Wellness Center Staff
Mike Schill
Wellness Center Director
I have been employed as a youth and family social worker for the State of Kansas, as a regional director with the Kansas State Criminal Justice System, in private practice as a family and marriage counselor, and called to be a C&MA Lead Pastor in Washington State. It is a privilege to be currently serving as the Wellness Center Director, and adjunct professor at Simpson University and A.W. Tozer Theological Seminary.
I have completed a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology, a M.S. in Counseling Education, a B.A. in Psychology, and a B.A. in Sociology.
My special interests in counseling include:
- Anxiety, Mood and Stress disorders
- Adjustment disorders
- Relationships including premarital counseling
- Spiritual - behavioral issues
You will find at Simpson University’s Counseling Center a professional, enthusiastic and experienced staff embracing God’s Word as foundational in all issues. We encourage and welcome all inquiries.
Bev Klaiber
Assistant Director of Counseling Center
Licensed in the state of California since 1995, I received my Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy from Azusa Pacific University in 1992. Shortly thereafter, we moved to Redding. I worked in child welfare for nine years as a therapist and social worker before coming to Simpson in 1997 to teach and work in the counseling center. I also worked for several years in private practice.
I have been married since 1989 and have been blessed with three awesome boys to raise.
For me, therapy is not about the removal of suffering, but an opportunity to grow, learn and change in spite of – and because of - our sufferings. It is through the safety of this relationship that we explore painful experiences in order to find meaning and hope. It is sharing problems and seeking solutions. It is about helping facilitate each client's unique personal journey toward achieving greater understanding, competence and maturity in the most vital aspects of our lives – relationship to self, others and God.
It is truly a privilege to have the opportunity to help someone restore to themselves some of what the events of life may have stolen from them. To help them find purpose in their pain and discover hope in their healing is really a gift that I am humbled to take part in.
Though I have dealt with a wide variety of issues in counseling over the years, I would have to say that there are a few areas that I work with most often. They are:
- Anxiety
- Trauma
- Sexual Abuse
- Eating Disorders
- Relationship Conflicts
It is my professional passion to participate with others in the growth, healing and maturity that only God, through Christ, brings.
Pamela Schalo
Career Services Counselor, MFT Intern
I am registered in the state of California as a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) Intern. I have a M.A. in Counseling Psychology from National University and a B.A. from the University of Maryland. Throughout my undergraduate and graduate training, I have worked with students and adults struggling with trauma, sexual, physical and emotional abuse, self-esteem/body image issues, depression, and anxiety.
Happily married to my husband Scott, we enjoy a busy life raising a blended family of five awesome children from age ten through seventeen. I am actively engaged in our children's school and we love participating in their sports, arts, and spending our weekends together sharing in a variety of fun family activities.
My goal as a therapist is to allow and encourage my clients to travel through their personal journey with God by their side. I provide them with a safe environment and permission to accept their experiences and their feelings as a part of the healthy process of healing. I feel honored to share in this experience with my clients and view my role as truly a privilege. Finding balance is a critical component in achieving inner peace and personal wellness. Life can place challenges in front of us that stifle our ability to emotionally grow and embrace the future in a positive manner. I see therapy as an opportunity and avenue to learn and accept self while engaging in a closer relationship with God.
My focus and area of interests are the following:
- Anxiety and depressive disorders
- Adjustment disorders
- Family dynamics issues
- Interpersonal relationship issues
- Self-actualization and self-esteem
- Eating disorders and teen challenges
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)
I feel truly blessed and honored to have such an incredible opportunity at Simpson to touch the lives of young students.
Connie Echols
Health Center Coordinator
As the Health Center Coordinator for Simpson University, my goal is to assist students in achieving and maintaining good health so they can accomplish their educational goals and enjoy campus life. I have been in the medical profession for nearly two decades and have been a Registered Nurse for over 15 years. I have always found my career rewarding and exciting, and feel that Simpson is exactly where God has placed me. After working in many areas of nursing I am thrilled to be a part of the Simpson family.
I grew up in Humboldt County and attended College of The Redwoods, where I graduated in 1997 with an Associate Science Degree in Nursing. My family and I relocated to Redding in 2006. In 2009 I graduated from Simpson University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing and a Public Health Nursing Certification. In my free time I love spending time with my husband and our four children. We enjoy taking our kids to their sporting events, cheering them on and supporting them from the sidelines. We also enjoy spending family time together on the lake and snow skiing. I also like to read, scrapbook, travel, and visit my family on the coast.
Janine Bonanno
Wellness Center Secretary
Married for 26 years to my best friend and a mother of four grown children, my life has been busy and blessed. My family and I moved to Redding about 11 years ago from the East Coast and really appreciate the milder climate. I enjoy hiking, biking, and the beautiful lakes in the North State.
Being a “stay at home” mom of my four awesome children for almost 20 years was the most rewarding and fulfilling time of my life! When my youngest started junior high, I went back to work. I have held various positions over the past several years including bank teller, waitress, and medical records assistant. In 2011, I went back to school to earn an Office Administrative Assistant certificate from Shasta College.
God is Amazing! I know He brought me to Simpson, and He has allowed me to be a part of a wonderful team of caring, loving and professional people. I enjoy serving the needs of the staff and students in the Wellness Center.
