Mission:

Polis is a community-based Christian recovery organization devoted to the research, development and implementation of quality counseling practices.

Vision: 

• Recovery as an opportunity to help people connect with God, self, community, & creation.
• To help people form identity and develop purpose rooted in faith, hope and love. 
• Cultivating recovery communities within the context of local churches.

Statement of Faith: 

Polis adheres to the Westminster Confession of Faith.

Advisory Board:            

• Brad Hambrick, M.Div., Th.M.

Pastor of Counseling, The Summit Church (www.summitrdu.com)
Adjunct Professor of Biblical Counseling, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (www.sebts.edu)
Council Member of The Biblical Counseling Coalition (www.biblicalcounselingcoalition.org)

• Ben Van Steinburgh, J.D.

Ben practices law in Raleigh, North Carolina. He serves as a ruling elder at Christ the King Presbyterian in Raleigh, where he lives with his wife Tyler and 3 children. 

• Sam Williams, Ph.D.

Sam is Professor of Counseling at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and elder at North Wake Church in Wake Forest, North Carolina. Dr. Williams came to Wake Forest from a private practice in Lake Charles, Lousiana and serves Polis as an invaluable resource of experience in his field. He is married to Mindy and they have children, Sarah, Matt, Andrew and Stephen. 

Board of Directors:

• Steve Ellis, Charlotte, NC
• Alicia Mercer, Wilmington, NC
• Dax Palmer, Wake Forest, NC

Bio:

Chris Ball was born and raised in Virginia, and studied Psychology & Religious Studies at UNC-Charlotte, before moving to the Raleigh area to attend Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he received his Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling. He gained experience counseling & teaching at Converting Hearts Ministries for several years before launching a new Bridgehaven Counseling Associates office in downtown Raleigh in partnership with the Summit Church and Christ the King Presbyterian Church. Chris is ordained as a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church of America (PCA). He served on the City of Raleigh’s Substance Abuse Advisory Commission, and was also a founding board member of Recovery Communities of North Carolina (RCNC), a non-profit that seeks to promote addiction recovery, wellness and citizenship through advocacy, education and support. He is a member of the Christian Society of Psychology. Chris particularly enjoys focusing on addiction, psychiatric, sexuality and trauma issues, and is passionate about counseling as a way to develop redemptive community. In addition to leading Polis Recovery Project, Chris serves as a counselor in the addiction recovery program at Seattle's Union Gospel Mission. He is a devoted Boston Red Sox fan, lover of dogs, and avid reader of theology, philosophy and psychology. Chris is married to his brilliant and elegant wife Ashley Rea. They belong to All Souls Church of West Seattle.