LIFE MEANDERS like a backroad, winding through twists, turns, and the occasional hidden treasure. For Janet “Gail” Castle, those winding paths have led her into a life of helping others heal. From leading ministries that enrich lives around the globe to advocating for a no-kill animal shelter and offering a safe space as a licensed mental health counselor, Castle is devoted to leaving every corner of the world a little brighter.
Castle grew up in a family whose hearts were devoted to serving others. Her grandfather, the Rev. O.B. Johnson, pastored the First Methodist Church in Winchester in the late 1920s. Her father, George Bass, dedicated many years to Mountain Tennessee Outreach Project (T.O.P.), a nonprofit he founded in 1975 to help families in need in Grundy County. With role models like these, it’s no surprise that Castle found herself drawn to similar work.
By age 24, Castle was the Adults in Ministry director at Mountain T.O.P., where she served for 15 years. She later co-founded LEAMIS International Ministries alongside the Rev. Debra Snellen, traveling the world to provide communities with leadership training and critical resources like clean water projects. Her work took her to Central and South America, Africa, and Asia, earning her recognition as a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International.
She soon started another chapter when she opened Lorena’s Cafe and Catering in Monteagle. The business was more than a restaurant — it was a way to fund and support the work of LEAMIS. When the cafe had to close unexpectedly, Castle was left to figure out what came next.
The answer had been building quietly over the years.
“The answer was to be a mental health counselor and therapist, specializing in helping people recover and heal from the effects and impact of trauma,” she said.
“I knew this was my calling and would be my second career. I understand what it means to survive trauma and how trauma impacts one’s life. I have personally witnessed thousands of people in their suffering and their surviving trauma here in the South Cumberland Appalachian Region of Tennessee through my work at Mountain T.O.P., around the world through my work with LEAMIS in the Castle Counseling space, and also through my own story of surviving relational and developmental childhood trauma.”
This realization came to her at a time in her life when many might hesitate to start over. After two decades away from the classroom, she returned to her studies, earned a master’s in mental health counseling, and launched a second career as a therapist.
She admitted that, at first, she was worried that she might have been too old to begin a new career. But then she realized her life experience was her greatest asset. She believes people don’t just need theories; they need someone who understands what it feels like to be hurt and how hard it can be to heal.
Now, at Castle Counseling Center in Winchester, Castle specializes in helping clients work through trauma, anxiety, and other mental health challenges. She leads her practice by building healthy relationships and trust.
“I give empathy more than I give anything. I work to create a calm and safe environment with my energy and nervous system with a non-threatening energy. I am a safe person, which I demonstrate through my tone of voice, facial expressions, words, and body language. I believe clients can feel and sense that I am welcoming, friendly, interested, and nonjudgemental for whatever reason they come to the space for help,” she said.
Using methods like eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, and mindfulness, Castle gives clients practical tools to navigate their healing.
“Healing is a daily decision that anyone at any time can make. It’s never too late,” she said.
Castle also believes that compassion doesn’t stop with people. Raising funds for Animal Harbor, a local no-kill shelter, reaffirmed her view that caring for others, whether they walk on two legs or four, can make the world a little kinder.
“My experience has taught me that we don’t define what is or has been difficult and traumatic for someone else. If someone or an animal is in need, compassion and empathy are the conduits to providing help.”
The path to where she is now hasn’t been easy, but Castle sees every step as part of the process.
“I have learned that my mistakes are only opportunities for growth, improvement, and change. If we are rigid, not coachable or teachable, not self-aware, and can’t adapt, this mentality leads to stunted growth, irrelevancy, and isolation. It is also a pattern that could cause eruptions in our relationships and overall well-being to where minds and bodies begin to shut down.”
Castle’s proudest achievement is how she’s turned her own pain into a purpose.
“I didn’t let my struggles keep me in the dark. I want the same for my clients — to know they can come out stronger, happier, and whole on the other side.”
For anyone who feels stuck or afraid to make a significant change, Castle offers this: You’re not too old. It’s never too late. Your experiences prepare you for what’s next, whether you see it right now or not.
From mission trips and fundraisers to counseling sessions, Castle has spent her life meeting people where they are. Whether offering a hand up, a listening ear, or a word of encouragement, she reminds others that the road to healing — while winding — is always worth taking. GN
