- our mission
Our Mission Statement
The Clinebell Institute is a community counseling center and a training center for persons working toward mental health licenses.
The Institute is a gem, headquartered in Claremont, California, for 65 years and offering quality counseling/psychotherapy to hundreds of men and women each year at affordable rates. At The Clinebell Institute, we strive to attend to the whole person and to whole communities -- focusing on meaning-making, justice-seeking, relief of suffering, and living an abundant life.
History of The Clinebell Institute
In 1957, Howard Clinebell developed a pastoral counseling center at the First United Methodist Church in Pasadena, California. This center became a training base for the School of Theology at Claremont’s graduate program in pastoral counseling. In the ensuing years, the center was known as The Pomona Valley Pastoral Counseling Center, the Pomona Valley Pastoral Counseling & Growth Center, and by 1989 to The Clinebell Institute in honor of its founder, Howard Clinebell.
For over 30 years, Howard Clinebell taught pastoral psychology and counseling at the Claremont School of Theology where he was also the Co-Director of the Pastoral Counseling and Training Center, now known as The Clinebell Institute. Clinebell was an internationally renowned leader in pastoral counseling and contributed greatly through his teaching, speaking, practice, and publishing. Clinebell was a founding member and the first president of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors and the founder of the International Pastoral Care Network for Social Responsibility.
He co-authored or edited over 20 books on various pastoral counseling topics and traveled extensively throughout the United States and to more than 60 countries in the world where he spoke and taught. He was committed to justice, peace, and was an advocate for the environment. Clinebell will continue to have a profound effect on future generations of pastoral counselors through his writing and his former students and colleagues from all around the world.
The Institute is founded upon a 50-year tradition of viewing life holistically. This perspective uses both the religious and spiritual dimensions of life, the wisdom of the behavioral sciences and the awareness of the body. This tradition also embraces a multicultural sensitivity in training and providing clinical services. The staff works as a team consulting with interdisciplinary professionals to best respond to the whole person.
Dr. Bob Connolly
Meet Our Executive Director
CA LPSY# 23835
Dr. Bob has deep roots and connections to the city of Claremont. He grew up in the area and attended Webb, where both of his parents were teachers. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology at Pitzer College, his Masters in Religious Education from the Claremont School of Theology, and his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Alliant University in Los Angeles.
He worked as an administrator in psychiatric hospitals prior to starting his private practice in Claremont in 2010. His current mental health practice, Vecktr Group, has offices in Claremont and Phoenix, and focuses on providing psychological evaluations to people seeking answers, creating customized treatment plans that support individuals and their families, and supporting lawyers in the courtroom by testifying about his clinical findings. Dr. Bob brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to The Clinebell Institute and is looking forward to what the future could bring.
“Service has emerged into my life in a more profound way, one that has put me in touch with more joy and positivity than I thought I could experience. Being on the front lines of severe mental health and addiction recovery for over 20 years is not for the light hearted, but all that experience is the foundation I bring in reconnecting to Howard Clinebell’s work and having the opportunity to create something that connects to the past and is transformational for the future.”
Dr. Bob Connolly
Meet the Board
Donald Clinebell, JD, PBK
Chair of the Board of Directors
Donald is a former Deputy Attorney General for the State of California. He is also a renowned author, speaker, leadership coach, and Certified Lay Minister (UMC, Ret). Donald is a widely recognized thought leader in the field of servant leadership — and its impact on businesses, organizations and individuals. His highly acclaimed book, The Servant Driven Leader, is part of his “Service Driven Trilogy.” The trilogy also includes the ground-breaking (and Amazon best selling) Extraordinary Living, and his faith-based book, The Service Driven Life.
Donald is the Founder and President of The Service Driven Institute. He has a passion for helping people experience the extraordinary power of service — in every part of their lives. Donald is much in demand as a keynote and motivational speaker, and leadership coach — both in the non-profit and the private sectors. To book Donald, feel free to visit his website, or email the Service Driven Institute administrator at infoservicedriven@gmail.com
Donald is the son of Howard Clinebell, TCI’s Founder, he has served on TCI’s Board since 2017 and as TCI’s Chair of the Board since January 2023.
Jeanne Roy
Vice Chair
Jeanne M. Roy, M.A., M.F.T. is a retired Marriage & Family Therapist and current Secretary of the Board of Directors of The Clinebell Institute in Claremont, CA. Formerly, she served as the Executive Director of the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) in Pomona, CA & was the Program Coordinator for the development of the CAC, overseeing all aspects of the eventual opening of the CAC. Since 1992, she also ran a successful family psychotherapy practice in Claremont, CA.
Marian Brown. Ph.D.
Member
Marian Brown, now retired, managed the Measurement & Evaluation Section of Southern California Edison’s Energy Efficiency Programs Division. She is a member of the Board of Trustees at the Claremont School of Theology and a past lay leader of Claremont United Methodist Church, which hosts some of The Clinebell Institute’s clinical offices.
Tessa Clinebell Scheper
Member
Tessa left the news industry in 2020 to become a casting producer for several networks and streaming platforms such as Netflix, Hulu and E!. At the same time, Tessa created a passion project that has transformed into a full-time job, running an e-commerce website that sells handbag, shoe and travel accessories. You can check it out at positivelyluxe.com. Her most important job came in the fall of 2024 when Tessa and her husband, welcomed their first child, Fitzgerald. Tessa is the proud granddaughter of Howard Clinebell, TCI’s Founder. She is passionate about serving others and continuing her grandfather’s legacy.
Martha Morales
Member
Martha Morales is an ordained deacon, retired in the California-Pacific Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. She served 21 years at Claremont UMC and her work focused on education ministries, pastoral care and the promotion of social justice in the broader community. In retirement Martha is active in work on affordable housing. She serves on the board of Housing Claremont, in addition to The Clinebell Institute.
Wytske Visser
Member
Wytske Visser has 40+ years of experience in nonprofit work. Her non-profit career began at the local United Way in 1981 before becoming President/CEO of Inland Valley Hope Partners in 2005, where she retired in 2018. Currently she is a consultant for non- profit organizations, as well as the administrator of the Emergency Food and Shelter Program San Bernardino County Jurisdiction (since 1983). Wytske holds a BS in Business Management from Azusa Pacific University. She has been married to her husband Ted since 1977; they have a married son, and three granddaughters.
