Christian Counseling
Christian Counseling
Gilead’s licensed, professional counselors, Angela Pena, Michelle Nichols, Michael Kessler, and Pamela Dunckel specialize in applying faith based principles to the therapeutic process. They help individuals, couples, and families with the power of the Holy Spirit overcome emotional, spiritual and relational barriers to live a healthy life and experience healing and freedom in Christ.
Meet the Gilead Counseling Team
Angela Peña, LMSW
Meet Angela Peña, LMSW
Christian Counselor
Angela Peña holds a Masters Degree in Clinical Social Work from Michigan State University and is certified through the American Association of Christian Counselors. As a licensed professional counselor Angela specializes in applying faith based principles to the therapeutic process helping individuals, children, couples and families overcome emotional, spiritual and relational barriers.
Areas of focus include anxiety, depression, anger management, grief and loss issues, adjustment and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Angela has worked in various sectors of the mental health field and with various populations including; children in the foster care system, the elderly, individuals with physical and developmental disabilities and trauma survivors. At PAR Rehabilitation Services, Angela served as a Senior Level Therapist for eight years and assisted with Program Development. Angela is very excited to be a part of the Gilead team. Her passion is to share about the transforming power of God and help others find freedom and healing through Jesus Christ. Angela is also a leader on the Mount Hope Healing Team.
Angela accepts insurances, Medicare and Medicaid.
Meet Michelle Nichols, LMSW
Christian Counselor
Michelle Nichols is a Clinical Therapist specializing in Christian counseling. She has been in private practice as a Christian counselor for 15 years. Prior to that she worked as a family counselor in at-risk homes. She works with adults and couples on a variety of issues. She accepts many insurances and accepts a sliding scale.
Michelle Nichols, LMSW
Pamela Dunckel
MA, LPC, IMH-E, QIDP
Meet Pamela Dunckel, MA, LPC, IMH-E, QIDP
Christian Counselor
Pamela Dunckel graduated from Spring Arbor University in 2007 and is a Certified Licensed Professional Counselor. She has been in practice for 14 years.
For the past 15 years, Pamela has worked with children, couples, families, and adults in the child welfare field and at CMH. She enjoys working with expecting parents, mothers with perinatal mood & anxiety disorders, parents who have experienced trauma, couples adjusting to their role as parents, & parents who have concerns about their relationship with their child. Pamela also has worked closely with young children who have experienced trauma and loss, children who have been in foster care and/or adopted, and children who have attachment disorders. For young children, she approaches trauma and attachment difficulties within the parent-child relationship, as she believes you are important in helping your child heal.
Meet Michael F. Kessler, LMSW
Master of Clinical Social Work Michigan State University. State License in Clinical and Macro Social Work. Michael utilizes decades of training and experience to help clients “be transformed by the renewing of their mind” and to remove physiological blockades that keep them from LIVING WELL! He works with families, adults, married couples, premarital couples, groups, and organizations.
Experience:
-
Twenty-five plus years as a Master’s-level Psychotherapist and Christian Counselor
-
Program Developer for Psychosocial Rehabilitation programs serving individuals with severe and persistent mental illness (depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, co-occurring substance abuse, etc)
-
Executive Director of the Veterans of Foreign Wars National Home For Children serving children and single mothers and fathers
-
Six plus years volunteering on the Michigan Supreme Court Foster Care Review Board
-
Strategic Planning, Grant writing and Grant Administration
-
Experience in assisting clients who are dealing with emotional repercussions from medical issues such as: Heart Disease, Diabetes, COPD, Congestive Heart Failure, Arthritis, Dementia, Diabetes, Pneumonia, etc
Specialties:
-
Christian Counseling (emphasis on “being TRANSFORMED by the renewing of your mind”)
-
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
-
Resilience Skills Training
-
Emotional IQ Skills Training
-
Implements an integrated approach focusing on Psychological / Spiritual / Biological / Social / Relational / Financial / Environmental impact on well-being
Michael F. Kessler, LMSW