Lydia Brownback is the author of several books, including Sing a New Song, Finding God in My Loneliness, and the Flourish Bible Study series. She is also a speaker at Christian conferences and events. Lydia holds an M.A.R. in biblical studies from Westminster Theological Seminary (Philadelphia) and a BS in communications from Syracuse University. She is passionate about teaching God’s Word and encouraging women to know the fullness of life in Christ.

Jill Butler is the Director of Operations and a counselor at CCEF, where she has served since 2021. She is also an online instructor for the School of Biblical Counseling. She has an M.A. in counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary. Jill has counseled for over twelve years in the local church as well as over four years in a biblical counseling center. She enjoys being with friends, reading, cooking, and anywhere with a tide.

Robert Cheong holds an M.Div. and Ph.D. from the Southern Baptist Theology Seminary. Robert served as Pastor of Care at Sojourn Church Midtown for over 16 years, where he trained the church to care for one another. He founded and leads Gospel Care Ministries, equipping churches worldwide to know and experience how Jesus makes a difference in a broken world through abiding in his love. Robert is the author of Restoration Story: Why Jesus Matters in a Broken World, Restore: Changing How You Live + Love, and God Redeeming His Bride: A Handbook for Church Discipline. Robert has been married to Karen for over 40 years, and they have three grown children, two sons-in-law, and five precious grandchildren.

Marc Davis serves as an Associate Area Director for Renewal for Serge, a mission sending agency dedicated to the principle that personal renewal in the gospel of grace leads to mission—and that involvement in mission in turn spurs ongoing renewal. In that role, he serves missionaries, international partners, and the American church as a mentor, trainer, and teacher. Before joining Serge in 2019, Marc served on the pastoral staff of New Life Presbyterian Church, Glenside, for twelve years, focusing on pastoral care in the local church.  During that time he enjoyed mentoring a series of CCEF students and interns. Marc has been married to Susan since 1992; they have three grown kids, a granddog, and a grandcat.

Ellen Dykas received her M.A. in biblical studies from Covenant Theological Seminary and a certificate in biblical counseling from CCEF. She serves as the Director of Equipping for Ministry to Women for Harvest USA, a national ministry focused on gospel-centered discipleship and teaching regarding sexuality and gender. Ellen loves ministry to women and is most passionate about mentoring, teaching God’s Word, and spiritually nurturing others to walk deeply with Jesus.

Mike Emlet is a faculty member and counselor at CCEF, where he has served since 2001. He holds an M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.Div. from Westminster Theological Seminary. Prior to joining CCEF, Mike worked as a family physician for eleven years. He has particular interests in working with ministry leaders and with those who struggle with anxiety, depression, and OCD. He has published numerous books, including CrossTalk (New Growth Press, 2009), Descriptions and Prescriptions (New Growth Press, 2017), and Saints, Sufferers, and Sinners (New Growth Press, 2021).

Andy Engert is the Executive Director at CCEF New England. He received his M.A. in counseling from Asbury Theological Seminary and completed numerous CCEF School of Biblical Counseling certificate courses. Prior to joining CCEF New England, Andy worked in the professional counseling field, and he is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) in the state of Vermont. He has a passion for supporting the church in New England and for helping people find real help in the Lord as they face the significant challenges of life.  He also serves as an elder and part-time music director at his church. Andy and his wife, Christine, have three sons.

Michael Gembola is an ordained minister and a licensed professional counselor (LPC) and serves as Executive Director of Blue Ridge Christian Counseling in VA. He is also a visiting faculty member at CCEF and consulting editor for the Journal of Biblical Counseling. He holds an M.A. in biblical studies and in counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary and has done continuing education in trauma recovery. He teaches counseling courses at Westminster, the Blue Ridge Institute for Theological Education, and Santiago Seminary. He is the author of After an Affair: Pursuing Restoration and Anxious about Decisions: Finding Freedom in the Peace of God. He and his wife, Kelly, have three children and live in Roanoke, VA.

Alasdair Groves is the Executive Director of CCEF, as well as a faculty member and counselor. He has served at CCEF since 2009. He holds an M.Div. with an emphasis in counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary. Alasdair cofounded CCEF New England, where he served as director for ten years. He also served as the director of CCEF’s School of Biblical Counseling for three years. He is the host of CCEF’s podcast, Where Life & Scripture Meet, and is the coauthor of Untangling Emotions (Crossway, 2019).

Gunner Gundersen is the Dean of Faculty at CCEF, where he has served since 2024. He holds a PhD in biblical theology from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Th.M. and an M.Div. from the Master’s Seminary. Prior to joining CCEF, Gunner served as a lead pastor for seven years, after working for fifteen years in Christian higher education as a resident director, director of student life, associate dean of men, and biblical counseling professor. Gunner has a passion for helping believers live consciously in the story Scripture tells, equipping the local church for interpersonal ministry, strengthening pastors, and biblical preaching and teaching. He has published the Psalms notes for The Grace and Truth Study Bible (Zondervan, 2021), What If I Don’t Feel Like Going to Church? (Crossway, 2020), and numerous essays and articles on the Psalms and adoption.

Dave Harvey serves as the president of Great Commission Collective, a church planting ministry in the US, Canada, and abroad. Dave serves on the CCEF board, has pastored for over 30 years, founded AmICalled.com, and travels widely across networks and denominations as a conference speaker. He holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Westminster Theological Seminary and is the author of several books, including When Sinners Say “I Do,” I Still Do! Growing Closer and Stronger Through Life’s Defining Moments, and The Claypot Conspiracy: God’s Plan to Use Weakness in Leaders. Dave and his wife, Kimm, live in southwest Florida.

Vanessa Hawkins serves as Director of Community Life on the pastoral staff at Redeemer Lincoln Square in New York City. Holding an M.Div. and a D.Min. in cultural apologetics and communication from Covenant Theological Seminary, Vanessa is also a Bible teacher, regular conference speaker, frequent podcaster, and intercultural development consultant. She is honored to have recently been named Fellow in the inaugural class of the Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics. Vanessa sits on the board of Sage Christianity, a not-for-profit organization that brings the questions and doubts of life into hospitable conversation with the wisdom of Jesus, and she also serves on the Mission to North America’s permanent committee of the Presbyterian Church of America. She is married to her third grade friend and husband of 27 years, Marcus, and together they have three daughters.

Jonathan Holmes is the Executive Director of Fieldstone Counseling, a visiting faculty member at CCEF, and an instructor at Westminster Theological Seminary in the M.A. in Counseling program. Jonathan graduated from The Master’s University and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He is the author and contributor to a number of books. Jonathan serves on the Board of Trustees for CCEF, the Advisory Board for ABC (Association of Biblical Counselors), and the Council Board for the BCC (Biblical Counseling Coalition). He and his wife, Jennifer, have four daughters.

Kristin Silva Linder works as a biblical counselor in Portland, OR. She counsels full-time and leads a counseling internship for students completing their training in biblical counseling. In addition to counseling she is a speaker, teacher, and author, contributing to the Journal of Biblical Counseling as well as occasionally writing on her own blog. Kristin has a master's degree in theological studies from Westminster Seminary California and completed counseling training and an internship with CCEF. Kristin is married to her husband, Larry, and enjoys life with two stepchildren—one grown, and one in his senior year of high school—and a Corgi named Maggilou.

Esther Liu is a faculty member and counselor at CCEF. She has an M.A.R. with an emphasis in biblical studies from Westminster Theological Seminary, as well as an M.A. in counseling. Since joining CCEF in 2015, Esther has served various roles, including as a counseling intern, the executive and faculty assistant, and a content editor. Esther has a passion for bringing biblical reframing to a person’s struggles and also holds deep concern for the importance of attending to multicultural aspects of counseling. She is the author of Shame: Being Known & Loved (P&R Publishing, 2022).

Steve Midgley is the Executive Director of Biblical Counselling UK. For nearly twenty years he was the senior minister of Christ Church Cambridge, where he continues to serve on the staff part time. Steve is a board member for CCEF and on the board of directors of the Biblical Counselling Coalition. He came to Christ in his first year as a medical student and, after qualifying as a doctor, he worked and trained in psychiatry. Steve has coauthored The Heart of Anger and Mental Health & Your Church, and most recently he is the author of Understanding Trauma: A Biblical Introduction for Church Care. He is married to Beth and they have three adult children.

Paul Miller is Executive Director of seeJesus, a global discipleship mission which he founded in 1999 to help Christians and non-Christians alike “see Jesus.” Today, seeJesus is working in over 30 countries and has books and interactive Bible study materials translated into more than a dozen languages. Paul is also the bestselling author of A Praying Life, A Praying Church, and J-Curve, along with more than a dozen interactive Bible studies. Paul and his wife, Jill, live in the Philadelphia area and have six children and fifteen grandchildren. Listen to the Seeing Jesus with Paul Miller podcast or learn more at seeJesus.net.

Jeremy Pierre is Dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism, and Ministry at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he is also Professor of Biblical Counseling and Practical Theology. He is the author of several books, including The Dynamic Heart in Daily Life: Connecting Christ to Human Experience and When Home Hurts: A Guide to Helping Your Church Respond Wisely to Abuse. Pierre’s writing has been featured in Tabletalk Magazine, 9Marks Journal, Baptist Press, and The Gospel Coalition. He serves on the board of directors for the Biblical Counseling Coalition and is also an elder at Clifton Baptist Church, where he has served on staff in various roles. Jeremy and his wife raise their five children in Louisville, KY.

Deepak Reju is the senior pastor at Ogletown Baptist Church in Delaware and co-host of the Counseling Talk Podcast. He has a commitment to faithfully teaching God’s Word and loving God’s people. Deepak holds an M.Div. and a Ph.D., serves on the board at CCEF, and is the editor of the 31-Day Devotionals for Life series (P&R publishers). He is author of On Guard, She’s Got the Wrong Guy, Pornography, and Fatherhood, as well as co-author of Build on Jesus, Rescue Plan, and Rescue Skills. Deepak serves on the board of CCEF. He is husband to his best friend Sarah and father to five children.

Carly Robinson is a counselor at CCEF, where she has served since 2013. She holds an M.A. in counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary and has years of experience teaching, speaking, and counseling in the local church context. Carly served as CCEF’s Director of the School of Biblical Counseling for four years and has published her work in the Journal of Biblical Counseling. She is passionate about bringing the hope of Jesus to people in the midst of their suffering and enjoys the intersection of physiology and counseling, with particular interests in women’s health and developmental disabilities. Carly is married to Scott and has two children, Owen and Cy.

Aaron Sironi is a faculty member and counselor at CCEF, where he has served since 2008. He holds an M.S. in marital and family therapy from Fuller Theological Seminary and has earned counseling certificates from CCEF. Aaron is a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) and has counseled in community mental health, psychiatric hospital, and outpatient settings. He has a passion for building strong relationships with local churches and coming alongside pastoral ministers through consultation, training, and counseling services. In addition to his work at CCEF, Aaron serves on the board of CCEF Montana, an affiliate counseling office in Billings, MT.

Darby Strickland is a faculty member and counselor at CCEF, where she has served since 2003. She has an M.Div. with a counseling emphasis from Westminster Theological Seminary. Darby brings particular passion and expertise in helping the vulnerable and oppressed, especially women in abusive marriages. She has contributed to Church Cares and the PCA Domestic Abuse & Sex Assault church training materials. She has counseled in a missionary church setting and has also held leadership roles in women’s ministry. She is the author of Is it Abuse? (P&R, 2020), has written a handful of minibooks, and has contributed to several other books.

Todd Stryd is a faculty member and the counseling coordinator at CCEF, where he has served since 2005. He holds a doctor of psychology from Immaculata University and an M.Div. from Westminster Theological Seminary. He has experience as a hospital chaplain, crisis worker, and university counselor. He has written a minibook entitled Schizophrenia: A Compassionate Approach.

Ed Welch is a faculty member and counselor at CCEF, where he has served since 1981. He holds a doctor of philosophy in counseling (neuropsychology) from the University of Utah and an M.Div. from Biblical Theological Seminary. Ed is a licensed psychologist and has been active in local church ministry for decades. He has written numerous books, including When People Are Big and God Is Small (P&R Publishing, 1997), Shame Interrupted (New Growth Press, 2012), Side by Side (Crossway, 2015), and Created to Draw Near (Crossway, 2020).

Lauren Whitman is a faculty member and counselor at CCEF, where she has served since 2010. She is a licensed professional counselor and holds an M.A. in counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary and a certificate in advanced professional counseling from Missio Seminary. Lauren also serves as the developmental editor for the Journal of Biblical Counseling. Through her work with the Journal, she brings experience and skill for developing authors and their writing. Lauren has published multiple books, including A Painful Past devotional (P&R Publishing, 2020) and When Parents Feel Like Failures (New Growth Press, 2024). Lauren is married with two children. She enjoys exploring Pennsylvania’s creeks with her kids and exploring Philadelphia's restaurant scene with her husband.