SONYA REEDER, Executive Director

Sonya has always had a heart to help people deepen their walk with God through self-knowledge and interior change.  After graduating from East Tennessee State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree, she attended Dallas Theological Seminary and earned a Master’s degree in Cross Cultural Ministries.  At DTS she met and married David Reeder, and following seminary, they moved to Colorado where Sonya completed her Master’s degree in Biblical Counseling at Colorado Christian University.  Her education path prepared her to do what she most loved doing; listening to and guiding people who wished to grow relationally and spiritually. 

Returning to Dallas, Sonya worked as a staff counselor in the Counseling Services department at DTS, also providing small group training with the Center for Christian Leadership.  In 1992 she co-founded the Center for Biblical Counseling in Dallas Texas, serving as Assistant Director for 10 years before moving with her family to East Texas where she became Director of Counseling at Heartlight Ministries.  In 2004 she established a private counseling practice in Longview, Texas gradually expanding it to include extensive work with churches and Christian universities as both consultant and mentor.  In 2015 Sonya co-authored a book about engaging in meaningful conversations, entitled Listen In (Intervarsity Press). In 2023 Sonya wrote a second book, A Journey into Spiritual Formation. 

Beginning in 2018, Sonya served as Director of Counseling at Hope Road in Longview Texas, becoming its Executive Director in 2019.  She is currently the Senior Director of Spiritual Formation at Hope Road Counseling. Beginning the Spring of 2025, she will be serving as the Spiritual Director for Mobberly Baptist Church Retreat Center, Oasis in the Pines, in Longview, Texas.

Sonya is a Licensed Professional Counselor, as well as a Licensed Supervisor of LPC Associates and Interns.  She has also completed her formation as a Spiritual Director under the direction of the late Dr. Larry Crabb and hopes to continue listening to the hearts of people who want to become more Christ-like in their relationships. 

Sonya and her husband have been married for over 3 decades.  They have 4 grown children.  They are blessed with daughters-in-law they love dearly, and they find great delight in spending time with their grandchildren.