Pike Creek Psychological Center (PCPC) was "born" on September 14th, 1992. Its conception was nearly three thousand miles away and many months earlier. J.D. Willetts had a private practice in Whittier, California, and his wife Judi had finished all of her work for her doctorate except her internship. The Willetts were contemplating moving to the East Coast to be closer to extended family. A church in New Castle County encouraged the Willetts to bring their psychological services to Delaware. So the Willetts flew east in search of an internship and possible new home. Judi accepted an internship in Maryland in February of 1992. They put a down payment on an abandoned townhouse at 8 Polly Drummond Hill Road in Newark in May of that year. In August, J.D.’s practice was closed, their house was sold, and the Willetts moved to Newark, Delaware.

Upon arrival they found that the build-out of the townhouse was not finished, and the paperwork for J.D.’s psychology license had been lost. Finally, on September 14 J.D. received his license and began to see clients in the new office building. Not only was the build-out not complete, but the office had no driveway or parking lot, so no mail could be delivered. To see clients, J.D. would go into an upstairs office that was the closest to completion. He would stuff a rag into the hole where a doorknob should go in order to get a modicum of privacy.

With long days and several speaking engagements, PCPC started to grow. Three people were added to the staff the first year, including Judi Willetts following completion of her Ph.D. After more than a year of work, the Willetts were paid their first paycheck for $1000 in December of 1993.

PCPC continued to grow, and in 1995 the adjoining townhouse was purchased for additional office space. In that same year, three of the current staff therapists joined the practice: Kim Champion, Mitch Ruoff and Vicki Tillman. The practice began to offer a free monthly lecture series, and in 1997 began to publish an in-house newsletter. The content of many of the practical newsletter articles is now in the "Resources" section of the web site. In addition to the on-site lectures, the therapists did many speaking engagements in the community for various organizations and churches. They also began to offer several types of group therapy, including groups for children, teens, women and personal growth.

PCPC continued to grow in many ways. From 2001 to 2005 at least one new therapist came to the practice each year. In addition, several students working on graduate degrees did internships under the supervision of the licensed doctoral staff. This provided a way for the practice to offer therapy based on a generous sliding scale. 

In the last several years PCPC has gone through many changes. At the end of 2006, Sue, our long-time office manager, left the practice. In June of 2007, J.D. left the practice to take the position of full-time teaching pastor at Christ Community Church. At that point Judi Willetts began the day-to-day management of the practice. J.D. continues in a consulting role.

Throughout the years and the changes, PCPC has endeavored to provide the highest quality psychological services. This has been accomplished by having great therapists who use their God-given gifts to help others.