Our Team
We work to widen our network and collaboration with community churches, schools, senior living facilities, and community centers to care for the whole person. Currently, our staff have diverse backgrounds, professionally and culturally to meet diverse needs. Our staff are Licensed Professional Counselors, Social Workers, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, and Pastoral Care Specialists. Some of us are bilingual. Our staff participates in ongoing continuing education, case consultation, and theological reflection. Our strength is integration of spirituality and psychology.
Sooyeon Lee-Garland, Ph.D., LMFT is a licensed marriage and family therapist with extensive years of clinical and supervisory experience. She came to the U.S. after graduating from college in Korea to study Music Therapy at NYU. After obtaining her Master’s degree, she pursued post-graduate training at the Blanton-Peale Institute in NY.
For 15 years, Dr. Lee-Garland worked at a community-based agency, serving underprivileged clients and families in Bridgeport, CT. As a racial minority female immigrant, her interest in understanding marginalized people’s experiences has been of critical importance. Her doctoral dissertation examined transnational activities and their impacts on the racial identity challenges and resilience of Asian Mixed-race individuals in the U.S. Dr. Lee-Garland is committed to help immigrant families, assisting with their adjustments in a new country dealing with cultural differences and generational conflicts within family systems.
Deepening her personal relationship with God through prayer and self-reflective spiritual practices are priorities in her life. She believes that strengthening families and building supportive communities at multi-levels is a social responsibility as a Christian. Additionally, she serves as a Music Director at the Korean United Methodist church.
Counselor
Miriam Koo, D. Min. LMHC, LPsyA. and NcPsyA. I have been practicing professional counseling as a psychoanalyst for 25 years and pastoral care counseling for 28 years. In addition to my counseling practice, I serve as the director of the Pastoral Care Specialist program at the Pastoral Care Mission Center. Personally and professionally, I am deeply interested in understanding how people can live happily regardless of crises in life. During counseling sessions, I work collaboratively with clients to establish specific treatment goals. My specialties include depression, anxiety, trauma and a variety of relationship issues. Beyond counseling, I also offer mentoring, and supervision services to support students in their growth and healing from spiritual trauma.
Joshua H. Jong, D. Min., LAC.
Ordained pastor in Presbyterian Church (USA), trained in pastoral psychotherapy and group therapy. Completed Ph.D. studies in Counseling Psychology and Religion (Boston University). Licensed acupuncturist in New York State. Certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), a volunteer firefighter, and a chaplain at New Hyde Park Fire Department. Currently, a senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church of New Hyde Park. Practices and promotes holistic healing and health. Participates in short-term medical mission trips to Latin America. Enjoys hiking beautiful trails, and traveling domestic and international destinations.
Kyoungah Lee While studying pastoral counseling at the Pastoral Care and Mission Center for the past 10 years, it became clear that the most beautiful and mysterious creatures are human beings. We, people, were created by the image of almighty loving God. Therefore every human being should be treated with respect and care. Throughout my work experiences in the women's care ministry for over 10 years, I have always remembered the command from Jesus, “love your neighbor as yourself” by putting 'people’ as a priority over any tasks or projects. My approach in pastoral counseling is to help people to live healthy and beautiful lives by reclaiming the original image of God. To achieve that goal, I use Karl Rogers theory and Howard Clinebell's pastoral counseling methods to provide counseling that restores a lost or broken sense of self and restores relationships.
Youngjoo Ko I studied Pastoral counseling psychology at the Ewha Women's University’s Graduate School of Counseling. In 2018, I came to the United States to study at the Pastoral Care Mission Center and serve as a clinical and pastoral counselor. As a pastoral care counselor, I am helping God's people grow in the Lord and live as he wants.