When Jennifer Hoffman named her new Grass Valley counseling center, she chose “Olive Branch” — a biblical symbol of the inkling of life left after the whole earth was flooded in the story of Noah.

She wants the downtown Olive Branch Counseling Group to be a sign of hope in troubled marriages and relationships — even for couples who think they can't afford professional help.

Olive Branch, located on Richardson Street directly behind Foothill Flowers, is staffed by Hoffman, a licensed marriage and family therapist, and three interns with master's degrees who are gathering experience to earn their counseling licenses.

“The path that interns have to go through involves an awkward period where they've graduated but they're unlicensed,” Hoffman said. “People who want to establish this career have student loans and they need to earn a living.”

Olive Branch interns can earn money while gathering the experience they need to complete the licensing process.

But it's also a winning situation for Nevada County families who want middle ground between free, lay counseling services, a la Anew Day, or professional therapists, which run at least $80 an hour.

“It's the last piece that needed to be filled,” Hoffman said.

Therapy at Olive Branch costs between $25 and $80, depending on a client's income and needs. The office is open five days a week, and Saturdays by appointment.

For Hoffman, counseling is a welcome second career. She started out at a desk job in the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), but was unhappy there.

“One day my husband said, ‘If you didn't have to earn a living, what would you do?'” Hoffman recalls. “I said, ‘Help others grow.'”

She earned her counseling degree and license, and still operates her own private practice.

Olive Branch's model of employing interns is her way to invest in the next generation, she said.

Counselors at Olive Branch are members of the American Association of Christian Counselors, but clients from all backgrounds are welcome.

Hoffman said she knows firsthand what it's like to move from a broken life to a better life, and counseling is one of the best ways to make that change.

“The quality of life is so much better when we know how to engage with each other,” she said.

“I am a total junkie for growth.”

To contact Staff Writer Michelle Rindels, e-mail mrindels@theunion.com or call (530) 477-4247.

Meet the Olive Branch counselors

Sue Cirillo, Marriage and Family Therapist intern

• Master's degree in Psychology Marriage and Family Therapy and Art Therapy, Notre Dame de Namur University, 2009.

• Bachelor's degree in Liberal Studies, Sacramento State University, 1992.

• Formerly an elementary school teacher, Sue specializes in art therapy for children and adults.

Annette Kelso, MFT intern

• Master's degree in Psychology, Chapman University, 2010.

• Bachelor's degree, Cell and Molecular Biology, Missouri State University, 2001.

• Annette specializes in recovery from addictive behaviors and couples counseling. She also works as client services manager at lay counseling center Anew Day.

Susan Wright, Counselor

• Working on master's degree from Chapman University, Roseville. Expected graduation date: December 2010.

• Bachelor's degree in marketing with a minor in psychology, Michigan State University, 1998.

• Susan specializes in couples and family relationships, anxiety and depression and the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. She and her husband own and manage Sierra Boulder Corporation in Loomis.

Olive Branch Counseling Group

120 North Auburn Street, Suite 115

Grass Valley, (530) 477-0976