Christ-Centered & Clinically Informed

Meet our Staff

Curt Meiss, LCPC

Specializing in individual and marriage counseling, with advanced training in treating trauma, Curt provides leadership, supervision, and support to the Pathway Counseling team and interns. While no longer accepting ongoing clients from the community, Curt offers one-time, 30-minute consultation sessions to provide guidance and recommend next steps for healing and growth.

Curt has been counseling professionally since 2008, after earning his master’s from Lincoln Christian University and completing his internship at the Antioch Group. He has worked in church-based and private practice settings and now serves as Director of Counseling at Pathway Ministries and Director of Counseling Development at his church.

A passionate advocate for Christian counseling that is both Christ-centered and clinically informed, Curt values strong partnerships with local churches. He integrates evidence-based approaches, especially EMDR and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, tailored to each client’s needs.

Married for over 35 years with four adult children, Curt brings both personal and professional experience to his work. He grew up in Gridley, IL, spent 18 years in corporate IT at State Farm, and now enjoys exploring backroads on his motorcycle.

Specializes: Individuals, Couples, Trauma, EMDR, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Not Accepting New Patients At This Time

Chris Wright, LPC

Chris began his counseling career in 2021 after 35 years in pastoral ministry. He holds a master’s degree in counseling from Lincoln Christian University and completed internships at Christian Psychological Associates and Pathway Counseling. He now works full-time at Pathway Counseling and leads a non-profit that supports ministry leaders through care and counseling.

Chris specializes in marriage counseling and ministry leader care but also helps adults facing depression, anxiety, identity and self-worth struggles, addictions, and career transitions.

Rooted in faith, Chris integrates evidence-based practices with a biblical worldview. Much of his work draws from attachment theory, somatic therapy, and relational neurobiology. He is trained in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and regularly uses tools from the Gottman Method and Focus Marital Therapy. He believes healing happens when our emotions, bodies, relationships, and spiritual lives are healthy and aligned.

Married for over 34 years, Chris is a proud father of three adult children and an even prouder grandfather. Originally from central Illinois, he also spent a decade in Chicago. He enjoys traveling with his wife and searching for the world’s best cheeseburger.

Specializes: Ministry Employees, Depression, Anxiety, Addictions, Career Changes, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Jennice Woolever, LPC

Jennice received her Master’s in Mental Health Counseling in May 2025 from Asbury Theological Seminary. She is working part time at Pathway Ministries under the supervision of Curt Meiss.

Jennice has experience working with clients from teenagers to adults. She works with individuals going through life transitions, anxiety or depression, and other interpersonal challenges. She offers premarital counseling. During her internship at Summit Family Therapy, she also shadowed a DBT life skills group, inpatient behavioral health at Trillium Place Young Minds Center, and addiction recovery groups. Jennice is passionate about the word of God and seeks to offer clinically informed faith-based counseling.

Jennice offers compassionate, collaborative care and empowers clients to navigate life challenges. She decided to become a professional counselor after raising her own family and growing in understanding through life experiences.

Jennice is a wife, mom of four, a life-long learner, and a class facilitator and speaker in church ministries. She is a native Texan who enjoys spending time with family, the arts, reading books, and directing plays for a homeschool co-op. She has loved living in the Peoria area for the last ten years, exploring its treasures and restaurants.

Specializes: Anxiety, Depression, Life Transitions, Interpersonal Challenges, Premarital

Greg Pennington, Ph.D, LCSW

Greg has been providing individual, marital, and group therapy for 30 years. He has worked with teens and adults of all ages.  His primary areas of concentration have been treating mental health concerns such as depression and anxiety, as well as more serious mental illnesses. He has many years of experience helping people through grief and loss in the context of trauma and illness.

He is a Licensed Clinical Social worker and holds a Ph.D. degree in Counselor Education.  He also has experience as a college professor and in pastoral ministry. He is a strong believer in the power of the Lord to bring healing through counseling.  New clients are welcome to see Greg at Pathway Counseling Center. Greg has been married for 41 years, has three adult children, and is greatly enjoying being a grandpa to 6 grandsons. Greg loves all kinds of music, sports, and exercise, and spending time with his wife on long walks.

Specializes: Depression, Anxiety, Care for Ministry Workers, Spiritual Guidance, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Jael Mahasi, LPC

Jael began her counseling career in 2013. Prior to joining the team at Pathway Counseling, she had been a high school teacher in Kenya for 7 years, followed by 15 years as a stay-at-home mom. She later completed her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Bradley University and her internships at the Antioch Group Inc. under the supervision of Dr. Steven Hamon.

Jael has a passion for cultivating brave spaces where underserved communities can access meaningful mental health support utilizing a holistic approach that integrates the spirit (meaning and connection), the soul (mind and emotions), and the body (physical and nervous system) to facilitate healing through a client-centered approach to clinical mental health. She believes that the mind-body-spirit therapy approach using evidence-based clinical counseling and grounding with somatic regulation can foster a deeper healing, reduce trauma symptoms, and improve recovery and resilience from adversity.

Jael has been married for over 33 years and is a proud mother of three beautiful adult daughters and a grandbaby on the way. She is now completing her dissertation for a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision at the University of the Cumberlands and working part-time at Bradley University as an Affiliate Instructor in the Counselor Education program.

Specializes: Depression, Anxiety, Trauma, Grief, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy

Shayla Hinrichsen, MA

Shayla Hinrichsen is a compassionate and dedicated counselor who earned her master’s degree in School Counseling from Liberty University in May 2023. She is currently working towards full licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) under the supervision of Curt Meiss. With a broad range of experience, Shayla has had the privilege of working with children from K-3rd grade and adolescents in junior high (5th-8th grade). Presently, she serves as a full-time junior high coordinator at her church.

Shayla has specialized experience in helping women and teens navigate challenges related to depression, anxiety, life transitions, anger, and grief. She is deeply passionate about integrating a Christian worldview into her counseling practice, combining faith-based support with evidence-based therapeutic techniques, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Shayla’s empathetic and holistic approach ensures that clients feel understood, supported, and empowered to make positive changes in their lives.

Before returning to Central Illinois, where she was born and raised, Shayla lived in both Montana and Colorado, gaining diverse perspectives and life experiences. In her personal life, Shayla enjoys adventure and outdoor activities like hiking and trail running, often exploring the scenic Midwest with her husband.

Shayla is committed to providing a safe and welcoming space for individuals to work through challenges, grow emotionally, and find lasting peace and purpose.

Specializes: Depression, Anxiety, Life Transitions, Anger, Grief, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Tanya Miller, Office Manager

Tanya began her journey with Pathway at the Women’s Residential Center, where she served as a Facility Community Care Specialist. Guided by faith and a heart for service, she is excited to see how God will continue to lead her. Outside of her professional life, Tanya cherishes her role as a mom. In her downtime, she enjoys spending time outdoors and expressing her creativity through scrapbooking.

As the Office Manager, I enjoy keeping the office running smoothly by checking in clients, answering phones, and assisting with billing. I also make sure the office stays organized and comfortable, so clients feel at ease during their visit. I’m always happy to help with any questions or anything someone might need while they’re here.