Where Mental Health Meets Ministry
Pastor’s Heart meets people at the intersection of mental health and faith. Today 1 in 5 U.S. adults has a diagnosable mental illness, yet only about half of those receive any professional help. Many of these individuals turn first to faith leaders and communities for support. However, church-based care is often informal and volunteer-driven, leaving a gap in trained, consistent help. We bridge this gap by offering paid, professional support – blending clinical therapy with spiritual guidance in one trusted platform.
The Challenge & Opportunity
Widespread crisis: Anxiety, depression and addiction affect ~23% of adults, with higher rates among young people. Demand for mental health care is surging.
Faithful seekers: Most Christians desire counselors who understand their faith. Research shows matching a client’s spiritual beliefs in counseling is “demonstrably effective.”
Professional shortage: While millions struggle, qualified Christian counselors are scarce. Churches alone can’t meet the need without trained staff. Pastor’s Heart creates an all-professional solution, not relying on volunteers, to serve the whole person (mind and soul).
Licensed Clinical Therapy: Master’s/Doctoral-level therapists and counselors, fully licensed, providing evidence-based psychotherapy. Many share the client’s faith and can integrate spirituality as desired.
Paid Pastoral Counseling: Seminary-trained counselors or chaplains with specialized training in spiritual guidance and counseling. They address emotional and relational needs through a faith-based lens (prayer, scripture, pastoral care).
Each client receives a tailored plan: some may use only therapy, others only pastoral counseling, and many benefit from a combination. All providers are employees (or contracted professionals), ensuring consistency, accountability and quality.
How It Works: Intake & Care Pathway
Pastor’s Heart’s intake process is streamlined and client-centered:
Consultation & Assessment: Every new client completes an intake interview assessing mental health needs and spiritual preferences.
Personalized Matching: Based on the assessment, we match the client with a licensed therapist, a pastoral counselor, or both. Clients can choose therapy-only, pastoral-only, or blended care.
Coordinated Care: Therapists and pastoral counselors collaborate (with client consent) so that spiritual insights inform therapy goals, and clinical perspectives inform pastoral support.
Follow-Up: Progress is monitored regularly. Care plans are adjusted as clients improve or face new challenges.
This structured yet flexible process ensures each person gets the right support – whether they primarily need clinical therapy, spiritual guidance, or an integrated approach.
How Your Giving Make a Impact
Our Solution
Licensed Therapy + Pastoral Care — All in One Place
Pastors Heart Staff are Christians commited to sharing the Gospel
Licensed Therapists: All are masters/doctorate-level professionals (LPC, LCSW, LMFT, PsyD, PhD, etc.) licensed in their state. They have training in evidence-based treatments (CBT, EMDR, etc.) and often additional courses in faith integration or pastoral counseling.
Pastoral Counselors: Typically seminary graduates with certification in counseling or chaplaincy. They are experienced in spiritual care, active listening, crisis intervention, and leading group ministries (prayer, support groups).
Continuous Training: Both tracks participate in ongoing supervision, peer case consultation, and continuing education on mental health best practices and faith sensitivity.
Compensation Model: All counselors are paid staff (or contracted at market rates). This professional model attracts committed providers and enables accountability
Real-World Impact (Client Examples)
Counselor Qualifications & Team
“Emily” (Depression & Doubt): Emily came to Pastor’s Heart feeling depressed and spiritually adrift. We paired her with a Christian therapist and a pastoral counselor. Over 6 months, Emily reported significant mood improvement and renewed faith; she credits the combined therapy and prayerful support.
“Juan” (Marital Crisis): Juan’s marriage was strained by conflict and guilt. A licensed couples counselor helped him and his wife rebuild communication skills, while a pastoral counselor worked with Juan on forgiveness and purpose. Together, the team helped restore their relationship and community support.
(Names changed for privacy.)
These examples illustrate how integrated care can multiply impact: clients heal emotionally and spiritually, experiencing wholeness that neither approach alone could achieve.
Pastor’s Heart tracks outcomes to ensure quality and impact. Key metrics from our recent pilot (2023) and projections include:
| Tier Name | Gift Amount | What It Funds | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Encourager | $5,000 | Funds 25+ therapy or pastoral sessions | Launch-level support for 25 people |
| The Restorer | $15,000 | Onboards and funds a full-time counselor for 1 month | Serves up to 60 clients/month |
| The Builder | $25,000 | Builds infrastructure: tech, admin, systems | Scales to serve 100+ clients/month |
| The Shepherd | $50,000 | Hires 2–3 staff and expands into new Bible Belt region | Delivers 300+ sessions and builds regional presence |
| The Cornerstone | $100,000 | Fully funds multi-state rollout and session scholarships | Impacts 500–700 lives across 4+ regions |
Our Team & Partners
Leadership: Pastor’s Heart is led by experienced ministry and mental health professionals .
Counseling Team: Currently 13 licensed therapists and 10 pastoral counselors on staff . All have both clinical and/or theological credentials.
Advisors: We are guided by a board of seasoned pastors and clinical psychologists who ensure our model remains both biblically grounded and clinically sound.
Collaborations: Partnering with churches, seminaries, and mental health organizations to recruit counselors and refer clients.
(Team photo placeholder – insert your staff photo collages here.)
Join Our Mission (Call to Action)
Pastor’s Heart offers donors and partners a unique opportunity: to invest in proven solutions that heal both mind and spirit. Your support will directly fund paid counselors, expand outreach, and keep services affordable for those in need.
Invest in Growth: Your gift or loan accelerates our rollout (enabling more staff hires, better tech, and wider reach).
Impact Reporting: Donors receive regular updates with anonymized client stories, outcome data, and progress against goals.
Partnership: We welcome volunteers and churches as referral sources; but financially, everyone contributes – no free rides – ensuring sustainability.
Join us in bringing high-quality, faith-integrated mental health care to thousands more. Together, we can equip people to heal and thrive. Please contact [Pastor’s Heart contact info] to discuss partnership, donor levels, or loans.
Your Generosity Can Change Lives
Every gift makes it possible for someone in crisis to receive faith-based counseling from licensed therapists and pastoral counselors. Your donation is secure, tax-deductible, and directly funds real healing.
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Impact Transparency
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Personal Support
Speak directly with our team about your gift anytime.
Call: 757-343-5517
Email: lloyd@pastorsheart.online
Lloyd Griffin
CEO & Founder, Pastor’s Heart Foundation
Thank you for considering a partnership in this life-changing ministry!
Sources: Pastor’s Heart models best practices in integrated care. National data on mental health prevalence and treatment gaps underline the urgency of our mission.
Citations
Mental Illness - National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness
Mental Illness - National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness
Mental Health in Congregations Study - Department of Sociology | CUA
https://sociology.catholic.edu/mental-health-congregations/index.html
Research on the Efficacy of Christian Counseling - AACC
https://aacc.net/weekly-devotionals/research-on-the-efficacy-of-christian-counseling/