Joe McGarry is a Hope and Healing Coach who also serves as a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and a chaplain for the Connecticut Department of Corrections. Through these roles, he blends compassion, spirituality, and practical wisdom to guide individuals facing some of life’s toughest challenges. Whether he’s preaching from the pulpit or offering one-on-one coaching, Joe believes that every person’s journey deserves genuine care and understanding.
Central to his approach is the SUMMIT Coaching Framework—a method he developed to help people walk through Support, Unravel, Meaning, Mindset, and Transformation. From church leadership to prison chaplaincy, Joe has seen firsthand how this structured, yet flexible framework empowers individuals to process deep-seated grief, break free from shame, and finally move forward with renewed vision. At summitcoaching.pro, he outlines the philosophy behind each step, showing how
introspection paired with mindful action can lead to lasting change.
Joe’s impact is especially evident in the prison system, where a group of incarcerated men uses the SUMMIT approach to reflect on pain and loss, some of them for the very first time in their lives. They’ve reported powerful breakthroughs—finding purpose, envisioning a life free from past mistakes, and feeling prepared to rejoin society with the conviction to stay out of prison for good.
At his coaching practice, Emmaus Collective (found at emmauscollective.com), Joe offers personalized sessions that tackle emotional and spiritual hurdles head-on. By combining his pastoral expertise with practical coaching strategies, he equips clients to heal from life’s setbacks and step into a future filled with hope, resilience, and a renewed sense of purpose.
Joe is an ICF Certified Coach, PCC Level; Certified Grief/ End-of-Life Coaching (ICF Credentialed), ELCA Segment 2 Coach for Mission Developers.
