Clinical Director

Chris Arnzen is a graduate of Evangel University and earned a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology from Forest Institute of Professional Psychology.  She is a Licensed Professional Counselor with the State of Missouri. Chris has served as a past board member for Teen Challenge of the Ozarks

Lead Intensive Therapist

Dr. Brett Sparks is a licensed psychologist who joined the Intensive team in 2003.  He currently serves as a lead therapist for Marriage Intensives as well as contributor to the aftercare and research programs for National Institute of Marriage.

Lead Intensive Therapist and After Care Coordinator

Dr. Burbee has 23 years of experience as a licensed psychologist working with individuals, couples, families, and groups.

Lead Intensive Therapist

Nathan is a graduate of Samford University and earned his master's degree in Community Counseling from Georgia State University. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor and the CEO of Battlefield Ministries, Inc., a ministry that focuses on Christian couples and families. He has over 20 years of experience in counseling and is an accomplished speaker and facilitator.

 

Lead Intensive Therapist

Cindy Irwin earned a Masters Degree in Family Counseling from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary and her training as a Sex Therapist from the Psychological Studies Institute’s Institute of Sexual Wholeness where she has gained certifications in both Advanced Sex Therapy and Homosexuality/Sexual Identity. She is member of the American Board of Christian Sex Therapists.

Intensive Therapist

Pat McLean earned her master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and Community Counseling from John Brown University, in Siloam Springs, AR. She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Missouri.

She's been associated with the Smalley ministries since 1993, when she began as a freelance editor and ghostwriter for their Homes of Honor magazine and many other publications.

Intensive Therapist

Verlette Berndt received her Bachelor of Arts from Central Bible College in Springfield, Missouri and a Master of Arts in Counseling from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Missouri. Prior to specializing in counseling, Verlette was a licensed minister with the Assemblies of God for a decade and was active in church leadership.

 

Intensive Therapist

Fletcher McClelland is a licensed professional counselor in Georgia; he has a Masters Degree in Community Counseling from Georgia State and a Diploma in Christian Counseling from the Psychological Studies Institute. As CEO of his private practice, Christian Psychotherapy Resources, Fletch has specialized in work with couples, addictions, and mood disorders for thirteen years.

 

Intensive Therapist

Cynthia Nicholson received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Central Bible College, her Master of Arts in Counseling from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, graduated from the Spanish Language Institute in Costa Rica, is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God, and is licensed with the state of Missouri as a professional counselor. As a featured speaker in churches and conferences for over twenty years throughout the United States and Latin America, Cynthia has focused on marriage and home and women’s issues.

 

Lead Therapist

Monique received her master's degree in counseling from Reformed Theological Seminiary in Orlando, Florida.  In private practice since 1998, Monique's calling is specific to marriage and relationship issues.  One of her greatest joys is to come alongside a couple in crisis and be used by God to bring healing and restoration.

 

Intensive Para-Professional

For 20 plus years, Jane has worked alongside licensed mental health professionals within various mental health settings. Upon graduating from Samford University with a bachelors in music education, Jane began working as a music therapist on a psychiatric unit in a hospital and then moved on to an adolescent treatment facility where she was part of a team of professionals specializing in helping troubled teens.

Intensive Therapist

Dr. Stephen Bell earned his Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. He earned his MS (Marriage and Family Therapy) and BBA Degrees from Harding University.

In addition to Dr. Bell’s work at The Institute, he is a professor at the College of the Ozarks. He teaches several courses in the Sociology Department including Marriage and the Family and Counseling Techniques.

Intensive Therapist

Ken Bryant received his M.S. degree in Counseling from Pittsburg State University and his Ph.D. degree in Counseling from the University of North Texas-Denton. Other degrees include a Bachelor of Sacred Literature from Ozark Christian College and a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Ken is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Missouri and Colorado. He is also a National Certified Counselor.