Counseling for pastors · Online across Kentucky or in Louisville
Counseling for pastors and ministry leaders who are worn down
You carry everyone else's burdens. It's okay to need a place to set yours down. Confidential counseling with licensed Christian counselors who understand ministry, and who won't treat your faith as the problem.
- Usually seen the same week
- Online from home, anywhere in Kentucky
You might be here because
- You're exhausted in a way a day off doesn't fix.
- You've started to dread Sundays, or the phone ringing.
- You give to everyone, and there's no one you can be honest with.
- You feel more cynical than you want to admit.
- Ministry is straining your marriage or your family.
- Your faith has started to feel like work.
Needing help isn't a failure of faith
Pastors and ministry leaders are often the last people to ask for help. You're expected to have answers, to be steady, to be fine. But burnout isn't a lack of faithfulness. It's what happens when a person carries too much for too long without a place to put it down. Even Elijah sat under a tree and asked for it to be over.
Senior and associate pastors, ministry staff, worship and youth leaders, missionaries, and other ministry leaders are all welcome.
Signs of ministry burnout
- Exhaustion that sleep and time off don't touch
- Cynicism or irritation toward the people you serve
- Pulling away from friends, family, or God
- Losing the joy you once had in your calling
- Trouble concentrating, sleeping, or slowing down
- Escaping into work, screens, food, or drinking
If any of this sounds familiar, you don't have to wait for it to get worse.
Faith at the center, never forced
We share your faith, and we'll take it seriously, including the parts that feel tired, dry, or confused right now. You won't be preached at, and you won't be judged for doubt.
If you'd rather leave faith out, your counselor's care is just as thorough, and they follow your lead. How faith works at Freedom
What counseling looks like here
Your counselor is a licensed clinician, not your supervisor, your denomination, or a member of your church. Together you'll look at what's draining you, what you've been carrying alone, and what needs to change, in your schedule, your boundaries, your relationships, and your walk with God. You'll leave with practical tools, not just a place to vent.
Confidential, and close to home
What you share stays between you and your counselor, within the limits the law sets (like safety), which your counselor will explain at the start. You can meet online from home, anywhere in Kentucky, so no one needs to see you walk into a counseling office. Or come to our Middletown office if you prefer.
For the ministry family
Ministry rarely strains just one person. Tony also sees pastors' spouses, and works with ministry couples when the marriage is feeling it.
Counselors who work with pastors and ministry leaders
Your first session
You don't need to have it figured out. Your first session is a conversation about what's been weighing on you and what you'd like to be different, at whatever pace feels okay. Meet online from home or at our Middletown office.
What it costs
$115 to $165
per 50-minute session
We don't bill insurance, but you can pay with an HSA or FSA card, and we'll give you a superbill to submit for possible out-of-network reimbursement. Many churches pay their pastor's counseling fees. Paying for sessions never gives a church access to anything you share.
Common questions
Will anyone at my church know?
Not from us. What you share is confidential, and you can meet online from home, anywhere in Kentucky.
Is this only for senior pastors?
No. Associate pastors, ministry staff, worship and youth leaders, missionaries, and other ministry leaders are all welcome.
Can my church pay for my sessions?
Yes. Many churches pay their pastor's counseling fees. Paying never gives the church access to anything you share.
I'm a pastor. Shouldn't I be able to handle this with prayer?
Prayer matters, and so does help. Seeking counseling isn't a lack of faith; it's often what lets you keep serving well.
Can my spouse come too?
Yes. Tony sees pastors' spouses and works with ministry couples.
Can I meet online?
Yes, anywhere in Kentucky. Indiana clients meet in person at our Louisville office.
What if I'm thinking about leaving ministry?
That's a safe thing to talk about here, without pressure either way.
You don't have to carry this alone
Request an appointment in about a minute, or call (502) 523-2970. Most people are seen the same week.
Prefer to talk? (502) 523-2970
If you're thinking about suicide or are in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), or call 911. This form isn't monitored around the clock.