Meet Pursuing Peace Mental Health & Wellness Inc
How We Got Started
We hold the strong belief that people are perfectly imperfect. They are beautiful and spectacular but can also become stuck, unhappy and unable to live a fulfilling life. Old patterns of thinking and behaving lead to the same old outcomes, and that’s where we come in.
With our background in counseling, social work and ministry , our experience allows us to understand the best ways to address each client’s needs in an effective manner. We use a flexible approach and use collaboration as the basis of therapy. Browse our services and book a session today!
Executive Director
Chris Chiarino MS LPC NBCC MMIN
Our executive director has been doing therapy for the past 13 years during that time he has served over 1000 families in our community. He also has over five years experience working in child welfare, and twelve in ministry. He has a Bachelors in Crime and Society from Southwest Missouri State University, a Masters of Science in Counseling from Missouri State University, and a Masters in Ministry from Harding University. He has a passion for helping people pursue peace in their lives, and he strives to offer hope to those feeling hopeless.
Director
Jennifer McBride LMSW
Our director, Jennifer, has spent nearly 20 years working as a social worker. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice at Central Missouri State University and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Missouri State University. She has had experience working with domestic violence survivors, child welfare, substance abuse/treatment, adult acute medical care, and home health/hospice. She is compassionate, intuitive, intelligent, and direct. Jennifer enjoys spending time with her family, watching sports, hiking, camping, and traveling. Jennifer enjoys working with people to improve their coping skills and increase their resilience, leading to increased confidence, coping, and improved relationships.
Counselor
Erin Gamwell MS LPC
Erin has been providing therapy and family support through school counseling and youth ministry for the past eight years. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Southwest Missouri State University and a Master’s degree in School Counseling from Evangel University. She is passionate about Cognitive Behavioral therapy, Solution-Focused therapy, and has a Person-Centered approach. Her specialties include building relational skills, healing anxiety, parent coaching, and women’s issues.