Healing Church Conference aims to create safe space for Kentuckians facing mental health challenges

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – After a difficult year for many Kentuckians, a Lexington church is partnering with a local mental health visionary to offer a safe space for healing and open conversation.

The Healing Church Conference, led by visionary Stacey McDonald, is designed to help residents address emotional and psychological struggles through a blend of faith-based support and mental health resources. McDonald said she began the conference nearly four years ago, inspired by a book she wrote about the connection between faith and therapy.

“…where we can expand this conversation and expand the healing for believers as well as those who are just walking past every single day in our schools and workplaces and they are silently drowning nobody sees them because they have such a beautiful smile,” McDonald said.

She added that her work focuses on showing people that spiritual support and professional counseling can work together.

“It kinda showed that faith and therapy are not enemies. They are allies and so we wanted to let people know that there’s a place you can come that makes psychology and theology such a beautiful marriage and it’s a place where you can come lay your burdens down without having any guilt about it’s all the devil or it’s all the enemy,” she said.

This year’s conference will be held Saturday, Dec. 6, at Consolidated Baptist Church. Pastor Richard Gaines said the goal is to create a safe environment for anyone who needs support.

“We have an opportunity to share a place and a space where people can feel safe and get the mental help that they need,” Gaines said.

Although the event is being hosted by a church, McDonald said the sessions extend far beyond traditional religious conversations. Attendees will hear from experts on topics including childhood trauma, addiction, divorce, and adverse childhood experiences.

“We teach and give resources on adverse childhood experiences, about addiction, about childhood trauma, about divorce, things like that weigh heavy on the heart but we keep to ourselves and therefore healing can’t take place,” McDonald said.

The event is open to people of all ages and backgrounds.

“Ages 16 to 80 years old, Black, white, Latino, all coming together. They can expect to sit in classes with experts, clinicians, mental health professionals, advocates and community leaders,” McDonald said.

Pastor Gaines said the goal is simple: “This gives us an opportunity to be just that — a safe place for the community to come and get the resources they need.”

The conference runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will include food, drinks, and giveaways. Organizers say anyone who is struggling is encouraged to reach out for help, and they will connect attendees with resources.