medical doctor or other professional who may be able to help you. Should you authorize him to do so, he can work closely with other healthcare providers for your overall treatment.

19. Does the counselor work individually with children? Although his focus is on marital, family and individual issues, and will see children in a family context, the counselor does not have the training and experience at this time to see children individually on a long-term basis. He can, however, work with you and your family to make the appropriate referrals to other professionals such as registered play therapists or child psychologists.

20. What if my spouse (or child or parent) does not want to come? Even though counseling has the potential to be more successful when both spouses (or other family members) attend, some amount of work can be done with individuals alone. Also, consider that the spouse (or other family member) may be willing to attend later on in the course of counseling.

21. What if my counselor and I are not a good fit? In a sense, the counselor will be working for you, and as such, you may terminate the relationship at will. Each counselor's style is different and unique to him or her, and you may not be satisfied with his or her approach. If that is the case, it is strongly suggested that you come in for a final appointment, and the counselor will attempt to work with you to find an appropriate referral so that you can seek help elsewhere.

22. Does the counselor do any pre-marital counseling? Yes. Using the PREPARE-ENRICH© materials, he is certified to do pre-marital counseling for both first-time and other marriages. This consists of either an online assessment or written assessment (your preference), completed by both individuals, and usually 5 or 6 follow-up sessions with the counselor. Areas such as communication, goals and expectations, conflict resolution, personality differences, finances, and family history are discussed. Sometimes, family or friends may wish to pay for these fees as a wedding gift to the couple.

23. Does the counselor do any vocational or career counseling? Yes. Using the Strong Interest Inventory© and other materials, he helps clients explore their interests and how those interests may line up with vocational, volunteer, or leisure opportunities. This generally consists of a written assessment and a couple of follow-up sessions with the counselor.

24. Are there other services offered by Antioch Counseling Center? We are planning to offer, from time to time, psychoeducational and support groups, in such areas as grief, marriage, anger-management, divorce-care, and parenting. These may be in the form of workshops or weekly meetings over a span of about 6 to 13 weeks.

Below you will find links to all the forms that will need to be completed for your first session. Please fill out those that apply and bring with you:

Informed Consent

Adult Intake Form

Child Intake Form

HIPAA Notice Form

HIPAA Rights