A History of Hope and Healing
Rev. Neil Buono, D. Min.
Rev. Neil Buono, D. Min.
Rev. Neil Buono, D. Min.Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist and Pastoral Counselor
License: LCMFT 2010
Doctor of Ministry: Philips Theological Seminary
Rev. Dr. Neil Buono joined Heritage Mental Health Clinic in 2018. He brings with him another perspective on the treatment of mental illness through his practice of pastoral counseling. As a pastoral counselor he specializes in providing healing and hope to individuals, couples and families through the professional integration of psychotherapy and Christian spirituality. As a clinical marriage and family therapist he specializes in working with couples across a range of issues.
He served as the pastor at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Topeka, Kansas from June 1999 to June 2018. As part of his ministry, he maintained a pastoral counseling practice of 15 hours per week, providing intensive psychotherapy with individuals, couples and families.
Prior to entering the ministry, he served as an active duty US Army infantry officer in a variety of leadership, command and staff assignments, including service as an instructor at the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth and as a staff officer with the 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley.
EDUCATION
He holds his Bachelor of Arts degree from Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME (1975)
Master of Education in Counseling, with a specialization in marriage and family relations, from Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana (1985)
Master of Divinity from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri (1999)
Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Care and Counseling from Phillips Theological Seminary, Tulsa, Oklahoma (2008)
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS and AFFILIATIONS
Clinical fellow of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
Board Member and President of the Kansas Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (2013-2017)
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
In addition to his service at the church, Rev. Buono has been active in the community. He conducted a weekly ministry at the Shawnee County Correctional Facility for six years, working in the module with the mentally ill, the addicted, and the sex offender. He also served two years as a PRN chaplain on the staff at St Francis Health Center (SFHC) in Topeka, and on the Ethics Committee of SFHC. Rev. Buono was active in launching a city-wide, congregation-based justice ministry in Topeka, serving as one of the founding co-chairs. He currently serves as President of the Topeka affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
PRESENTATION
The Way Forward to Hope, Parents of Murdered Children Conference, Irvine, CA, August 2017.