And he said to her, Daughter, be of good comfort: your faith has made you whole; go in peace. --Luke 8:48
The Reverend Dr. April C. Wells is the founder and executive director of Wells of Wholeness, Inc., a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization providing compassionate, non-judgmental, faith-integrated counseling and education to individuals, couples, families, and communities. As an ordained Christian minister and practical theologian, she is a licensed professional counselor, licensed marriage and family therapist, and certified Prepare/Enrich facilitator for pre-marital and marriage counseling. Dr. Wells received her clinical residency training in hospital chaplaincy at the Atlanta VA Medical Center (Atlanta, GA) and has served on pastoral & ministerial church staffs and ordination councils. Additionally, she serves as an adjunct professor of psychology at Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia.
Dr. Wells earned the Doctor of Theology (Th.D.) degree in pastoral counseling from Columbia Theological Seminary in Atlanta, Georgia. Her doctoral research and methodology, which was comprised of Womanist Theology, African-Centered Psychology, and Relational-Cultural Theory, culminated in the completion of her doctoral dissertation entitled “Pastoral Counseling as a Response to Intimate Violence and Institutional Abuse Against African American Clergywomen in Black Church Leadership: A Womanist Pastoral Theological Model.” She earned the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree in the psychology of religion and pastoral care from Morehouse School of Religion at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia; and the Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) degree in marketing from Howard University in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Wells is a sought-after preacher, teacher, revivalist, counselor, conference speaker, workshop & retreat facilitator and trainer on a variety of topics associated with emotional and spiritual healing and wholeness. Utilizing a Narrative Relational/Cultural approach to therapy, her specific areas of expertise include pastoral counseling and psychotherapy with clergy and African Americans; women's whole-health issues; and couples/pre-marital and marriage counseling where she integrates dance as a metaphor and art form in establishing healthy relationships. She also conducts training workshops for community and faith-based organizations on topics related to the role of faith in mental health; spiritual growth & development; leadership development; social justice & youth advocacy; intimate partner/dating violence; substance abuse; HIV/AIDS education and prevention; life-transitions; and grief (including pet loss).
Dr. Wells is a member of and/or affliliated with the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, the Licensed Professional Counselors Association of Georgia; the American Psychological Association, the American Association of Pastoral Counselors; the Society for Pastoral Theology; and the American Academy of Religion. With a vision of individual, relational, and communal well-being, she is committed to serving God by serving God’s people through preaching, teaching, and counseling in ways that compassionately consider the "whole-person" in the process of emotional and spiritual healing and wholeness.
An animal-enthusiast, she considers herself to be the proud mother of 2 adorable "cat-sons," Gabriel (16 years) and Moses (d. October 21, 2007).
Dr. Wells earned the Doctor of Theology (Th.D.) degree in pastoral counseling from Columbia Theological Seminary in Atlanta, Georgia. Her doctoral research and methodology, which was comprised of Womanist Theology, African-Centered Psychology, and Relational-Cultural Theory, culminated in the completion of her doctoral dissertation entitled “Pastoral Counseling as a Response to Intimate Violence and Institutional Abuse Against African American Clergywomen in Black Church Leadership: A Womanist Pastoral Theological Model.” She earned the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree in the psychology of religion and pastoral care from Morehouse School of Religion at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia; and the Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) degree in marketing from Howard University in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Wells is a sought-after preacher, teacher, revivalist, counselor, conference speaker, workshop & retreat facilitator and trainer on a variety of topics associated with emotional and spiritual healing and wholeness. Utilizing a Narrative Relational/Cultural approach to therapy, her specific areas of expertise include pastoral counseling and psychotherapy with clergy and African Americans; women's whole-health issues; and couples/pre-marital and marriage counseling where she integrates dance as a metaphor and art form in establishing healthy relationships. She also conducts training workshops for community and faith-based organizations on topics related to the role of faith in mental health; spiritual growth & development; leadership development; social justice & youth advocacy; intimate partner/dating violence; substance abuse; HIV/AIDS education and prevention; life-transitions; and grief (including pet loss).
Dr. Wells is a member of and/or affliliated with the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, the Licensed Professional Counselors Association of Georgia; the American Psychological Association, the American Association of Pastoral Counselors; the Society for Pastoral Theology; and the American Academy of Religion. With a vision of individual, relational, and communal well-being, she is committed to serving God by serving God’s people through preaching, teaching, and counseling in ways that compassionately consider the "whole-person" in the process of emotional and spiritual healing and wholeness.
An animal-enthusiast, she considers herself to be the proud mother of 2 adorable "cat-sons," Gabriel (16 years) and Moses (d. October 21, 2007).