Meet Chris O'Rear
Chris O’Rear is a licensed clinical pastoral therapist, author, and speaker based in Nashville, Tennessee. For more than 30 years, he has helped individuals, churches, and organizations navigate life’s challenges, deepen relationships, and grow in resilience. Drawing from his background in pastoral care and psychotherapy, Chris integrates clinical wisdom, spiritual depth, and a genuine passion for helping people live with authenticity and connection. He is endorsed for the work of Pastoral Counseling by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
and is proud to serve this community of faith and care.
A Journey of Care and Connection
Not quite a Nashville native, Chris moved to Tennessee when he was 13. Originally planning for a career in medicine, he studied biology and chemistry at Samford University, earned his EMT certification, and worked in a clinical lab. But along the way, he felt a deeper call, one that would eventually lead him to ministry, and later, to psychotherapy.
After completing a Master of Divinity in Pastoral Care and Counseling from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Chris trained as a hospital chaplain and later pursued a Master of Marriage and Family Therapy at Trevecca Nazarene University. These experiences shaped his lifelong commitment to integrating emotional, relational, and spiritual health.
Today, Chris brings decades of experience to his therapy work, supervision, teaching, and speaking engagements — helping others cultivate relationships that heal and lives that thrive.
Work That Brings
It All Together
Chris is the owner and director of The Counseling Center, PLLC, a network of counseling centers serving the Middle Tennessee community. Through the Center, he and his team of therapists combine clinical expertise with pastoral insight to support adults navigating anxiety, grief, and life transitions.
Beyond therapy, Chris leads workshops and speaks at churches, retreats, and conferences on topics like therapeutic friendship, spirituality and mental health, grief and resilience, and clergy wellness. His writing and teaching continue to inspire readers and audiences to build deeper, healthier connections in every area of life.
In a world that feels more connected yet lonelier than ever, Chris O’Rear offers practical wisdom for building relationships that truly make a difference. Drawing from over three decades of therapy and ministry, Chris shares how we can navigate conflict, support loved ones, and find resilience through deeper connection.
Therapeutic Friendship:
Cultivating Relationships that Heal
Choose your favorite retailer to order Therapeutic Friendship.
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