HEAL. THRIVE. PHILOS!

John is the founder and Executive Director of PHILOS Support Services.  He currently serves as a military chaplain with the SC National Guard where he deployed to Iraq in 2011-2012.  Prior to joining the military, John worked in the corporate world as a sales manager and business development trainer.  

In his current role as a military chaplain, John has developed and implemented crisis, mass casualties, and disaster response training plans for the state. The focus of these plans are best practices to care for people during and after traumatic events like casualties, shootings, crashes, natural/man-made disasters and pandemics.  John has extensive experience in counseling, critical incident response, traumatic event management,  grief support and crisis intervention for individuals and groups.  He holds a Master's of Divinity, is a Board Certified Crisis Response Chaplain with multiple organizations, and is a certified instructor for Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) through ICISF, the world's foremost leader in critical event response.  John also is a former board member for the American Foundation for Sucide Prevention. 

John's ministry and calling is to help bring restoration to people during times of grief, crisis and trauma. In his off time,  he enjoys coaching lacrosse for a local high school.  

Ruth is a licensed Clinical Social Worker who, over her many years of counseling experience, has worked in a wide range of specialties ranging from addictions to sexual trauma.  She also works as a behavioral health specialist for the military.  Ruth is a wealth of knowledge and is passionate about assisting people in crisis. She is a certified instructor for Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM). Ruth also serves as the Clinical Director for the organization and has a network of resources and contacts should a person need extensive support beyond that which PHILOS Support Services can offer.

Dennis Gillan takes suicide prevention and intervention very personally.  He lost both of his brothers to suicide and as a result founded the "Half a Sorrow" Foundation where he goes around the country telling his story and advocating for mental health support. Dennis is a gifted speaker with a quirky sense of humor that brings levity and engagement  to a very serious topic.  He has done Ted Talks and spoken to colleges, universities, churches and organizations throughout the country. He has even published a children's book on the importance of positive encouragement.  His website is https://halfasorrow.org/.