Ingo Tophoven, CHRISTIAN COUNSELor

Ingo Tophoven, PhD, LPC-S, LCMHC

Known to many simply as Dr. T., Dr. Ingo Tophoven is a licensed professional counselor, clinical supervisor, and former professor of clinical mental health counseling with more than 35 years of experience serving individuals, couples, churches, and ministry leaders.

Drawing on 15 years of missionary service and three years as an interim pastor, Dr. T. understands the unique challenges that arise where faith, ministry, and mental health intersect. His work includes helping clients navigate pastoral burnout, church conflict, congregational grief, vocational transitions, and the emotional impact of faith disappointments and spiritual abuse.

Clinical Approach
Dr. T. specializes in trauma-informed, evidence-based counseling that integrates cognitive-behavioral approaches, emotion-focused work, narrative therapy, and existential exploration. He has particular interests in recovery from trauma, depression, loss of meaning, identity reconstruction, and helping individuals develop sustainable pathways toward emotional, relational, and spiritual flourishing.

His counseling is always trauma-informed and welcomes honest conversations about faith, doubt, church hurt, and spiritual questions. Faith is more than a set of beliefs—it is deeply woven into identity, relationships, purpose, and hope. Because of this, faith can become a profound source of healing, but it can also become a source of deep pain. Dr. T. approaches these conversations with respect, compassion, and clinical sensitivity, meeting clients wherever they find themselves on their journey.

Counsels: Ages 18+, premarital, couples/marriage, male and female individual clients, parenting, and family.

Works with: Blended families, adoption, faith crisis, loss of meaning, marital crisis intervention, complex trauma processing, family & relationship estrangement, foster parenting, domestic violence - abuser, victim (current and past), trauma, PTSD, substance abuse (drugs and alcohol) - family member, sex abuse - survivor, childhood sexual abuse - adult survivor, gender identity, pornography use, sexual addiction/avoidance, ADD/ADHD, post-abortion, post-divorce counseling, mood disorders, military issues, terminal illness, Gestalt Therapy, OCD, ODD, narcissistic personality - partner of, toxic work environment issues, multi-cultural identities, lifestyle & wellness counseling, intercultural sensitivity training, prepare/enrich, DISC, Taylor-Johnson Temperament Analysis, SYMBIS, Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (Adults).

Specializes in: depression/anxiety, infidelity, grief/loss and bereavement, anger, divorce, end of life issues, CBT, life coaching, trauma-informed cognitive-behavioral counseling, emotion-focused work, narratology, depression and loss of meaning, exploring faith crisis and deconstruction journeys, health and mental health recovery journeys, panic, trauma and complex trauma, sexual abuse recovery, sexual addiction and avoidance, relationship and family estrangement, cross-cultural adjustment, career transitions, toxic work environments, multicultural identity development, lifestyle change, and overall mental wellness.

Ingo also offers professional consultations to churches on pastoral counseling situations and implementation of customized mental health care systems.