AARON LORENZO, SWT, CDCA

Aaron Lorenzo (pronouns: he/him) is a social work trainee that is an experienced clinician, with prior experience in substance use disorder counseling and pastoral counseling, who works with adults, couples, and families. His specialty interests include: military, veteran, and first responder issues; spiritually sensitive or faith-based care; grief, loss, and trauma informed care; boys’ and men’s issues; and career development. He utilizes treatment approaches that are evidence-based and uniquely tailored to each client.

Aaron is simultaneously completing a master’s degree in social work (with a concentration in mental health) at Roberts Wesleyan University and a doctorate in counseling and psychological studies (with a concentration in human services counseling) at Regent University. He previously completed master’s degrees in divinity (with a concentration in chaplaincy) at Ashland Theological Seminary and management (with a graduate certificate in executive leadership) at Southwestern College. He also earned his bachelor’s degree in pastoral studies from Southwestern College. Aaron completed clinical pastoral education (CPE) at Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, North Carolina, as well as training in psychological first aid (PFA) at John Hopkins University, and skills for psychological recovery (SPR) training through The National Child Traumatic Stress Network. He is a naturally curious and open-minded lifetime learner.

Prior to practice, Aaron worked with diverse clients in outpatient, inpatient, hospital, hospice, college, and military settings providing substance use disorder counseling and pastoral care and counseling in chaplaincy. Over the last 23 years, he has had many unique professional opportunities. Some notable experiences include providing care to deployed service members and their family members, leading international community relations projects and humanitarian aid efforts, and counseling the sick and dying and providing support to their families. All of these experiences have contributed to his sense of purpose in life and drive to help others in distress.

Beyond his clinical work, Aaron has an ongoing relationship with Bishop Barham University – Uganda Christian University (BBU-UCU) in Kabale, Uganda, where he has previously served as a campus chaplain and lecturer, and partnering with S.E.E.D. of Hope Global to establish a trauma healing center in Northern Uganda. He is the founder and director of a global non-profit, Redeemer’s Hope, where he is collaborating with partners in the Church of Uganda to develop a faith-integrated approach, and training seminar, for Ugandan pastors to provide compassionate, empirically-based, culturally sensitive care to community members impacted by substance use issues. These faith-based roles are an extension of his passion for collaborative partnerships and ministry in Africa and his sense of calling to uplift the “least of these” (Matthew 25:40) that are struggling with poverty and injustice in the United States and abroad.

Aaron’s approach to counseling is relational, person-centered, attachment-based, and existential. He believes that empowering a person towards a well-developed and healthy sense of self-identity, social interest, and transcendent purpose is crucial to growth towards self-actualization and the realization of their highest potential and sense of fulfillment in life. Aaron is a non-judgmental, culturally sensitive, and compassionate listener that values authenticity, collaboration, creativity, problem solving, and embracing strengths.

He is known for his down to earth and approachable style, sense of humor, Socratic approach, psychoeducation, use of metaphors, and ability to work with clients with spiritual needs, with a sensitivity to, and awareness of, various worldviews and perspectives.

His strengths include: a deep sense of empathy, compassion, and grace, a natural curiosity and love of learning, a commitment to resiliency and transformative growth, openness, creativity, and cultural and spiritual awareness and sensitivity.