Angela Jourdain helps people find meaningful relationships
By Amy Rognlie | Photos by Skeebo
Whatever your reaction to the term “matchmaking,” throw it out the window. Angela Jourdain and her newly formed company, Therapeutic Loving Connections, are on a mission to change the face of dating in Bell County. TLC’s services are a far cry from an online dating service. Rather, Angela and her staff have a passion to educate.
“Matchmaking provides a better, safer, more effective, stress-free way to date in a world that has become very complicated. But TLC is so much more than just being matched with someone,” Angela explains. “We want folks to know that there are people available to mentor, guide and teach them how to have meaningful, lasting relationships, and we hope to create a structure in which the community can join us in this mission.”
A licensed counselor, Angela has spent years in various roles including private practice, foster parenting, Fort Hood Youth MFLC, Williamson county juveniles, and most recently working counseling services through private practice with the military and with the Department of Family Protective Services. Throughout her career, she saw many people who struggled in relationships and in finding their ideal partner. Observing this struggle, coupled with her desire for community advocacy, drove her to create TLC.
“With my time in all of these areas, there were common themes of deep hurt from broken relationships and family systems. This was indiscriminate to any demographic and deeply impactful in multiple areas of people’s lives,” she says. “This is how I ended up in my exact spot and I love that I have an opportunity and ability to advocate change.”
Located in Killeen, TLC provides a safe, local, fun place for clients to meet others in person. “Singles Mingles,” including game nights, karaoke, cooking and painting classes and wine tastings are hosted regularly so clients can practice their newly acquired communication skills and have fun meeting new people. A speed-dating night complete with live music is in the works, along with various small groups and classes, including the popular “Decoding Men” and “Decoding Women” classes.
“Because we are local and not online, we get to know each of our clients personally,” Angela explains. “We want to help people make the move back to safe, committed, sustainable relationships that are supported by the community and eliminate the ability for predators and scammers to hide behind a keyboard.” In light of this, all of TLC’s dating “coaches” are college educated and licensed in the field of social work and psychology. In addition, they employ a variety of background checks and an abbreviated psychological evaluation to screen clients to enhance dating safety.
The TLC staff also works with married couples, providing coaching for relationship repair and ‘re-sparking.’ Angela and her staff teach couples to utilize apps, games and other creative ways to get to know one another again. They will even help plan romantic getaways.
In addition, Angela and her staff are working with the local youth center and area singles groups in their quest to teach teens and college-aged people how to healthily negotiate relationships.
“I would like the youth of our community to learn early on about safe dating and healthy connection so that families develop happier healthier ways for generations. Relationships are important to the community and they are an investment,” she said.
Whether you’re looking for that special someone or need some help with an existing relationship, TLC offers a variety of packages to meet everyone’s needs. Or take advantage of a multitude of a la carte services and classes such as teen-dating etiquette, amicable resolution of an existing relationship, and family blending.
MAKE A CONNECTION
https://tlconnections.com/
Call or text: 254-258-2234
