Dale Berry, Phd

Dale Berry is a licensed psychologist and is the clinical director of Ebenezer Counseling Services. He and his family moved to Knoxville in 1996 and with the help of Pastor Jim Barnes established a counseling practice in West Knoxville. In 1998, the practice developed into a group named Ebenezer Counseling Services and has grown into a multi-service practice with the goal of serving the greater Knoxville community.

Dr. Berry earned his B.S. from the University of the South (Sewanee), his M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Reformed Theological Seminary, his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University, and completed his doctoral internship at Duke University's Student Health Center. He taught for five years at Reformed Theological Seminary before coming to Knoxville.

Dr. Berry works with both individuals and couples. His specialty is in helping couples who have lost hope and faith in their marriages. He believes that God works through circumstances, especially through marriage relationships, to help us to grow into greater maturity, grace, and wisdom. The problems of marriage serve to stretch and test us, and if dealt with well, can result in a deeper, more satisfying marriage and life.

Dr. Berry's Statement of Calling:
From my college days, my desire was to be in some helping role as I found nothing more meaningful than assisting others to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ. Over the years since, I have experienced deeply my own need of grace both from people and from God. I have always been impressed by Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6-9-15 how important it is that we be willing to forgive others (even those who are not asking for it). Jesus taught us to pray “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” I want to be a man who is “full of grace,” i.e., a forgiving person. I want also to help my clients become people of grace who forgive and ultimately find their joy in trusting God no matter what circumstances bring. This does not mean we do not have to work through hurt, anger, and loss. But to do so apart from becoming a person of grace is a dangerous thing leading to bitterness and a joyless life. As I get older and become more convicted of my own sins, I have become more humble and am quicker to drop the stone I was about to hurl (John 8:1-11). It is my desire to help my clients drop their stones, release their bitterness, and let God’s grace heal. This leads to true joy in Christ.

I have also learned that having a pure heart before God is the ultimate treasure. Unfortunately, we are born with impure hearts and experience a lifetime of heart transformation. If we believe our hearts are already fully pure, we are deluded. If we believe that there is no hope because of our dark hearts, then we will be depressed. If we believe that we can live with an impure heart without getting hurt or hurting others, we are fooling ourselves. The time comes when a person must deal with the impurity of one’s heart if one is to experience joy in life. I also want to cooperate with the Holy Spirit in helping my clients grow in purity of heart. This process involves facing the darkness, but also clinging to and trusting in God’s grace.