Counselor Spotlight: Nathan
Nathan Callahan, LPC shares his counseling journey.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I was born on the mission field in the Philippines to missionary parents. I grew up in a Christian home and each of my siblings serves in various ministries in their churches or at Christian camps. I am very happily married to my beautiful and loving wife, Katie. Together we have 3 young boys: a brave 9 year old, a generous 6 year old, and a snuggly and destructive 3 year old. Between private school, homeschool, a medical kid, ministries, and just regular life stuff, we have a crazy busy household. In the midst of that chaos, we always make time to pray, read, eat, and play together. There is nothing that brings me greater joy outside my faith than the family God blessed me with!
What do you do for fun?
Teach my boys about God’s awesome Word, spend time with my wife, study apologetics, talk theology, read lore and mythology, go on adventures with my family, and occasional thrill-seeking.
Favorite book, movie, or artist?
Non-fiction book: Mere Christianity. I feel like no matter how many times I go back into that one I discover new gems to apply to my life. One of my favorite quotes: “If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.”
Fiction: anything by Tolkien.
Podcast: Haunted Cosmos
Movie: Man on Fire. Favorite quote: “Forgiveness is between them and God. It's my job to arrange the meeting.”
Song: While I Wait by Lincoln Brewster. That one spoke to me more than any other song did during a time of great struggle in the fear of losing my son.
What does your ideal day look like?
Wake up to a dogpile of kiddos on the bed, make waffles and ice cream with the “help” of the boys, outdoor adventures with the family (beach, hikes, bikes, swimming), grilled meat for dinner, family sleepover on the couch watching late night movies.
Do you have any pets?
I’ve always had a dog in the home and loved the companionship and challenge of training. We have gone a year without after losing our last pup, but looking to change that soon!
Cake or pie?
Neither. Ice cream all the way. Cake and pie are just excuses to have ice cream as a topping.
What was your journey to becoming a counselor?
I always felt a call to ministry, I just didn’t quite know where I was supposed to take that. I pursued a degree in Biblical Studies for my undergrad and then became a youth pastor at my church. During that time, I felt the call to pursue a masters in counseling. This came out of my struggles for over a decade with anxiety, depression, shame, and the constant wrestling with my faith. God used these things to produce in me a heart for those who are suffering and need the hope and healing found in Christ.
Describe your approach to counseling.
It is a profound honor to sit with my counselees and listen as they share their pains, struggles, doubts, and fears. My goal is for each person to experience the gracious love of Christ as they openly bring their fears, sins, shames, regrets, and doubts into the light. Together, we explore what it looks like to trust God, walk faithfully with Him, find hope in the Gospel, and receive comfort from the Great Comforter in the midst of their trials.
It is a great privilege to participate in God’s work of healing the brokenhearted and binding up their wounds.
What areas of counseling are you most passionate about?
I love to see Jesus bring hope to the hopeless, peace to the anxious, relationships to the lonely, freedom to the shamed, faithfulness to the doubting, and light in the darkness.
Any advice for someone considering becoming a counselor?
Every day, in humility, seek the Counselor, immerse yourself in His Word, worship the Creator, and allow the Gospel to transform your heart first—then lead others into those same pursuits.