New Life University was started in 2008 in response to the many requests for trained “Branches” style counselors from across the country.  Branches Counseling Center has become an icon for Christ-centered mental health and spiritual counseling.  To propagate that model New Life University is dedicated to training, equipping, and empowering ministry professionals in the area of counseling and life coaching.

The staff and faculty at NLU are largely working professionals, counselors and life coaches who are gifted as teachers. They bring many years of experience with a plethora of education and training.  New Life University is not a degree-granting institution; however, through strategic alliances with a number of colleges and universities and as a Certified Academic Institution of the National Christian Counselors Association, we are able to assist students with obtaining certification in several areas and degrees for pastoral counseling.

Faculty and Staff

DR. MIKE COURTNEY, DIRECTOR OF NEW LIFE UNIVERSITY

EMAIL: mcourtney@branches.org
Ph.D., Clinical Christian Counseling; MA, New Testament Theology; Licensed Clinical Pastoral Counselor
Mike Courtney is an author, speaker and Life Coach. He has 25 years experience in Pastoral Counseling to families, individuals and couples. He is also a husband and father who lives out his own recovery one day at a time. As director of the recovery center, Mike takes a personal interest in each client, each group and each recovery meeting. Mike is the author of Failure And How I Achieved It: a journey from addiction to hope. He and his wife Doris speak across the country on the intimacy that comes from brokenness.

DR. MARLENA BUTLER, DIRECTOR OF ENROLLMENT

EMAIL: mbutler@branches.org
NCCA Licensed Clinical Pastoral Counselor-Advanced Certified; FACCT Licensed Clinical Christian Therapist; Certified Grief Recovery Specialist®
Marlena specializes in individual counseling for adults and leads grief recovery groups at Branches. She helps clients as they navigate through anxious thoughts, stress, relationship struggles, life transitions, anger and shame. When not working with NLU students or seeing clients at Branches, Marlena ministers to adults nationally and internationally as the service provider for a nonprofit discipling ministry.

BETHANY BRATCHER, DIRECTOR OF STUDENTS

EMAIL: bbratcher@branches.org
NCCA Licensed Clinical Pastoral Counselor; Certified Advanced Christian Life Coach; Certified Attachment Specialist; MA Psychology; BA Psychology and Sociology
Bethany specializes in individual counseling for children, teens, and women. She also enjoys working with couples to help them navigate challenges and achieve harmony in their relationship. In addition to counseling, Bethany enjoys coaching clients and helping them achieve their goals and see dreams become reality. Outside of work, Bethany enjoys spending time with her husband and kids and volunteering with a local Freedom Prayer ministry. A graduate of NLU herself for both pastoral counseling and coaching, she enjoys working with students and encouraging them through the process. 

TIM BELL, DIRECTOR OF CURRICULUM 

EMAIL: tbell@branches.org
Certified Life Coach
Prior to becoming a certified Life Coach, Tim spent 30 years as a school teacher, school administrator, and coach. During that time he loved coaching and leading young people to help them reach their potential. He’s also learned from and benefited from the support of others who ran toward him to help him when times were tough in his own life. Now, his passion is to run towards others who need support and direction and need help to see God’s plan and purpose for their life.  Tim and his wife, Jonna, have 6 children and 7 grandchildren.