ED.D. & MA Pastoral Care & Counseling
ACBC Certified Biblical Counselor
Since founding Gracefull Ministries in 2002, Dr. Jerra Dooley has shared God’s transforming grace with women. Through her leadership, thousands of men and women have discovered their divine design and purpose for life. Now, she is providing biblical counseling services exclusively through Fortify Christian Counseling LLC, and she is still available to speak at special events.
As an ACBC-certified biblical counselor, Dr. J guides women through life’s difficult issues such as abuse, addiction, marriage difficulties, divorce, single-parenting, remarriage, blended family, financial hardship, death, loss, life transitions, and more. She knows first hand, when trauma causes fractures in your identity, the best way to recover is by rebuilding your identity through the redeeming and restorative teachings of God’s Word.
Dr. Jerra affirms that whatever your life stage or issue, the Bible holds the solutions for addressing the problems, making corrections, and moving forward with God’s plan for a fruitful and fulfilling life.
Brief Bio:
- Ed.D. Community Care & Counseling; Pastoral Care & Counseling, Liberty University (2023, highest distinction)
- MA Pastoral Counseling; Addictions & Recovery, Liberty University (2019, highest distinction)
- BS Religion; Biblical Counseling, Liberty University (2017, summa cum laude)
- ACBC Certified Biblical Counselor (2017)
- Certified Facilitator for Prepare-Enrich Premarital/Marriage Assessments (2018)
- Licensed Human Behavior Coach for Uniquely You profiling systems (2002)
Biblical Counseling Experience
- Fortify Christian Counseling LLC (June 2023 to present)
- Lay counselor, Briarwood Counseling Center, Birmingham, AL (2015 to 2023)
- Gracefull biblical counselor (since 2014); individuals, small groups, women’s shelters, and Shelby County work release
- Ministries director, Valleydale Church (10 years); assisted 1000+ church members in discovering their shape and purpose for ministry
- 30+ years serving as a lay leader in women’s ministries, bible studies, counseling ministry, and worship ministry
Among all the degrees and certificates she has earned, Dr. Jerra claims her greatest accomplishment is the education she received through the school of hard knocks! She has personally experienced the frustrations and failures others seek her to help them with. Her specialties include abuse, abandonment, anxiety, depression, toxic relationships, divorce, single mom, remarriage, blended family, financial hardship, grief, loss, big transitions, and more. The great news is that she has learned the real secret to success begins with a relationship with Jesus Christ. She affirms, sometimes we just need someone else to walk us through the difficulties as we progress in life’s journey.
Dr. Jerra and her husband, Randy, are actively involved in Pelham First Baptist Church, where she serves as the pianist, and he teaches Bible study. Randy is an ordained minister and gifted theologian (Tennessee Temple University), who holds her biblically accountable for ministry. They have five adult children, one son-in-law, four grandchildren, and four great-grands.
“But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work
assigned me by the Lord Jesus— the work of telling others the Good News
about the wonderful grace of God.” Acts 20:24 (NIV)
Book Dr. Jerra for a speaking engagement by emailing info@gracefull.org or call (205) 202-9531.
Click here to request counseling with Dr. J. at Fortify Christian Counseling LLC.