Mary Jo Schneller, Ph.D., C.Psy., L.C.P.C.

 

Mary_Jo_SchnellerDr. Mary Jo Schneller is the Founder and Director of South County Christian Counseling and House of Restoration Lay Counseling Centers in St. Louis, MO.  She has developed a lay counseling program and has trained twenty-five lay counselors to help meet the needs within Twin Rivers Worship Ctn. She has a Master's of Arts degree in Clinical Christian Counseling, and has earned two Doctorate’s in Christian Psychology from Pillsbury College and Seminary, St. Louis, MO.

In 1992 she started her own private counseling practice and continues until this day.  Her offices are located in Twin Rivers Worship Center and Bethalto Church of God located in IL.  Dr. Schneller is currently writing a manual on “How to Develop a Lay Counseling Ministry in your Church”, and a training manual for deliverance and inner healing. She is also the author of “Healing Addictions, a Journey To Whoelness.”

Out of the lay counseling there are seven ongoing recovery groups

  1. Hope After the Choice-post abortive
  2. Freedom – Recovery group for sexual trauma and gender issues
  3. 12-Step; A Spiritual Journey – for all addictions and compulsive behaviors
  4. Picking Up The Pieces – Grief recovery
  5. Divorce Care
  6. Why Weight- Nutritional Counseling group
  7. Al-anon – Recovery group for co-addicts
  8. Empty Arms – Support group for parents who have lost children due to miscarriages.

Dr. Schneller acted as a regional director for National Information Network, in the states of Missouri and Illinois, providing training to law enforcement and public service groups on cult, occult, and deviant groups. She has been involved in research and intervention for over fifteen years in the area of occult, cult involvement nation wide. Her approach to therapy combines Biblical principles with proven therapeutic techniques.

Dr. Schneller is currently in the process of developing The St. Louis Peniel Drug and Alcohol Residential treatment program.

Dr. Schneller is also a long time member of the National Christian Counselors Association, American Association of Christian Counselors, and the Society of Christian Psychology.  She has had extensive training in Trauma Reduction and is a certified level I Trauma Specialist.

 

THE GOALS OF THE ST. LOUIS PENIEL TREATMENT CENTER

The Peniel Treatment Model is based on the Biblical fact that Human Beings are born with a depraved nature and the Born Again experience is essential for a permanent and enduring change. In addition, it is also necessary to teach and to reinforce patterns of good behavior. We understand that we cannot change people and so we teach our clients that they must put forth the effort of changing themselves by refusing to play the “Blame Game” and rejecting the urge to maintain the negative responses of a victim, who aggressively defends their right of self indulgence. This attitude is steadfast in proclaiming that it is “not my fault”, “I am not responsible”, I cannot be accountable”. This is merely a futile attempt to drown out God’s miraculous power and His awesome ability to transform lives. This is why we believe that all addictions are reversible. That is why we have established our goals, and they are:

  • To provide professional and Biblical based counseling that is directed toward healing the addict.
  • To strengthen and improve the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual well being of our clients.

To provide educational and relapse prevention skills that are consistent with our mission.