How church-based counseling clinics are bringing whole-person care to those walking through dark seasons
This article was originally published in our Summer 2026 issue of Healing & Helping.
God created each of us as whole people – body, mind, and soul. When one suffers, the others are affected. That means caring for a whole person requires more than one kind of support.
Nearly 1 in 5 U.S. adults experiences a mental health condition each year¹, yet more than half never receive treatment². For some, the barriers are practical, like cost and access. Others are searching for care that speaks to both the mind and the soul, and aren’t sure where to find it.
Pastor John Borgwardt sees the need clearly.
“If someone is struggling mentally, they are often struggling spiritually as well.”
That’s why Living Word Lutheran Church in Waukesha, Wisconsin partnered with Christian Family Solutions (CFS) to open a church-based counseling clinic right on site. Three years later, that care is no longer theoretical. It’s active, visible, and growing.
“My biggest surprise has been how busy the clinic is,” Pastor Borgwardt says. “This ministry has become another way for us to be Christ’s witnesses, helping people when they are most vulnerable.”
The clinic has its own private entrance, designed to protect confidentiality while remaining accessible. But its presence does more than provide convenience. It sends a message.
“Our community sees that we care about mental health as well as spiritual health, and that we’ve gone to great lengths to help address both as we minister to the whole person,” Borgwardt says.
A complementary ministry
CFS currently operates church-based counseling clinics in partnership with eight congregations, each uniquely structured for the church and its community.
At Living Word, the church invested in a dedicated space for counseling. This model allows each role (spiritual and mental) to be clear and effective.
“I can provide pastoral counseling grounded in God’s Word,” Borgwardt explains. “But when mental health needs are involved, it’s seamless to refer someone to a CFS counselor.”
Mental health care and spiritual care are not competing solutions for struggling people. They are complementary.
Research shows that regular spiritual engagement is associated with lower rates of anxiety, depression, and substance use³, as well as greater resilience in times of stress.
Faith doesn’t replace clinical care, but it can strengthen it. And clinical care, on its own, cannot replace the support, accountability, and gospel-centered encouragement found in a Christian community. Church-based counseling clinics are where these two forms of care come together.
The counselor’s perspective
For CFS counselor Mark Tiefel (LPC-IT, MDiv), who sees clients at the Living Word clinic, the setting matters. Many clients come from the broader community, drawn by the opportunity to integrate faith into their care.
“People are looking for a place where they can explore both their mental health and their faith,” Tiefel says.
One of the most meaningful moments in counseling is when that connection becomes clear.
“It’s powerful to see how the Holy Spirit works when someone begins to truly understand the gospel – God’s unconditional love in Christ – and how that shapes what they’re working through in therapy.”
In those moments, light begins to break through. Healing goes beyond symptom management and reaches identity, purpose, and hope.
Soul care is not solo care
Christian counseling is an important part of care, but it’s not meant to stand alone.
The presence of a clinic within a church can serve as a quiet invitation. Some clients begin exploring church community on their own as part of their support system.
“In counseling, we often talk about support systems,” Tiefel says. “Many clients recognize the value of having a church community for encouragement and accountability.”
Hebrews 10:24-25, encourages believers to “spur one another on toward love and good deeds… encouraging one another.”
That kind of community can become a crucial part of what counselors call “aftercare,” the ongoing support that sustains progress made in therapy.
A growing opportunity
The need for this kind of care is only increasing. Rates of anxiety, depression, and loneliness continue to rise, especially among young people.⁴
At the same time, more people are open to seeking help. Church-based counseling clinics bring care into places people already trust.
For Borgwardt, the impact is clear. This ministry allows his congregation to care for people more completely.
For Tiefel, the work is deeply meaningful.
“It is truly humbling to see the ways God works through Christian counseling,” Tiefel says. “It’s an opportunity to follow Christ’s example in demonstrating compassion, willingness to listen, and a vision of life grounded on the truth of God’s Word. It also provides wonderful opportunities to directly connect people with their Savior.
What’s next for this ministry?
CFS is exploring opportunities to expand its church-based counseling clinic model to new communities.
Each new clinic requires an investment of approximately $200,000 to support construction, staffing, and start-up costs. CFS donors and the members of partnering congregations play a vital role in this partnership ministry.
“You make this work possible,” says Jodie Martens, Director of Clinical Services at CFS. “These partnerships are expanding access to care in a way that is both clinically sound and spiritually grounded.”
The impact reaches far beyond a single building. It helps individuals in crisis, with ripples into families, congregations, and entire communities.
“It is a privilege to be involved in this work and a blessing to be supported by so many others,” says Tiefel.
1National Institute of Mental Health, Mental Illness Statistics
2Mental Health America, State of Mental Health in America 2025
3Koenig, H.G., International Review of Psychiatry, 2022
4CDC, Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2023
Expanding Access to Care
Christian Family Solutions currently partners with these eight congregations:
- The CORE – Appleton, WI
- Peace Lutheran – Hartford, WI
- St. Paul’s Lutheran – Muskego, WI
- Living Word Lutheran – Waukesha, WI
- St. John’s Lutheran – Watertown, WI
- Peace Lutheran – Mankato, MN
- Heritage Lutheran – Gilbert, AZ
- Emmaus Lutheran – Phoenix, AZ
CFS plans to grow our church-based counseling clinics over the next 10 years. Every new location means:
- More individuals receiving care
- More families experiencing healing
- More congregations supporting members who are healthy in mind and soul
Donor support makes this possible. Click here to give to our mental health ministry.
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