Dr. Paula K. Whitaker

Whitaker got her bachelor's degree in psychology with a minor in music at University of Tampa, and earned her master's and doctoral degrees in clinical psychology at the University of South Florida. Married for 18 years, she and her family recently moved to the area so their children could attend the First United Methodist School Center, and to eventually accommodate Paula's horse, Rex, who currently "earns his keep for riding lessons," Paula said. "I met my husband, Lee, in high school at Tarpon Springs," she said."As teens, we both belonged to First United Methodist Church in Tarpon Springs youth group.As a couple, we have served both on church staffs and as volunteers in six different United Methodist churches since 1983, including Cornerstone United Methodist in Grand Rapids, Mich. and those in Florida."She considers her husband, who works for IBM, as an integral part of her youth ministry. "Lee will often be the playful one, doing pillow fights or something with the kids.I tend to be the one who gets the group back to the more serious side when necessary." The four young Whitaker children, ranging in ages from 21 months to 8, are active in music, sports and church activities. "We have a piano in our home," the youth director said, "and now guitars, rhythm instruments and lots of music and singing.A former horse show rider, who also enjoys ice skating, Whitaker keeps abreast of the psychological field. "As part of my doctoral studies, I completed a one year internship at Pine Rest Christian Hospital in Michigan, studying the practice of psychology from a Christian perspective." Following licensing as a clinical psychologist, she worked for most of the past 10 years at Life Connections Christian Counseling Center in Tampa, where she still serves on its board of directors.
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"I Kissed Dating Goodbye," written by Joshua Harris, "gives teens important ideas about dating and waiting, even if they choose to date," Whitaker said.
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Whitaker is working to plan the upcoming countywide "40-day Revolution," an interdenominational Christian youth rally the church is sponsoring, beginning for six weeks from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, April 9."We will be having a kick-off rally in our sanctuary," she said.
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Whitaker is inviting all local youth to participate, but asks that if more than five friends want to come as a group, reservations be made by calling her at the church office.
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"We are so fortunate to have Paula as our youth director," she said." She is so well-qualified, and she relates to youth and everybody so well.She is certainly helping to grow our membership.She is a real jewel."The vision that drives Whitaker has always been Ephesians 4: 11-13.