Meet Our Counselors
Working as a fully-integrated team, our counselors are licensed professionals with additional training in pastoral theology. When you contact us, we will match you with the therapist whose expertise is best suited to your concerns.
Dr. Gregory Popcak (POP-chak) is the Founder and Executive Director of the Pastoral Solutions Institute. The author of almost 20 popular books & programs integrating solid Catholic theology and counseling psychology, he is an expert on the practical applications of Pope John Paul the Great’s Theology of the Body. Together with his wife, Lisa, he hosts More2Life Radio, a call-in, advice program heard M-F at 10am E/ 9amC on almost 400 stations affiliated with the EWTN radio network and SiriusXM Satellite Radio Channel 130.
Dr. Popcak is a Fellow of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors (FAAPC), a Board Certified Diplomate (BCD) of the American Board of Examiners in Clinical Social Work, and a winner of the Fr. Richard M. Hogan Award for Contributions to the Social Sciences. He is the Chair of the Marriage and Family Studies program at Holy Apostles College and Seminary and serves as an adjunct professor of both psychology and graduate theology at Franciscan University. Dr. Popcak’s articles appear regularly in various Catholic periodicals and his work has been featured on FoxNews, NPR’s Here and Now, the Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Ladies Home Journal, and The National Enquirer.
Dr. Popcak is a Fellow of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors (FAAPC), a Board Certified Diplomate (BCD) of the American Board of Examiners in Clinical Social Work, and a winner of the Fr. Richard M. Hogan Award for Contributions to the Social Sciences. He is the Chair of the Marriage and Family Studies program at Holy Apostles College and Seminary and serves as an adjunct professor of both psychology and graduate theology at Franciscan University. Dr. Popcak’s articles appear regularly in various Catholic periodicals and his work has been featured on FoxNews, NPR’s Here and Now, the Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Ladies Home Journal, and The National Enquirer.
Michael Jarecki, M.A., LPC is a clinical associate of the Pastoral Solutions Institute. Michael has degrees in psychology, theology, and counseling from the Franciscan University of Steubenville, blending a strong understanding of the Faith with equally strong clinical skills. He specializes in helping people-of-faith find answers to tough marriage, family, and personal issues. In addition to his years of experience working for Catholic Social Services in the Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska, Girls and Boys Town in Omaha, Nebraska, and in private practice, Michael has undergone extensive training in pastoral counseling approaches to emotional, relational, and spiritual problems.
Karin Lynne Roach MSSA, LISW-S is a clinical associate of Pastoral Solutions Institute. She holds a Masters of Science in Social Administration from Case Western Reserve University, with a concentration in children, youth and families. Karin has extensive experience with post traumatic stress disorders related to abortion trauma, abuse, and recovery from unwanted divorce. She has been a practicing therapist for over 25 years, and has worked in community mental health settings such as the Catholic Community League, Catholic Family Services, Summit County Family Services and Aultman Hospital Emergency and Psychiatric Units. She is a Licensed Independent Social Work- Supervisor, and specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Brief Solution Focused Therapy and pastoral counseling approaches to emotional and spiritual disorders.
Dave McClow, M.Div., LCSW, LMFT, is a clinical associate for the Pastoral Solutions Institute and author at Catholic Exchange, Patheos, and Today’s Catholic. He writes about a Catholic vision of masculinity which is summarized in the Abba Prayer for Men found here: Abba Prayer & Challenge. He is also very active in his diocesan men’s group, Rekindle the Fire, and has founded multiple text ministries for men. For over 30 years he has been helping individuals, couples, and teams change in a variety of settings: inpatient psychiatric and addictions, employee assistance, outpatient community mental health, and statewide technical assistance centers. His counseling specialties are depression, anxiety, trauma, and the building of practical skills to cope with overwhelming emotions. He has been a national consultant and trainer for a number of evidence-based practices and topics. He has also started a number of small businesses. Trained as a pastoral counselor, he has always recognized God as the source of healing and integrated his faith into his counseling practice.
Joshua Hawrot, M.A., L.P.C.C. is a clinical associate of the Pastoral Solutions Institute. Joshua holds a Masters in Arts for Counseling from Franciscan University of Steubenville. He is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, is certified in Theophostic Prayer Ministry and is trained in Cognitive-Based Trauma Therapy. In addition, Joshua has served as supervising therapist in both partial hospital programs and outpatient counseling settings where he practiced intensive therapy with individuals, couples, and families suffering from moderate to severe diagnoses. He and his wife, Cruz, are responsible for helping to run the marriage preparation program for the Diocese of Steubenville OH and serve as a lead teaching couple for Engaged Encounter. Joshua has received extensive training and supervision in the application of Catholic pastoral counseling approaches to problems related to emotional and relational health. His experience and professional training enable him to combine psychology and the Catholic faith to help others achieve greater healing, integration, and strength in their lives and relationships.
Robert Taylor, MS, MSW, LCSW is a clinical associate of the Pastoral Solutions Institute. He holds Masters degrees in Social Work and Human Development and Family Studies, with an emphasis on marriage and family studies, from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He also has had extensive training in pastoral counseling interventions for emotional and relational problems. In practice for over 15 years, including several years as senior counselor with the Good Samaritan Counseling Center for the Diocese of Peoria, Robert has wide experience counseling individuals, couples, and families in a variety of settings. He has assisted those struggling with pornography use and has extensive training counseling older adults. He and his wife have been certified Natural Family Planning instructors for the Couple to Couple League since 2002.
Judi Phillips, MS, LMHC holds a Master of Science degree in Mental Health Counseling from Purdue University. She has been in practice as a mental health counselor for over 15 years with experience in both community mental health and private practice serving individuals, couples, families and parents. Judi’s training and clinical experience has centered on attachment related issues and posttraumatic stress related to abuse, neglect and other traumatic life experiences. With her knowledge of the Catholic faith, coupled with her training as a pastoral counselor, Judi has been able to help individuals, couples, families and parents recognize God’s plan for living an abundant life in communion with one another. Judi is trained as a Fertility Care Practitioner with the Creighton Model and has served her local diocese in this capacity since 2006.
James S. Livingston M.Div., M.A. L.P.C.C. is a clinical associate with Pastoral Solutions Institute. Combining extensive study and practice in the areas of psychology, theology and clinical mental health, James specializes in finding solutions to complex marriage, family, and personal problems. He holds a Master’s in Divinity from Mount St. Mary’s Seminary and a Master’s of Arts in Counseling from Franciscan University of Steubenville. Fluent in Spanish, he has completed advanced graduate studies on the fundamentals of prayer, discernment/spiritual direction, and Theology of the Body at Creighton University. He is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with years of experience working with families in a variety of settings including adult and youth outpatient and partial hospitalization. No stranger to house calls, James routinely visited families in their homes, and provided crisis intervention, skill transference, and effective trauma intensive therapy while serving as a Mobile Therapist and Behavioral Specialist Consultant. James’ years of education, professional training, and clinical skills enable him to help individuals, couples, and families suffering from a broad range of disorders.
Drew Anderson, LCSW holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Illinois at Chicago. He has been practicing in the field of mental health for over 20 years. He has worked in a variety of settings including private practice, inpatient psychiatric unit, outpatient counseling centers and tele-mental health counseling. His work has included individual, family and marital counseling with a special focus on victims of trauma. While working for the Veterans Administration he was trained to work with combat Veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. He also was trained in Acceptance Commitment Therapy which he used on a treatment team that helped Veterans cope with chronic medical conditions like Type 2 diabetes. Drew and his wife were homeschoolers of their 4 children and presenters on Natural Family Planning at their parish Pre-Cana events.
Jacob Popcak, M.A., L.P.C. is a counseling associate of the Pastoral Solutions Institute. Jacob holds a Masters in Arts for Counseling from Franciscan University of Steubenville. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor, and has received advanced training in marriage therapy from the Gottman Institute, training in counseling for depression and anxiety disorders (Beck Institute, CBT for Depression and Anxiety), and holds certifications in both Christian Counseling (Franciscan University of Steubenville) and treating online addictions (Zur Institute). Prior to joining PSI, Jacob served as a therapist in a variety of outpatient counseling settings where he practiced intensive therapy with individuals, couples, children, trauma patients, and families suffering a variety of emotional and relational problems. He has spoken across the country about Pope Saint John Paul II’s Theology of the Body and has trained at the Theology of the Body Institute (TOB 1-3). He is the former co-host of the Son Rise Morning Show on EWTN, where, in addition to hosting and interviewing newsmakers both in the Church and around the world, he presented practical meditations on the gospels. He is a published author has contributed writings on the intersections of faith, psychology, and art/beauty to multiple publications, including Our Sunday Visitor Press.
Rachael Popcak, MSW, LSW, is a counseling associate of the Pastoral Solutions Institute. Rachael completed her undergraduate studies in Psychology at Franciscan University of Steubenville and obtained her Masters in Social Work (Clinical Specialization) from the University of Pittsburgh. She is a Licensed Social Worker and has received additional advanced training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Psychodynamic therapy, Gottman Relational Therapy, and the neurobiology of attachment and trauma. Rachael holds certificates in Direct Practice Mental Health (University of Pittsburgh), Evidence Based Suicide Prevention and Intervention (VYNE Education) and TeleMental Health (Zur Institute). Before joining the Pastoral Solutions Institute, Rachael worked in a variety of outpatient mental health and counseling settings. She serves as the editor and contributing writer for the Pastoral Solutions Institute blog, Faith On The Couch, on Patheos.com. Rachael’s clinical approach is rooted in a strengths-based perspective, helping individuals discover and develop their innate resources and apply them in creative ways to life and relationship challenges.
Telecounseling FAQs
Services FAQs
Absolutely. Extensive research has been conducted on telepsychology and the results are overwhelmingly positive. Several studies have found that tele-counseling is as effective as face-to-face therapy for a wide range of problems. In fact, research has shown that many clients were even more satisfied with tele-counseling because of the increased confidentiality, convenience, and ease or keeping appointments. In light of the growing research in favor of this approach, the American Psychological Association recently released a report endorsing telepsychology’s effectiveness and outlining seven specific advantages of tele-counseling.
Despite the loss of facial cues, a large percentage of non-verbal communication is comprised of tones-of-voice, specific word choice, pauses and vocalizations ("um," "ah," etc.), and other non-verbal cues that a tele-counselor has been trained to recognize and effectively interpret. Research on tele-counseling shows that in the absence of visual cues, clients and therapists find many other ways (both verbal and non-verbal) to avoid misunderstandings and to effectively communicate subtle shifts in emotion and meaning. ([1]; [2]; [3]). Remember, for the first 100 years of psychology's history, therapists positioned clients facing away from the therapist specifically to enable clients to more easily share personal information without fear or embarrassment. Under certain circumstances, facial expressions can be more of a hindrance than a help. If you like, think of your experience in tele-counseling as a variation on the theme of Confession "behind the screen." (only without absolution, of course).
1. Alleman, J. Online counseling: The internet and mental health treatment. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 39(2).
2. Lindon, J. Psychoanalysis by telephone. In J.K. Aronson (Ed.). Use of the Telephone in Psychotherapy (pp. 3-13). Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson
3. Schaffer, S. Legal and ethical issues. In J.K. Aronson (Ed.). Use of the Telephone in Psychotherapy (pp. 442-457). Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson.
We can work with individuals and with couples. Husbands and wives (or any two people, i.e., Mothers/Daughters, Fathers/Sons, etc.) who wish to meet simultaneously in session may choose to use a speaker phone, or separate extensions, or in some cases, may arrange for three-way calling. This last option is especially useful for marriage counseling cases in which one spouse travels a great deal. It is not unusual for us to conduct sessions with couples where the therapist, husband, and wife are in three separate time zones.
Yes. Persons who experience hallucinations or psychosis or whose primary complaint is a serious addiction to drugs or alcohol, or who have persistent and serious thoughts about harming themselves or others should seek local mental health assistance. In all other instances, your counselor can help you determine whether your problems can be managed safely and effectively via distance counseling. In most cases, they can, but we will provide you with an absolutely honest assessment in our initial, free, informational interview. We are committed to helping you receive the help you need regardless of who provides it. Please direct all other questions to your counselor in your initial, free, informational interview.