The Dwelling Co

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Des Moines, IA
The Dwelling Co

Cultivating heart-level transformation through the guidance of God’s Word & the leading of the Holy Spirit. Offering virtual counseling for females.

Providing training & consulting to equip saints coming alongside hurting individuals.

12/23/2025

The holiday season can bring so much joy and beautiful time with loved ones, but it can also surface deep grief as we bear the weight of our broken world. The truth is, we were never meant to carry that weight alone.

Grief and loss can usher us into a beautiful opportunity to grow in intimacy with our very caring Father. They help us see more clearly what has been true all along—that we cannot do this on our own and that we need our reliable Savior.

May we set our hope this holiday season—and in every season of life—on our steady God, who has delivered us before and will deliver us again (2 Cor. 1:8–10).

12/18/2025

We are not given the woman’s name in this story. Instead, she is known by her problem—the “bleeding woman.” For twelve years, she was separated from society as her problem made her unclean to touch, enduring isolation and suffering as she exhausted every effort to fix her pain.

It is difficult to read the previous sentence and fully grasp the weight of such grievous circumstances. May I invite you to consider her separation from society in a way that may resonate more deeply? Imagine the social distancing and lockdowns we experienced during COVID—only hers lasted twelve years, with no hope of improvement… until Jesus.

How does Jesus respond?

Though surrounded by a pressing, demanding crowd, Jesus stops. He pursues her. He heals her body, breaks the chains that kept her from community, relieves the emotional and mental weight of her circumstances, and gives her a new name: daughter.

For those who have identified themselves (or have been identified by others) by their problem, in Christ, you have a new identity. Only the Creator can define His creation. Not well-intentioned voices, not your abuser, not your past, and not yourself.

“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” - John 1:12

12/11/2025

Hey ya’ll — I’m back from maternity leave and excited to begin seeing counselees again!

Allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is Brooke, and I have over a decade of experience—both locally and globally—walking alongside survivors of trauma, abuse, and sexual exploitation. I am passionate about supporting women through the ups and downs of life. My desire is to help others uncover and replace harmful belief systems and address root-level issues through the truth of Scripture. I find joy in every opportunity to comfort others with the same comfort I have received from the Lord.

On a personal note, I enjoy home design, anything competitive or outdoorsy, humor, coffee, sweet treats, quality time with loved ones, and snuggling with my Maine C**n cat, Ivanna. I am deeply grateful for the love and support of my husband, and I cherish the way biblical counseling has allowed me to utilize my giftings, come alongside the hurting, prioritize precious time with my family, and continue being molded into the image of Christ as I apply the very truths I teach to my own life.

09/15/2025

✨ Maternity Leave Announcement ✨

Cody and I are beyond excited to welcome our newest addition and soak in this new season as a family of four!

With that, maternity leave has officially begun. We’ll be pressing pause on sessions, communication, and content to rest, bond, and savor all the newborn snuggles. 💕

Thank you for your prayers, patience, and support during this special chapter. I’ll be sure to share updates when I return!

08/29/2025

Oftentimes, the hard ushers in greater beauty. We are able to catch a glimpse and more easily recognize the good because we have experienced its opposite. Like the joy of birth after the sorrow of miscarriage. The gift of tender, caring, and loving relationships after betrayal. The blessing of a healthy work environment after a toxic one. Sometimes, it is the very pain that sharpens our vision to see the good—because we know the hurt so deeply. It was once our reality, and for some it may still be. Yet by God’s grace, we can see and hold beauty even in the midst of difficult circumstances—a powerful reminder of His ability to redeem what the enemy intended for evil.

08/22/2025

Many of us are researchers by nature and have experienced real growth and depth as a result. Yet many of us have also faced seasons of hurt and abuse where we fought tooth and nail to understand why we were (and are) treated the way we were. We wonder what we did to deserve it. We search for what we might have done wrong. We dig desperately for an answer—believing that if we could just make sense of it, maybe we could fix it. Maybe then it would finally feel resolved.

But what we often discover is that we’re digging trenches to nowhere. Abuse is not something the human mind can ever fully make sense of—it was never part of God’s original design but entered the world through the fall. Still, peace can be found even in the midst of our search for understanding.

The Lord is gracious in our wrestling. He does not shame us for our questions or our longing to understand. Instead, He meets us in these places and gently invites us into something better: surrender. He calls us to entrust our need for understanding into His caring, righteous hands. Only He can carry the weight of our hurt and suffering without being destroyed by it.

08/14/2025

The Lord has shown me over the years the deeply beautifying work that can come through some of the most broken and messy situations. The tears, the anger, the clenched fists, the shaking hands, the hard questions, the doubts in faith — the opening of the floodgates when someone finally gives themselves space to acknowledge and reflect on the impact of what they’ve walked through, rather than telling themselves and everyone else that they are “OK.”

It is a beautiful breakdown — the kind that beckons us to invite others and God into our deepest wounds. The place where we finally admit that we are beyond ourselves and in need of help. As we see God meet Elijah in his breakdown (1 Kings 19), so He meets you there too.

Have you scared others away in the mess of your circumstances? You won’t scare Him. Have others crumbled under the weight of your pain? He won’t — He can’t. Have others sought to exploit you in your weakness? He never will — His heart can be trusted. Have you burned others out with the repetitiveness of your struggles? He will never leave you nor forsake you.

08/01/2025

It’s no surprise that abusive individuals often benefit from preserving their reputations and their sinful actions hidden. This secrecy allows them to continue misusing power for selfish gain.
One tactic they frequently use is accusing victims (and others) of gossip—reminding them that gossip is not God-honoring. They often impose this standard on others while not holding themselves to it. This double standard enables the abuser to malign the character of others while maintaining control over the narrative.
What makes this dynamic so challenging is that there’s a grain of truth in what they say: Gossip is not God-honoring. But is that really how God would label the words and actions of someone who exposes sin, seeks help, and pursues wisdom, guidance, and accountability?
Absolutely not.

Let’s explore the key differences between gossip and truth-telling.

07/29/2025

I’ve always enjoyed roles that involved public speaking and representing the various organizations I’ve been part of. The Lord has often used those opportunities as sacred moments to reflect on His divine handiwork—the way He has so intentionally orchestrated the events of my life to bring me to where I am today. He never ceases to amaze me with His uncanny ability to take all the pieces—the good, the bad, and the ugly—and transform them into a magnificent and intricate tapestry for His glory.

Last Thursday marked a new milestone: for the first time, I attended an event representing my own ministry. As I prepared earlier in the day, the Lord invited me to look back and remember the vision He placed on my heart as an 18-year-old girl—to create a ministry that would walk with hurting women. I remember feeling scared and so inadequate for the task—feelings that still surface today. And yet, time and again, He meets me there, gently reminding me to fix my eyes on Him—the Faithful One who will finish what He started (Philippians 1:6).

A heartfelt thank you to and with for the incredible work you do to come alongside those in the trenches of ministry and for entrusting me with this very special opportunity. Y’all sure know how to host a beautifully curated event!

07/22/2025

Coming to the end of myself—
I used to fear it.
Now I see it for what it is:
a holy, necessary moment.

A moment when the truth becomes clear:
I was never the source.
I was never meant to be.

Ministry will break you open,
especially when walking with the broken.
And in those moments, you’ll have to ask:
Why am I really doing this?

If it’s for love in return—
that won’t last.
If it’s to feel valuable—
what happens when you’re told
you’ve done more harm than good?

We were never meant to serve others
apart from the Vine.
Trying to do so
will wear you thin
and wear you out.

So when you feel like you have nothing left—
pause.
Because the One who lives in you
has no limit.
And He delights to work through
even your frailty.

07/17/2025

Abuse is like taking a hammer to a mirror, shattering one’s ability to clearly see oneself, God, and others. When the victim is a child still developing their blueprint for life, abuse can have an even graver impact—though this is not meant to minimize the devastating abuse some experience in adulthood. I believe this is why God issues a firm warning to those who cause little ones to stumble, as seen in Luke 17:2, and calls us to intervene for the oppressed, as Psalm 82 urges.

Abuse distorts a person’s sense of self, their understanding of God, and their trust in others—to name just a few of its effects. In the aftermath of abuse, survivors face a crushingly difficult decision: to leave the broken mess as it is and try to make sense of things, or to take the painful, courageous steps to put the pieces back together.

Biblical counseling illuminates the truth desperately needed as we seek to gather the broken pieces of our lives, study and grieve their brevity and impact, and reflect an image rooted in God rather than the distorted view caused by abuse.

07/14/2025

✨ And... We’re live! ✨

After much prayer, planning, and purpose-filled work, our new website is officially launched!

This space was created with hope and healing in mind—a place where the broken pieces of our stories can encounter the redemptive power found in the person of Jesus

Whether you’re navigating deep wounds, walking with others through theirs, or simply looking for Christ-centered encouragement—we pray this space points you to the true Healer.

👉 Visit us at thedwellingco.org or by clicking on the link in our bio
📖 Explore resources, connect for support, and learn more about our mission.

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Des Moines, IA

Website

http://thedwellingco.org/

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