Psychiatry
Psychiatrist John Applegate, MD
Dr. Applegate is a board certified psychiatrist. He majored in Psychology and East Asian Studies at Bucknell University. He received his M.D. from the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and completed his residency training in Psychiatry at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, where he continues to teach residents and medical students.
He has been in private practice and working at the hospital since graduating in 2005. He has also spent several years working in a local university counseling center. John is a ruling elder at his local urban church where he and his family are thankful to live in gospel community.
Dr. Applegate’s areas of interest and experience include, but are not limited to: anxiety, mood, attention deficit, psychotic, sleep, and personality disorders. He has competency in several therapeutic strategies but has an even greater passion for redeeming the practice of these in a gospel framework.
Nurse Practioner Teji Wang, MSN, CRNP, PMHNP-BC
NP Wang is a board certified psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner. She received her MSN from the University of Pennsylvania, where she majored in Nursing and minored in Nutrition and Japanese during her undergraduate years. Teji is a firm believer of integrative care, where an interdisciplinary evidence-based approach combining psychopharmacology, therapy, and spiritual care is utilized to provide individuals with person-centered care. As a third culture individual who grew up in the Middle East and is ethnically Chinese, she appreciates the diverse narratives each person is shaped by and aims to nurture trauma-informed brave spaces that empower individuals to form collaborative therapeutic alliances.
Teji's areas of interest and experience include, but are not limited to: depression, bipolar, anxiety, attention deficit, psychotic, sleep, and personality disorders.
Counselors and Therapists
Bonnie Currie, MA, LPC
Bonnie holds an MA in Biblical Counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary, a post-graduate Certificate in Professional Counseling from Missio Seminary, an MS in Post-Secondary Education from Troy University, and two bachelor degrees from the University of Georgia. Bonnie has extensive experience working with children, and adolescents – as a counselor, elementary school counselor, high school teacher, and youth-ministry leader. Bonnie is married to Chris, the pastor of Resurrection Philadelphia, and has three children.
Bonnies’s areas of interest and experience include but are not limited to working with women, adolescents, and children experiencing: grief, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, and self-image and identity issues.
Esther Lee, MA, LPC
Esther is a licensed professional counselor with the state of Pennsylvania. She received her M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Wheaton College after receiving a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Michigan. She has also pursued further education at Westminster Theological Seminary. She has a diverse background and areas of expertise, having worked in inpatient drug and alcohol rehabilitation, outpatient community mental health centers, and for Redeemer Counseling Services.
Esther’s areas of interest and experience include but are not limited to: substance addiction, depression, anxiety, anger, bereavement, self-image and identity issues, relationship issues, pre-marital and marital counseling.
Jeff Stark, MDiv
Jeff graduated from Westminster Theological Seminary. Jeff has over 30 years of experience in biblical counseling, and practices in several locations in both Pennsylvania and Delaware. Jeff started his counseling career as a staff counselor in the early 1980's with the Christian Counseling and Educational Center. Through the late 1980's to the present Jeff has been the Director and Counselor for the Life Enrichment Christian Counseling Center. Throughout those same years Jeff has spoken at many Christian retreats and conferences on a wide variety of individual, marital and family issues. Additionally, he equips local churches through The Gospel Seminar. He has also served as an elder for many years, most recently in a suburban church body that he and his wife of 36 years, Donna, have joined.
Jeff’s areas of interest/experience include but are not limited to: depression, fear and anxiety, and relational issues. He has a special interest in marriage counseling (especially those marriages suffering from sexual unfaithfulness) and pornographic addiction.
Dave Goneau, MA, LPC
David received his Master of Arts in Counseling from Biblical Theological Seminary. In 2001, he received his MDiv. from Westminster Theological Seminary. David also holds a B.A. degree in sports medicine from Messiah College.
Prior to pursuing his counseling degree, David served as a pastor. For 5 years he worked as a youth pastor and for 4 years served as a solo pastor in the Presbyterian Church in America. In these roles, David discovered his desire and skills for working with teens and children. He is currently pursuing Registered Play Therapy certification.
David has also worked with couples for pre-marital and marital counseling, people struggling with depression and anxiety. As a pastor, he walked alongside teenagers, some who struggled with substance abuse and others who were searching for spiritual guidance and life direction.
Debbie McIntosh, MA
Debbie received her masters from Wheaton College in Chicago and has been counseling for the past 11 years. She has a diverse background as she has counseled in the states and in Peru as a missionary. She was married to her husband for over 40 years and has several grown children and grandchildren.
Debbie's areas of interest and experience include but are not limited to: martial relationships, self-esteem/identity, mood disorders, sexual abuse, and spiritual issues.
Mary Schuelke, LMFT
Mary is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with the states of Pennsylvania and Minnesota. She received her Bachelor's in Art History from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, before pursuing her Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy at Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, MN. She has been in practice since completing her Master's in 2016. Mary has worked in various settings including private practice, schools, and in-home.
Mary primarily provides individual and family therapy. She enjoys working with adolescents and their families. Her interests include: Anxiety, Depression, social skills, Attention Deficit, trauma, attachment, and more. She is in the process of becoming certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT).
John Alexander, MDiv, MTH
John holds a Master of Divinity from Westminster Theological Seminary as well as a Master of Pastoral Care and Counseling from Antiochian House of Studies. For thirteen years he pastored a congregation right here in Philadelphia, walking with men and women of various life stages through the joys and challenges of their spiritual journeys. He also spent over a decade chairing his denominational leadership development team, mentoring many ministry candidates toward ordination.
John approaches counseling by integrating the client’s faith and worldview with evidence-based therapies, while watching for the hope that is always available through the Gospel of grace. He is particularly influenced by narrative therapy, person-centered therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and emotionally focused therapy.
John’s areas of interest and experience include but are not limited to: faith struggles, grief and loss, life stage and vocational transitions, premarital and marriage counseling, conflict resolution and mediation, counseling of church and ministry leaders, anxiety and fearfulness, depression, men’s issues, spiritual direction
Carmen Aranda, MA
Carmen graduated with her Masters of Arts in Counseling from Missio Seminary and is pursuing licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Pennsylvania. She has a history of working in various settings including federal government, ministry, and community behavioral health clinics. Her approach is integrative utilizing cognitive behavioral therapy, biblical worldview, and holistic approaches for overall well being. Carmen is bi-lingual in English and Spanish and first generation born in the United States.
Carmen joined the counseling field after wanting to join the 6% of Latinx therapists in the US and facilitate a space of restoration for people of color from a lived experience. Her practicum and internship experience allowed her to work within the scope of drug and alcohol addiction and trauma at a partial hospitalization clinic, which she continues to be passionate about. Carmen also enjoys working with adult individuals experiencing anxiety, life transitions, heartbreak, grief, faith challenges, vocational calling, and depression.