Pastoral Counseling · San Francisco Bay Area
Renew your mind.
Bringing together the resources of scripture, prayer, and theology with proven, restorative approaches — for individuals, couples, and families.
Robert I. Burns, IBCC BCPC 0865 decades of experience
No commitment — just a friendly conversation.
Areas of Focus
The seasons we walk through together.
- Couples Counseling (Gottman method)
- Marriage Preparation
- Cultural Issues in Marriage
- Life Transitions
- Depression & Anxiety
- Grief & Loss
- Divorce Recovery
- Spiritual Direction & Growth
- Church Conflict Resolution
- Spiritual Abuse & Cult Recovery
Then shall your light break forth like the dawn
Isaiah 58 : 8
Approaches & Training
Evidence-Based couples therapy.
Professional pastoral counseling combines proven reparative strategies with spiritual insights. The emphasis is on discovering your strengths and empowering you to live your life as God intended.
- Gottman Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work Trained Educator
- Emotionally Focused Therapy (Susan Johnson) Trained
- Prepare-Enrich Certified Facilitator
- Pastoral counseling integrated with proven reparative strategies Pastoral Practice
About Bob
A sixth-generation San Franciscan.
- M.Div.
- Master of Divinity, Gateway Seminary (2011)
- B.A.
- History, with Anthropology minor — San Francisco State University
- BCPC #0865
- Board Certified Pastoral Counselor, International Board of Christian Care (2018)
- Affiliation
- Christian Counseling Centers, San Francisco
- Sessions
- By appointment, video
Pastor Robert Burns is a sixth-generation San Franciscan. While still in high school in 1972, Robert became a Christian during the Jesus Movement. He earned his B.A. from San Francisco State University (SFSU) and his Master of Divinity (MDiv) from Gateway Seminary.
In the late 1970s, Robert was a founding leader of a multicultural church in San Francisco. In the 1980s, he also founded Spanish and Filipino congregations. The Filipino church continues planting new churches to this day.
As a pastor, Robert has invested hundreds of hours in personal counseling as well as premarital and marital counseling for couples.
Robert is a Board Certified Pastoral Counselor through the International Board of Christian Care.
Robert and his wife, Peggy, have been happily married since 1999. They know both the joys and the struggles of building a strong marriage. Together, they serve on staff at Christian Counseling Centers in San Francisco. Robert is also a certified educator in the Gottman Institute’s Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work program.
Pastor Burns specializes in premarital and marital counseling, marriage enrichment, relationship counseling, divorce recovery, pornography addiction, and guidance through life’s phases and transitions. He also helps individuals navigate church conflict and recover from spiritual abuse.
Find Bob elsewhere
Helpful Resources
Helpful resources.
Begin Here
Begin with a conversation.
Send a brief note about what’s on your heart. Bob reads each message himself and will follow up to schedule a free 15-minute call — video, by appointment, no obligation.
Thank you.
Your note is on its way. Bob will be in touch shortly.
Counseling ~ Compassion ~ Care
Call me for a free 15-minute conversation,
to see if my services are a good fit for you.