Who We Are

At Pella Counseling, we seek to provide professional counseling services characterized by therapeutic excellence and Christian compassion.  We chose the olive branch as our logo because the olive branch has long been a symbol of peace, renewal, and reconciliation in the Christian tradition harkening back to Noah and the flood account in Genesis 8.  These are important themes in counseling as well.  Often, we find ourselves pursuing counseling in response to past or present unwanted circumstances, symptoms, or internal experiences such as thoughts, feelings, urges, or physical sensations.  But underneath these prompting events is a deep longing for renewal in our relationship with ourselves, others, or God.  A pursuit of renewal and growth certainly does not happen exclusively in the context of counseling.  Many other resources in our lives offer vital contributions.  Counseling can nonetheless provide a unique opportunity for such a pursuit, and it is a path we are privileged to accompany you on.  It is a journey aided by specific tools but facilitated by the unique nature of the counseling setting and therapeutic relationship.  

Interestingly, olive trees have some of the longest lifespans of any tree in nature, and this is attributed to the fact that their growth is slow and steady.  Similarly, in our own lives, lasting change and growth does not happen immediately.  It is a process.  It takes technique, practice, and time to relate differently in relationships and to our own thoughts, feelings, urges, and sensations.  We find that counseling offers many the opportunity to begin that process.  It is our goal to help you take the counseling experience and its tools and make use of them outside of and beyond the counseling process.

The Psychologists

Lindsay Fikkert, PsyD

Dr. Fikkert is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who has been working in Pella since 2015.   She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Virginia and earned a Master of Marriage and Family Therapy and a Master of Biblical Studies from Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, MS. She also obtained Master and Doctorate degrees in Clinical Psychology from Wheaton College. Dr. Fikkert completed an American Psychological Association-accredited pre-doctoral internship at Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital in Hoffman Estates, IL where she finished one rotation in the Adult Mental Health partial hospitalization program and another in the Center for Addiction Medicine.  Prior to starting Pella Counseling, she provided psychotherapy and psychological testing at Pine Rest.

Dr. Fikkert works with clients to bring about change and growth, build emotional management skills, improve relationship effectiveness, pursue acceptance, and journey through times of crisis and transition.  She individualizes treatment according to the needs of the client but typically draws from the theories and techniques of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Emotion Focused Therapy for Couples (EFT).  She provides individual, marital, and family therapy and has specialized training in marital and family therapy. Dr. Fikkert also works with people who want to address faith as it relates to their mental health, and her own Christian faith forms the backdrop for the manner in which she relates to and serves her clients .  She has experience collaborating with clients to address a variety of presenting concerns including depression, anxiety, grief, parenting, panic, OCD, ADHD, and relationship needs. Dr. Fikkert enjoys facilitating group therapy and has experience providing trainings for churches and schools. She has also served as an adjunct professor at Reformed Theological Seminary.

In her free time, Dr. Fikkert enjoys cooking with her husband, watching Virginia basketball games, playing strategy games with her husband and kids, traveling (especially back to the mountains and beaches of Virginia and the Carolinas), visiting family, and reading.  

Steve Runner, PsyD

Dr. Runner has worked in the Pella area since 2008 counseling children, adolescents and adults.   Dr. Runner completed his undergraduate degree at Dordt College and went on to obtain his Master's and Doctorate degrees in Clinical Psychology from Wheaton College. He also obtained a Master's degree in Theological Studies while at Wheaton College. Dr. Runner completed his American Psychological Association-accredited pre-doctoral internship at Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services in Grand Rapids, MI, where he did a neuropsychological assessment rotation, inpatient psychological assessment  and outpatient psychotherapy.  Dr. Runner has worked as a licensed clinical psychologist for Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services in Pella, IA from 2008 to 2021 before starting Pella Counseling.

Dr. Runner has a passion for working with adolescents and adults.  He seeks to integrate his Christian faith and worldview with the best of psychological science to provide hope and help to those who are struggling emotionally and relationally.  He has experience as a generalist working with many emotional challenges including depression, anxiety, panic, stress management, grief, OCD, ADHD, men's issues, dependency, and relational difficulties. 

​Dr. Runner draws from a variety of therapeutic approaches including Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy and his approach is informed by Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.  

Dr. Runner enjoys spending time with his wife, four kids, and close friends.  His interests include attending sporting events ranging from football to basketball, baseball, and softball.  His reading interests range from reading theological material to relaxing while reading a good novel.

Mental Health Counselor

John Fikkert, LMHC​

I have witnessed in my own life and in the lives of others the power of healing relationships.  In fact, I believe that relationships characterized by validation, kindness, and humor are vital for living a fulfilled and meaningful life.  Therapy is a place where that kind of human connection meets therapeutic skill.  I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. In addition to my work in counseling, I have served in church ministry for over ten years and am an ordained minister. I received a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy and a Master of Divinity from Reformed Theological Seminary. I provide individual, couples, and family therapy; and I enjoy partnering with clients to address concerns related to communication and conflict, parenting, grief and loss, life transition, crisis and stress, depression, and anxiety. I have specialized training in marital and family therapy. From my experience in church ministry, I am also skilled in working with individuals desiring to integrate faith into their treatment. While my approach in counseling usually involves specific schools of therapy such as Mindfulness-Based Therapies, Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), I tailor
my approach to meet your specific and unique needs. In my personal life, I enjoy spending time with my wife and two children.  We love going to the beach, playing strategy board games, cooking, and eating good food together.  When I spend time alone, I enjoy reading a good novel, taking a long walk, following my favorite sports teams, and spending time with friends.

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Copyright 2021