Healing for mind, body, and spirit
Covington-McGee Wedding & Christian Counseling Chapel is a faith-based practice in San Antonio, Texas, dedicated to helping individuals and couples reach "spiritual peace and happiness" through biblical teachings. Led by Dr. Mel McGee, who has 38 years of experience as a board-certified pastor and counselor, the chapel serves as a ministry focused on healing and life transitions.
Our compassionate approach
At Covington-McGee Wedding & Christian Counseling , the approach is rooted in the belief that true healing happens when professional psychological insights meet the "transformative power of God’s Word." Dr. McGee’s philosophy centers on treating the whole person—spirit, soul, and body.
Pillars of Our Compassionate Care
The practice is built on a foundation of empathy and biblical wisdom to help you navigate life's toughest seasons:
- Safe Haven: We provide a judgment-free, confidential space where you can share your struggles openly.
- Biblical Foundation: Every session is grounded in Scripture, aiming to align your personal growth with God’s purpose for your life.
- Holistic Wellness: We address the intersection of mental health and spiritual health, recognizing that one deeply affects the other.
- Empowerment: Our goal isn't just to listen, but to equip you with practical tools to manage stress, overcome trauma, and restore broken relationships.
Meet Dr. Mel McGee
Dr. Mel McGee is the heart of Covington-McGee Wedding & Christian Counseling, bringing 38 years of experience to her ministry in San Antonio. She is a Board-Certified Pastor and Counselor dedicated to helping people find "spiritual peace and happiness."
Our Mission Statement:
Mission Statement
"To provide a professional, faith-based environment where individuals and couples can achieve spiritual peace and happiness by integrating biblical truths with compassionate, clinical care."
Core Values of the Mission
- Restoration: Helping clients move from brokenness to wholeness in spirit, soul, and body.
- Scriptural Authority: Using the Bible as the definitive guide for life transitions and healing.
- Accessibility: Offering affordable counseling and wedding services to ensure support is available to everyone in the community.
- Service: Dedicated to serving those who serve, with a special mission for military members and veterans.
The Wedding Mission
In their wedding ministry, the mission is to strengthen the covenant of marriage. They aim to equip couples with the spiritual tools necessary to build a lifelong foundation, focusing on God’s design for the family.
Our Vision Statement
Covington-McGee Wedding & Christian Counseling is driven by a vision of long-term spiritual restoration and community healing. Their outlook focuses on the ripple effect that individual peace has on families and the broader San Antonio area.
The Vision Statement
"To be a leading center for spiritual healing where every individual and couple is empowered to overcome life's challenges through the grace of God, resulting in stronger families and a more peaceful community."
Pillars of the Vision
- Generational Healing: Breaking negative cycles to create healthy legacies for future families.
- Spiritual Maturity: Moving clients beyond temporary fixes toward a deep, lasting relationship with Christ.
- Community Impact: Serving as a beacon of hope for San Antonio through accessible, faith-based mental health support.
- Unified Health: Pioneering a "Total Person" healthcare model that balances clinical excellence with biblical wisdom.
Relationship Vision
For their wedding ministry, the vision is to see every couple enter marriage not just with a license, but with a spiritual roadmap and a firm foundation in Christian values to ensure their union thrives for a lifetime.
Core Philosophy
Covington-McGee Wedding & Christian Counseling core philosophy is built on the concept of "Total Person Healthcare." This approach treats the individual as a whole, focusing on the interconnectedness of the spirit, soul, and body.
The Three Pillars
Their philosophy operates on the belief that true wellness is impossible if any one of these areas is ignored:
- Spirit: Aligning your life with God’s Word and finding spiritual purpose.
- Soul: Addressing the mind, emotions, and will through clinical and biblical insights.
- Body: Recognizing how physical stress and trauma manifest in mental health.
Foundational Beliefs
The practice is guided by several key philosophical convictions:
- Biblical Sufficiency: The Bible is viewed as the ultimate authority and "instruction manual" for navigating life's transitions.
- Grace-Centered Healing: Focuses on redemption and moving forward rather than staying stuck in past mistakes or trauma.
- Covenant Foundation: In marriage, the philosophy shifts from a "legal contract" to a "sacred covenant," emphasizing commitment and sacrificial love.
- Proactive Growth: Philosophy isn't just about solving crises; it’s about equipping people with tools to prevent future breakdowns.
The "Anchor" Concept
Dr. McGee believes that faith serves as the anchor for the soul. Without a spiritual foundation, emotional and mental health can easily drift during the "storms" of life, such as grief, PTSD, or relationship conflict.
Our specialized counseling services
Individual & Couple Support
Marriage Counseling
Marriage counseling at Covington-McGee Wedding & Christian Counseling is designed to move couples beyond "getting by" and into a thriving, Christ-centered covenant. Dr. McGee uses a biblical framework to help couples resolve conflict and rebuild intimacy.
The "Covenant" Approach
Unlike secular therapy that often focuses on individual happiness, this approach prioritizes the sanctity of the union.
- Biblical Foundation: Using Scripture to define roles, responsibilities, and the nature of love.
- Conflict Resolution: Learning to fight fair and forgive using the "Grace-Centered" model.
- Communication Tools: Practical exercises to move from "talking at" each other to truly "hearing" each other.
- Intimacy Restoration: Rebuilding trust after infidelity, neglect, or long-term emotional distance.
Pre-marital Counseling / Twogether In Texas
As an approved Twogether in Texas provider, Dr. McGee offers specialized tracks for newer couples:
- Foundation Building: Exploring financial management, family boundaries, and spiritual goals.
- License Discount: Completing the course provides a certificate to save on your Texas marriage license fee.
- Early Intervention: Addressing "red flags" before they become ingrained habits.
Suicide Hotline:
“If you need to talk, the 988 Lifeline is here.”
At the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, we understand that life's challenges can sometimes be difficult. Whether you're facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just need someone to talk to, our caring counselors are here for you. You are not alone.
Help is available
Speak with someone today
National Human Trafficking Hotline
tel:1-888-373-7888
https://humantraffickinghotline.org/en
Specialized Support
Counseling is tailored for couples facing unique high-stress environments:
- Military Couples: Addressing the specific strain of deployments, PTSD, and reintegration.
- Blended Families: Navigating the complexities of step-parenting and co-parenting with a faith-based lens.
- Crisis Counseling: Focused support for couples on the brink of separation or divorce.
Covington-McGee Wedding & Christian Counseling is known for its commitment to making faith-based support accessible to the San Antonio community, offering several ways to reduce the financial burden on low-income individuals and families.
Affordable Counseling Options
Dr. McGee’s practice operates as a ministry, which often allows for more flexibility than traditional clinical practices:
- Sliding Scale Potential: Many pastoral counseling centers offer fees based on your household income. It is best to call and ask if they can adjust rates based on your financial situation.
- Military & Veteran Discounts: Special consideration is often given to active-duty members and veterans facing financial hardship or transitioning out of service.
- Virtual Sessions: Telehealth options can save on transportation and childcare costs, making regular sessions more sustainable.
Low-Cost Wedding Services
The chapel is one of the more affordable options in the San Antonio area for couples starting their lives together:
- Simple Ceremonies: Dr. McGee offers "Simple Weddings" and elopements at the chapel, which are significantly cheaper than traditional venue weddings.
- Twogether in Texas: By completing Dr. McGee's premarital counseling, couples receive a state-certified certificate that:
- Waives the $60+ marriage license fee in most Texas counties.
- Waives the 72-hour waiting period, allowing for immediate marriage.
Dr. Mel McGee offers professional, faith-based officiant services for couples looking for a meaningful and affordable way to wed. As an ordained minister, she provides a spiritual foundation for your ceremony while handling the legal requirements.
Ceremony Options
Whether you want a quick legal signing or a more traditional service, the chapel offers flexible formats:
- Simple Chapel Weddings: Intimate ceremonies held at the San Antonio office for the couple and a small group of guests.
- Elopements: A "no-fuss" option for couples looking to marry quickly and privately.
- Formal Ceremonies: Dr. McGee is available to travel to local venues to officiate more traditional, large-scale weddings.
- Vow Renewals: Services for married couples looking to recommit to their covenant after years together.
Legal & Financial Benefits
Choosing Dr. McGee as your officiant provides specific advantages through the Twogether in Texasprogram:
- License Discount: If you complete 8 hours of premarital counseling with him, you receive a certificate that waives the $60 (approx.) state marriage license fee.
- No Waiting Period: The certificate also waives the 72-hour waiting period, allowing you to get married the same day you get your license.
- Affordable Pricing: The chapel is known for providing low-cost alternatives to expensive traditional officiants.
🕊️ The Spiritual Component
Dr. McGee’s approach is rooted in Christian values:
- Covenant-Focused: Ceremonies emphasize the sacred bond between the couple and God.
- Personalized: She works with you to ensure the vows and message reflect your specific relationship and faith journey.
- Premarital Support: Unlike many "officiant-only" services, she offers the tools to help the marriage last, not just the ceremony.
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Book an appointment
To book a counseling session or wedding ceremony with Covington-McGee, you should contact their scheduling team directly via phone or email.
How to Book
- Phone: Call (480) 618-7803 to speak with the scheduling coordinator.
Email: Contact tpschedulingcoordinator@gmail.com
Scheduling Contact: You can specifically reach out to the Billing Office Manager, Ty Pettway, to set up appointments.
Session Information
- Availability: Monday through Saturday, from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
- Formats: You can choose between in-person visits at the San Antonio chapel or virtual telehealthsessions.
- Cost: Standard counseling sessions are approximately $70 per session. Fees are also available on a sliding scale for low-income clients and veterans.
*******Note: All Sales Are Final********
*******No Refunds will be issued******
Your journey to wholeness begins here
At Covington-McGee Wedding & Christian Counseling, the "Journey to Wholeness" is the central invitation to every client. This process is designed to move you from a state of brokenness or transition into a life of spiritual stability and emotional health.
🌱 Where Your Journey Begins
Your path to wholeness starts by addressing the three core areas of your life:
- The First Step (Spirit): Reconnecting with your faith and identifying "spiritual roadblocks" that hinder your growth.
- The Emotional Shift (Soul): Processing trauma, grief, or relationship strain using biblical wisdom combined with clinical therapy.
- The Physical Peace (Body): Learning to manage the physical symptoms of stress, anxiety, and PTSD to restore daily function.
The Pathway to Restoration
Wholeness is achieved through a structured, supportive process:
- Intake & Discovery: Identifying where you are currently "stuck" in a non-judgmental, safe environment.
- Targeted Healing: Using specialized tools for your specific needs, whether you are a military veterandealing with PTSD or a couple struggling to communicate.
- Empowerment: Gaining practical, scriptural tools so you can eventually navigate life's challenges independently.
- Maintenance: Developing a "Spiritual Peace Plan" to ensure your health and happiness continue long after your sessions end.
💍 Wholeness in Marriage
For couples, the journey starts with the Covenant Mindset. Dr. McGee helps you shift from individual interests to a unified partnership, ensuring your family legacy is built on a "whole" and healthy foundation.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails.
"Dr. McGee's guidance was truly life-changing. Her blend of professional insight and spiritual wisdom helped me through a very difficult time."
Sarah M.
"The pre-marital counseling was invaluable. We feel so much more prepared for our marriage thanks to Covington-McGee Christian Counseling."
David and Emily R.
"I highly recommend Dr. McGee. Her support group for grief was a sanctuary and helped me find strength I didn't know I had."
James T.
FSA & HSA Cards
We gladly accept Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) cards as payment. These accounts allow you to use pre-tax dollars toward eligible mental health services, making your sessions more affordable than paying out of pocket.
“Make a donation through spotfund and receive a free session.”
http://spot.fund/gj1213lsc
“We do not accept insurance. Bypassing insurance prevents the need to submit a formal medical diagnosis to a third party, keeping treatment details off permanent medical records.”
“We accept Mastercard, Visa, Discover, American Express, and AfterPay. “
“We are providers for the following Programs which provide low cost and free as well.”
* Loveland Therapy Fund *
https://thelovelandfoundation.org/therapy-fund/
*Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation*
https://borislhensonfoundation.org/programs/
* Open Path Psychotherapy Collective*
https://openpathcollective.org/therapist/dr-mel-mcgee/
Give a Hour a national organization dedicated to transforming mental health by building strong and healthy individuals and communities. We specifically provide mental health support to people impacted by human made trauma through an innovative approach that empowers those we help to actively take part in their own mental health journey.
https://giveanhour.org/provider-search/
Memberships & Certified Boards :
Dr Mel McGee has been on various Certified Boards including International Practitioner of Holistic Medicine (IPHM), Alternative American Medicine Association (AAMA), Military Chaplains Association (MCA) , American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) , The National Association of Veterans Affairs Chaplains (NAVAC), Christian Military Wives Fellowship (CMF) , SACRD (San Antonio Community Resource Directory), Aging & Disability Resource Center, Melanin & Mental Health, Marriage.com.She is a provider for Twogether In Texas pre-marital classes in Texas.