Joel Wharton

After earning his undergraduate degree in Psychology from Miami University and a Master’s in Counseling from Asbury Theological Seminary, Joel spent the next 18 years as the founder and director of Pathways Counseling Center. His approach to the clinical counseling process leaned heavily on his belief in the transformative impact of authentic relational interactions. His ability to integrate Christian faith into the counseling process has allowed people to discover the intersection of spiritual belief and psychological well-being.

In 2019, Joel transitioned to pastoral ministry as Family Care Pastor. He invested his energy in leading, equipping, and mentoring volunteer leadership teams in the art of caring well for others in the midst of difficult personal circumstances. He had the privilege of accompanying people through many crises of faith. He walked with people through the challenging journey of discovering the implications of experiencing a life shaped by the Gospel of Jesus, which resulted in a deeper appreciation of God in the crisis. This spiritual formation process informs Joel’s conviction that wholeness may include circumstantial change or it may result in the settled confidence of trusting God with unanswerable questions.

Joel is able to leverage his clinical counseling background with his pastoral skills and experience to provide spiritual care and guidance to individuals and couples.  These situations might include those facing a life-altering diagnosis, seasons of grief, developmental life transitions, relational stressors at work or home, or a disconnected couple longing to feel bonded again.