My name is Ann McGaver and I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology: Crisis Counseling and a Master’s degree in Human Services Counseling: Life Coaching from Liberty University. In addition, I am a Board Certified Mental Health Coach from Light University and a Certified SYMBIS (Premarital) Facilitator.
Ann McGaver, M.A., BCMHC
My Story
My name is Ann McGaver, and I became a counselor/coach because God made a way for me to pursue a childhood desire. He gave me the strength and perseverance to complete my college education. But education isn't everything. I don’t come from a place of theory alone, but from real-life experience, hard seasons, and personal growth that now allow me to support others with empathy and hope.
I have walked through seasons that tested my faith, my resilience, and my sense of direction, and those experiences shaped my calling to help others find hope and healing. I was raised in a family shaped by the challenges of my father’s paranoid schizophrenia, which deeply influenced my early life. I know what it is like to live with fear, anxiety, depression, and sadness.
In my adult life, I have faced loss through multiple miscarriages, the challenges of blended family dynamics, financial strain, medical hardships, the pain of divorce, and additional troubling issues within close family relationships. These experiences were painful and often isolating, but they gave me a deep compassion for those who feel overwhelmed, misunderstood, unloved, or unsure how to move forward.
I am also the mother of 13 children and have spent more than three decades homeschooling while managing the daily responsibilities of parenting, marriage, work, and life transitions. I understand the pressures of raising children through every stage while balancing emotional, spiritual, and practical responsibilities. I know what it feels like to pour yourself out for others while quietly carrying your own struggles, questions, and exhaustion.
There were moments during this journey when I truly understood what it feels like to live in survival mode, to carry grief and stress that don’t simply fade with time, and to long for peace in the midst of life's demands. I also know that healing and growth are possible, even after periods of hardship, loss and emotional strain.
As a Christ-centered pastoral counselor and mental health coach based in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, I offer a safe, compassionate, and judgment-free space for individuals, couples, and families navigating difficult seasons.
My approach is grounded in professional training, biblical truth, and real-world wisdom. I am passionate about helping people process pain, strengthen relationships, rebuild hope, and move forward with purpose. You don’t need to have everything figured out to begin. If you are carrying the weight of past or present struggles—whether related to family life, parenting, marriage, mental health, loss, addiction, or overwhelming life demands—I would be honored to walk alongside you.
If you’re in a hard place, I invite you to schedule a free consultation. This no-obligation conversation allows us to talk about your needs, explore how I can support you, and determine the best next steps toward healing and growth.
My Approach
At Crisis to Comfort, I work with children, individuals, couples, and families to support them in navigating life’s challenges, strengthening relationships, and gaining clarity and purpose. I work in the area of couples/marital counseling, treatment of communication/relational difficulties, assistance with overcoming emotional/situational stagnation, processing past experiences, and fostering forgiveness for all ages-children, teens and adults.
I also address the unique dynamics of blended families, provide support during significant life transitions, and help clients develop structured, achievable steps toward personal, relational, and life goals.
My approach is to help people understand how their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are connected, and I teach practical skills to handle challenges more effectively. I focus on building healthier thinking patterns and problem-solving habits that can improve mood, confidence, and everyday coping.
In addition, this approach blends faith, practical guidance, and encouragement to help clients find healing, growth, and renewed hope.
One verse that guides my work is Romans 12:2 (NKJV):
"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
This verse reminds us that true renewal does not happen through effort alone, but through inviting God into the process of transformation. As we allow Him to shape our thoughts, beliefs, and perspectives, change becomes both possible and sustainable.
Central to this work is the belief that life is intended to be lived with depth and purpose. Inspired by the biblical teaching that Christ came so we might experience an abundant life, the focus is on helping you move toward wholeness, growth, and lasting fulfillment.
This kind of life is not out of reach—it is attainable, sustainable, and something I genuinely want for you.
You don’t have to walk this journey alone. I believe God meets us exactly where we are and gently leads us forward.
I believe God uses our struggles to shape purpose and strength, and I am passionate about walking alongside you as you move forward—one faithful step at a time.