Mike Phillips

As the founder of First Step Counseling, Mike has a passion to see individuals and families navigate the challenges of life. It is this passion that has fueled his desire to see a Christ-centered, biblically based and clinically  informed counseling center at First Presbyterian Church and the CSRA community.

Mike has served in various pastoral roles for over 30 years and spent the last ten years as the Pastor of Discipleship and Shepherding at FPC Augusta and in January 2025 will transition to the role of Pastor of Counseling and directing the launch of the First Step Counseling. Mike’s spiritual and life journey have taken him through the rigors of corporate life with Coca-Cola, priesthood in the Anglican Church and for the last twenty-four years, an ordained pastor in the Presbyterian Church in America.

Mike attended and received his Master of Divinity from Trinity Anglican Seminary in Pittsburgh and received his Doctor of Ministry in Leadership from Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis. His doctoral dissertation focused on Emotional Intelligence in pastoral ministry entitled How Pastors Learn Emotional Intelligence in the Context of Ministry Challenges.

Mike and his wife Julie (a recently retired counselor) live in Augusta with their five-year old West Highland Terrier Maggie. They have three grown and productive children in Greenville, Charleston, SC and currently two grandchildren. Mike enjoys traveling with Julie, hanging out with men, mountain biking and North Carolina basketball, mostly in that order.