A message from the Christian Counseling Program:
We are pleased to introduce Pillars of Wellness to you and your ministry community. Pillars of Wellness is a mental health counseling practice established by Dr. Shaun Wehle, PsyD and his wife Amber Wehle, CEO. Our mission has been to provide a holistic approach to mental health that considers all aspects of the human experience, including one’s spirituality.
My (Dr. Shaun Wehle) background as a graduate of Fuller Theological Seminary has fueled my passion for integrating faith into mental health treatment. Over the years, Pillars have grown from a small practice with six clinicians to a thriving group with over 80 clinicians serving clients worldwide. Today, we are excited to formally launch our Christian Counseling program.
We embark on this new journey, with the hope of collaborating with churches to provide high-quality mental health services to you, your staff, and your faith community. We understand that ministry leaders often bear the noble responsibility of supporting the mental health of their teams. Our mission is to alleviate this burden by offering faith-informed healthcare.
Our services currently encompass traditional individual, couples, and group therapy, but we’re also open to providing additional support and mental health training for your staff if desired. Pillars is unique in that clinicians who work with clients requesting Christian counseling will only be those who have professed an interest in working with Christian clients and participate in supervising groups focused solely on how to ethically and effectively work with Christian clients.
Pillars of Wellness accepts most major insurances, including Medicaid to reduce the financial strain on our clients. While we’re open to partnerships with churches wishing to support treatment costs, our primary focus is on utilizing health insurance benefits to make mental health care accessible.
As a Christian myself (Lisa) and a current member of the American Association of Christian Counselors, I am passionate about the intersection of faith and psychology. Dating back to my time in college where I was a member of CAPS (Christian Association of Psychological Studies) I eagerly attended their annual conference with one of my professors, deepening my understanding of this crucial blend of disciplines. However, it was actually my personal experience with the transformative power of Christian counseling that motivated me to pursue a career in this field. This program is an exciting opportunity to bring together my passion to integrate faith and psychology, which I look forward to sharing with you.
Warm regards,
Lisa and Shaun
Program Description
Clinicians on the Pillars of Wellness Christian Counseling Team have a passion for connecting counseling with Christianity – with the belief that psychology and Christianity go hand in hand, especially when it comes to the therapeutic process.
At Pillars our Christian counselors have an opportunity to receive training and supervision on topics viewed specifically through a Christian lens, with the goal of learning how to appropriately and ethically incorporate faith into the therapeutic setting if the client desires. They also have a supportive community within our team to encourage and support one another to further develop their skills and create a more informed and effective treatment for our clients.
Christian counselors blend the foundational teachings of faith with evidence-based practices. Guided by respect for every individual and the harmonious interplay of faith and science, our counselors commit to holistic care, ethical integrity, and continuous growth, ensuring a compassionate and effective counseling experience.
Statement of Faith
We believe in the triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – who is the source of all wisdom, healing, and hope. Our faith is rooted in the authority of the Holy Scriptures, which guide our understanding of human nature, suffering, and redemption.
Inherent Value and Worth – We affirm the inherent dignity and worth of every individual, recognizing that each person is created in the image of God and possesses inherent value and worth. Therefore, we approach each client with respect, empathy, and compassion, seeking to understand their unique experiences and challenges.
Ethical Practice – We are committed to integrating sound psychological principles with the teachings of the Christian faith. Our approach to counseling is holistic, addressing the spiritual, emotional, cognitive, and relational aspects of human experience. Additionally, We uphold the principles of confidentiality, integrity, and ethical conduct in our counseling practice, guided by the ethical standards of our profession and the teachings of Scripture.
Faith Integration – We believe in the power of prayer and the Holy Spirit’s guidance in the counseling process. We invite God into our therapeutic work, recognizing that ultimate healing comes from His transformative work in the lives of our clients. How we incorporate these beliefs into the therapeutic experience is based on client preference and is unique to each individual.
We also want to note- although we have the training and understanding to incorporate Christian beliefs into therapy, each of our therapists are also competent to do clinical work without any faith incorporation. This means we are happy to work with individuals of any background or belief system.
Education and Collaboration – We value collaboration and recognize the importance of working in partnership with other mental health professionals, pastors, and community resources to provide comprehensive care for our clients. We also commit to continuing education, understanding that we can always be growing, both in academia and in faith.
In all that we do, we seek to honor God and serve others with humility, compassion, and love, trusting in His faithfulness and grace to guide us in our calling as Christian counselors.
Common Q&A
Q: Since this is a Christian Counseling Program, will the counselor’s faith and beliefs be forced upon me?
A: No. It is the counselor’s job to let the client guide how they see faith playing a role in their counseling experience. With that being said, if the client wants the Christian faith to be a large part of their therapy, the counselors on this team will have an understanding of the Bible, theology, and how faith impacts mental health. Based on the client’s discretion, faith can be used to lead and/or supplement the therapeutic experience.
Q: What might it look like to have faith included in therapy?
A: Faith can be included in therapy to a variety of degrees based on the client’s preference/request.
One option involves incorporating prayer and/or Scripture in the therapeutic experience. For example, if a client believes the Bible to be the ultimate source of Truth, then it would be appropriate to reference Scripture when challenging negative thinking patterns or when processing problem solving/decision making. From a Christian perspective, the Bible speaks to many topics including identity, self-worth, forgiveness, thought processes, emotions, etc. All these topics are relevant and important in the therapeutic experience.
There are also instances where a client does not want Scripture or prayer referenced, but they want to know their therapist shares a similar belief system.
Finally, there are circumstances where a client may have experienced hurt from a Christian organization or they are sorting through religious trauma. It’s understandable if they want a counselor who understands the Christian culture and belief system as they navigate their thoughts and feelings in therapy.
These three examples, among many more, are reasons a client may request a counselor on the Christian Counseling team.
Q: What qualifies a counselor to be a member of the Christian Counseling Team?
A: Counselors on the Christian Counseling team have a general understanding of the Bible and profess Christianity. These counselors are offered team supervisions where they have the opportunity to consult with and learn from other Christian therapists as well. Finally, all members of this team agree to the Statement of Faith noted above.
Q: What does the intake process look like?
A: When you call our office to schedule an appointment you will first be asked to schedule an intake appointment. During this intake appointment, you will be asked a variety of questions to gather information about what is bringing you in for counseling. These questions will be used to help pair you with the best fit possible when it comes to a counselor.
Once a counselor on the Christian Counseling team has an opening and matches your availability, they will call you. During this call they may ask the following questions to ensure they are a good fit for what you are looking for:
- What role do you see faith playing in your counseling?
- Are there specific aspects of faith you would like included in your sessions, such as prayer, scripture, a safe and respectful space to share your faith, etc.
- Do you have any questions or concerns about what Christian counseling might be like?
Please note, we understand these questions are complex and thought-provoking. Please do not feel pressure to have an elaborate answer. Your feedback is valuable in helping us ensure your counselor is a good fit. It is understandable (almost expected) if your answers to these questions change throughout the therapeutic process, we encourage open communication with your therapist along the way.
Q: Pillars references making sure there is an appropriate fit between client and clinician. How will Pillars of wellness determine the appropriate fit for its Christian counseling program?
A: Clinical fit is a complex and not perfectly defined science. Some of the factors we consider, when determining who would be most appropriate to work with a client, are related to cultural backgrounds, or in this case, faith based perspectives. There is a lot of diversity in Christian world views, diversity in people broadly, and clinical needs. Pillars staff aims to identify counselors who share a Christian worldview that is supportive and/or shares similarities with the clients they’re assigned. In addition to Christian worldview we also hope to connect clients and clinicians who have personalities that match in a productive way. Further, as a mental health treatment program we will do our best to identify counselors who have the clinical competence to address clients specific needs. While this is by no means perfect (and perfection isn’t actually the goal) our hope is to align clinicians and clients as closely as possible and allow the therapeutic relationship space to work through the inevitable differences.
Q: What should I do if the Christian counseling I’m receiving doesn’t meet my needs?
A: At Pillars it is always our goal to help clients find the right fit. This fit can change during the course of your time with us and beyond. We encourage all of our clients to share any potential concerns they have with their counselor. With Christian Counselors specially it would be completely appropriate and helpful to the therapy process to share any concerns you have. Not only is this helpful for you but this helps our counselors learn and grow as well. This could range from how faith is integrated into the therapy to the style of therapy you’re receiving. Regardless, we strongly encourage you to share any feedback you have for your counselors.
lOOKING TO BECOME A CLIENT, GET STARTED TODAY!
When you call in, email or sign up through our portal, be sure to mention that you want to be part of the Christian Counseling program. Our administrative staff will get you set up with one of our team members!
Interested in WORKING FOR PILLARS IN OUR Christian Counseling Program? Apply here!
Office Hours
Office hours are typically Monday through Friday with appointments starting around 8:00am and ending around 9:00pm. There are some clinicians who have weekend availability. Clinicians are responsible for coordinating schedules with their clients and Pillars will do their best to accommodate with your scheduling needs. Generally, morning and afternoon appointments have shorter wait times. Administrative hours are Monday through Friday 8:00am to 4:00pm with the exception of holidays.