Counseling at
St. John the Evangelist

The counselors available at St. John’s include Maryland-licensed mental health professionals and advanced-level graduate counseling interns enrolled in accredited counseling programs. All mental health professionals and counseling interns practice in fidelity to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church.  

All therapists provide services as independent contractors in private practice and are not employees, agents, or representatives of St. John the Evangelist Church or the Archdiocese of Baltimore. The parish provides space for counseling services but does not provide, supervise, manage, or control clinical services, treatment decisions, or professional conduct. The use of parish space does not imply endorsement, supervision, or liability. All counselors comply with background screening and child-protection training, as applicable. 

Licensed clinicians maintain sole responsibility for their professional practice. Graduate counseling interns and provisional licensed clinicians provide services under the supervision of a Maryland-licensed mental health professional, in compliance with Maryland law and professional ethical standards. Clients receiving services from a counseling intern will be informed of the intern’s training status and supervisory arrangement prior to the start of services.

Each therapist practicing at St. John’s is trained to address a broad range of psychological, emotional, social, and relational concerns. Counselors promote the psychological and spiritual well-being of individuals and families through high-quality, confidential, and affordable services that can integrate sound clinical practice with the teachings of the Catholic faith.

Counseling services are available for individual adults, adolescents, children, as well as couples and families. Counselors bring a wide range of clinical experience and professional specialties, including the supervision and training of graduate-level counseling interns. Brief professional biographies and direct contact information for each counselor and counselor intern are provided below. Please contact the individual therapist directly to inquire about availability.

For general questions about the counseling services, assistance with counselor selection, or availability, please email Counseling@stjohnsp.org, or call 443-261-0122.

Fees and Payment

Counseling fees are set below typical market rates and vary depending on the type of service provided. A sliding fee scale is available to help ensure that financial circumstances do not prevent access to care. All fee payment policies will be discussed prior to scheduling services.

Payment for each session is due at the conclusion of the appointment. Payments are made directly to the individual clinician and may be submitted by credit card, cash, or check. Payments are not made out to St. John the Evangelist Church or the Archdiocese of Baltimore and the parish does not receive compensation for counseling services. 

Counselors typically do not accept insurance; however, clinicians may provide documentation for clients who wish to pursue reimbursement through out-of-network insurance benefits. Clients are solely responsible for verifying insurance coverage and reimbursement eligibility.

Financial donations to assist individuals who are unable to afford counseling services are gratefully accepted. Donations do not guarantee services and are not tied to specific clinical outcomes. To inquire about making a donation toward services for another individual, please discuss with one of the therapists. 

Other Nearby Catholic Counselors

To locate additional Catholic mental health providers within the Archdiocese of Baltimore, please visit the Help is Here website under Mental Health Resources at: www.archbalt.org/help-is-here/.

Meet the Team

  • Jennifer Brinker

    Licensed Clinical Social Worker

    Jennifer Brinker, LCSW-C earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Villanova University and her Master of Social Work from the University of Maryland School of Social Work, where she specialized in services to families and children. Following her graduation, Jennifer worked as a Psychotherapist for Villa Maria’s Therapeutic After School Program and their school-based out-patient clinic. She is currently a Maryland Social Work Board approved clinical supervisor and has additionally presented workshops related to post-abortion healing at both national social work and crisis pregnancy center conferences.

    In addition to presenting conference workshops, Jennifer has also spoken for 40 Days for Life kick off events, given talks at parish and youth retreats and events as well as provided training for Project Rachel in the Archdiocese of Washington.

    She is especially grateful to be able to offer clinical services as a therapist in the Pastoral Counseling Center at St. John the Evangelist in Severna Park. Working as a Catholic therapist happily enables Jennifer to serve the whole person by integrating her professional training and experience with the beauty and richness of the Catholic faith in this clinical setting.

    In addition to providing counseling services, Jennifer also supports the Source of All Hope missionary formation program in Baltimore through group meetings, an on-going formation for the missionaries while working alongside the Basilica and Cathedral staff who run the program.

    Jennifer has been a parishioner at Our Lady of the Fields since 1997 and has been involved in various ministries throughout the years, including Walking With Purpose, youth ministry and the parish’s pastoral planning committee. She recently graduated from the Holy Family School of Faith’s program for Catholic Spiritual Mentorship (under Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, KS) and provides spiritual mentorship for a small number of women at her home parish.

    Primary areas of focus: behavioral and emotional issues in children, parenting, family therapy, couples therapy, & post-abortion healing.

    Contact Jennifer…

  • Abby Drake

    Counseling Intern

    Abby Drake is completing her counseling practicum and internship at St. John the Evangelist parish, the final requirements for a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Divine Mercy University.

    She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology in the Honors College at Towson University. Abby converted to Catholicism while she was an undergraduate, and she received the call to become a missionary disciple dedicated to bringing individuals to Christ through healing.

    Abby has served as a catechist for fifth grade students at Immaculate Conception parish in Towson, and she served on the Board of the Catholic Campus Ministry while at Towson. She is certified in Compassion Fatigue, Disaster Trauma, and Mental Health First Aid.

    Her studies at Divine Mercy University offered her the unique ability to integrate the teachings of the Catholic Church with her counseling education and training. Abby embraces person-centered and humanistic theories of personality while focusing on finding meaning in suffering and instilling a sense of responsibility and competency with her clients. The innate goodness and dignity of individuals is at the heart of her approach, and she believes that true healing is possible for every client.

    Abby offers in-person and telehealth appointments for individual adults and couples under the supervision of Paul Schratz, PhD.

    Contact Abby…

  • Melissa Freymann

    Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor

    Melissa Freymann earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Chicago and a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Divine Mercy University where she learned to integrate the Catholic faith with the psychological sciences. Melissa uses the Catholic Christian Meta-Model of the Person and Theology of the Body as a framework for understanding and valuing the whole person. She is passionate about healing interpersonal relationships and helping people flourish. She works with adolescents through elderly, couples, and families. Melissa has experience providing group, couple, and individual therapy, and consults for marriage workshops that integrate Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) at Our Lady of Bethesda Retreat Center. 

    Additional certifications: EFT externship with ICEEFT, Green Cross Traumatology Level 3, and Mental Health First Aid instructor for Military, Higher Ed, Youth and Adult. She is the Region IV representative for the Catholic Psychotherapy Association, and is a member of the American Counseling Association and the International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy. 

    Melissa has been active in several ministries involving youth, leadership, women, coaching running, and is a consultant for the Archdiocese of Baltimore for the Mental Wellness Initiative. She has been featured on podcasts and is available for speaking engagements at retreats, conferences, parent groups, and youth events. She offers consultation services and therapeutic support at special events. 

    Melissa is available for appointments in nursing homes in the Severna Park area. Primary areas of focus: adolescents, transitions of life, couples, parenting, elderly, anxiety, grief, emotions, and communication. She offers limited group therapy. Melissa offers counseling for tackling immediate concerns like stress management, anxiety, or lifestyle challenges and therapy to explore and heal past trauma or complex emotional issues.

  • Katie Pestka

    Licensed Graduate Counselor

    Katie Pestka, LGPC, earned her master's degree in Clinical Mental Health from the University of Mary. She is a licensed graduate therapist working at St. John the Evangelist and Catholic Community of South Baltimore, seeing clients in Severna Park and Baltimore. She is certified in Catholic Anthropology and loves to integrate the Catholic faith into mental health care.

    Katie earned a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. After college, she served as a Catholic campus missionary with the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) for several years. She served university students on campuses in both the United States and England. She then worked as a high school Theology Teacher and Campus Minister.

    Katie utilizes cognitive behavioral therapy and emotionally focused therapy in her practice. She sees children, adolescents, and adults for individual counseling as well as couples therapy and family therapy.

    Katie is excited to work with St. John's Counseling team. She is supervised by Paul Schratz, PhD, and Jennifer Brinker, LCSW.

  • Paul Schratz, PhD, ABPP

    Board Certified Psychologist

    Paul Schratz, PhD, is the leader of the counseling team. Has been a parishioner at St. John the Evangelist for more than 20 years. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University, a master’s degree from Loyola in Maryland (including a year in the Pastoral Counseling program), and a doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Georgia State University. He gained much depth and breadth of experience as a psychologist with the Navy, the Veterans Administration, and Alpha Omega Clinic, a Catholic psychotherapy practice.

    Dr. Schratz has been active in many ministries in the Catholic Church, especially with Catholic men’s ministry at the local and Archdiocesan levels. He is a consultant for the Mental Health Companions ministry at St. John, serves with the Unbound prayer and deliverance ministry, and provides men’s ministry training for the Knights of Columbus.

    His wife is a Catholic elementary school principal. They successfully raised their two children, and they are happy that both are living nearby.

    Dr. Schratz provides individual and couples psychotherapy for adults. He treats the full range of psychological, emotional and interpersonal challenges, including:

    • Depression, grief and loss
    • Anxiety, phobias, trauma, stress and anger management
    • Relationship issues, parenting, sexuality, and men’s issues
    • Occupational and vocational problems
    • Stage of life transitions (e.g., marriage, empty nest, death of spouse, divorce, job loss, retirement)
    • Behavioral health issues (e.g., insomnia, nightmares, tobacco/nicotine cessation, substance abuse, pain management, chronic illness, etc.)
    • Faith development and spiritual issues
    • Military, veterans, employees with security clearances, and readjustment issues.