About The Pastoral Solutions Institute
The Pastoral Solutions Institute was founded in 1999 as an organization dedicated to providing the resources religiously-committed Catholics need to live more faithful and abundant marriage, family, and personal lives. Since that time, The Pastoral Solutions Institute has become nationally-recognized for its leadership in integrating cutting-edge counseling psychology with solid Catholic theological principles.
The Pastoral Solutions Institute offers a wide variety of resources and professional services intended to help committed Catholics overcome problems like marital conflict, childrearing problems, depression, anxiety, stress, and the difficulties associated with major life transitions.
The Institute developed two television series that aired on the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) and, with Ave Maria Radio, PSI co-produces the daily radio broadcast, Heart Mind and Strength, heard on Catholic radio stations (as well as on the internet and via podcast) throughout the country. We also produce the Heart Mind and Strength Weblog a popular online source for Catholic news and information.
Our highly-qualified, licensed, Catholic pastoral counselors provide over 4000 hours of telephone counseling services annually to Catholics all over the world and we are looking at expanding our services to meet the growing demand. We have an advisory board consisting of faithful moral theologians, canon lawyers, and clergy with whom we consult to make certain our services are as faithful as they are effective. Additionally, the Pastoral Solutions Institute is doing its part to contribute to professional research in the effective integration of Catholic teaching and counseling psychology and to assist in the training of many more Catholic counselors to serve local communities across North America and beyond.
The Pastoral Solutions Institute is an independent, non-profit organization which has earned a listing in the Official Catholic Directory.
About Gregory K. Popcak, MSW., Ph.D. Founder/Executive Director
Dr. Gregory Popcak (POP-chak) is a nationally recognized expert in Catholic pastoral counseling, especially in the areas of affective disorders (depression, anxiety) and marriage and family problems. He has degrees in psychology and theology as well as a Master’s degree in clinical social work and a Ph.D. in human services with a specialization in pastoral counseling. He is the author of seven popular books integrating the faith with counseling psychology and has contributed many chapters to books on such topics as homeschooling, mixed-faith marriages, the priest-abuse scandal, and a textbook on family therapy. Dr. Popcak’s articles and columns can regularly be found in such publications such as Catholic Parent, Family Foundations, Faith and Family, Our Sunday Visitor and others, and he has been interviewed on marriage and family issues in publications as diverse as Columbia, Ladies Home Journal, and The National Enquirer.
He has hosted two television series for EWTN (For Better…FOREVER! and God Help Me!). Together with his wife, Lisa, Dr. Popcak hosts the daily, nationally-syndicated Catholic radio broadcast, Heart Mind & Strength. In addition to his duties as Executive Director of the Institute, he serves as the Senior Clinician for the Catholic telephone counseling practice which provides over 4000 hrs/yr of ongoing, Catholic tele-counseling services to Catholic couples, families, and individuals around the world.