Trauma & Mental Health in the Church

Trauma and Mental Health in the Church

Explore vital discussions with mental health professionals to address the growing need for mental health support within the church community.

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About This Session

Gain insights into creating programs, forging local partnerships, and developing a strategic approach to nurturing mental wellness in your congregation.

Many churches are trying the best they can to provide mental health support for their parishioners. However many feel that they are inadequately equipped to help with mental health issues. This session will allow pastors, church leaders, and staff to ask important questions of professional mental health providers. Topics may range from how churches can start creating programs to support families dealing with mental health crises, to how to build relationships with local providers that will work alongside the church to provide mental health counseling. This session should provide a foundation for churches to begin to find a direction and to develop a plan, of how they might approach mental health in their church body.

Meet the Panel

About Dr. McEvoy

Deb holds a doctorate in Clinical Psychology with a Certificate in Group Work from Adler University (Chicago, IL); a Master’s in Counseling and a BA in Elementary Education from Grace College (Winona Lake, IN); and is licensed in the state of Indiana as a mental health counselor (LMHC). Deb has been at Grace College since 1994 working with students as part of Student Affairs, as a professor in the Graduate Counseling program and now as the Director of Health & Counseling Services. Deb has experience with a wide variety of populations and settings including but not limited to: children in an elementary school setting; college students; adolescents in a juvenile detention center; grief groups; and community mental health. Deb is especially passionate about leaning into the messy of life as where there is pain there can also be opportunities for authenticity, vulnerability, growth and freedom. Deb is an avid Ohio State fan and loves all things family & friends, a new restaurant or coffee shop, or a good movie.

Dr. Deb McEvoy

Licensed Mental Health Counselor

About Jamie

Jamie Briscoe earned a BA from Anderson University in Education and a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Grace College and Theological Seminary. Jamie is a therapist at Live Heal Grow Counseling Services, a group practice based in Columbia City, Indiana, focused on the family therapy model. Jamie utilizes the family therapy model, meeting consistently with caregivers through the child’s therapy journey. She conducts therapy with all ages and offers Gottman Emotion Coaching parenting skills during caregiver sessions. Jamie enjoys utilizing psycho-education in therapy and training to educate clients on body and brain responses to distress. Before working as a mental health clinician, Jamie was an elementary school teacher. She served her classroom and school with a passion for each child’s mental well-being in her class. Jamie is fulfilling a dream that began during her cancer battle to help others in painful places with the wisdom and comfort she received during her restoration to health journey. Jamie has provided consulting and public speaking on mental health topics throughout northeast Indiana, including recent training and speaking engagements with SAFY foster care service, Crisis Care for Schools, Women in the Workplace, Trauma for Breakfast Podcast, Indiana Women’s Economic Opportunity Center for “Therapy Thursday”, Whitley County Connections for non-profit organizations, Lakeview Middle School educator’s training, and Lost Sparrow’s Trauma Conference.

Jamie Briscoe

Licensed Mental Health Counselor

About Tyler

Tyler Zielasko earned his bachelors and Masters degrees from Grace College. He has worked in a variety of counseling and ministry settings over the past 20 years. He currently is an owner/co-founder of Human Wellness Collective, a private counseling practice in Warsaw Indiana, that focuses on integrative and functional wellness for the whole human. Tyler has been married to his wife Kari for 20 years, and they have 5 adopted children.

Tyler Zielasko

Licensed Mental Health Counselor; Adoptive parent

About Jonathon

Jonathon Wattley is the founder and CEO of Building A Stronger Family Inc. Established in 2016 after his family experienced the suicide of his granddaughter. He has made it his mission to strengthen families and communities. He has grown his team from two individuals in two locations to a team of fourteen servicing twelve organizations in Fort Wayne. He is born and raised in Fort Wayne and is passionate about helping all people. He has been married to his wife Renee for 33 years and they share two children and one grandchild. In addition to being a business owner, husband, and father. He is also a minister and motivational speaker. His organizations mission is to leave a positive impact on every life they encounter! Through personal tragedy he has discovered his purpose and is determined to make a difference!

Jonathon Wattley

Family Advocate, Minister, Motivational Speaker

About Trent

Alumnus of The Ohio State University, earning a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Church Administration in 1995. Earned a M.A. in Ministerial Leadership at Indiana Wesleyan University and a M.Div. and D.Min at Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. Trent has 20+ years of experience teaching and writing Bible, ministry, and leadership related courses, advising, and mentoring students at both undergraduate and seminary levels. Trent also has 20+ years of pastoring and planting churches on the West Coast and in the Midwest. 15+ years working in college administration. Currently, Instructional Support Manager and Director of Master of Arts in Ministry for Grace College and Seminary.