Counselors
Aaron Sironi
Aaron has a master of science degree in marital and family therapy from Fuller Theological Seminary, and each level of certificate from CCEF. He is a licensed clinical professional counselor in Montana. Aaron has counseled while working with CCEF for over thirteen years and serves as the counseling training coordinator. Aaron has established and maintained a biblical counseling center and he works actively with local churches to support pastoral ministry. He has experience in community mental health, working in a psychiatric hospital, and in outpatient settings. Aaron is a faculty member at CCEF and has written numerous articles for the Journal of Biblical Counseling. He is married with five children.
Alasdair Groves
Alasdair has a master of divinity degree in counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary. He has been counseling at CCEF for over ten years. Alasdair is a faculty member and the executive director of CCEF. He has published a book and many articles, including writing for the Journal of Biblical Counseling. He is married with three children.
Cecelia Bernhardt
Cecelia holds a master of divinity degree from Westminster Theological Seminary, and each level of certificate from CCEF. Cecelia has been a counselor at CCEF for over sixteen years and serves as the director of counseling. She is a faculty member and has written for the Journal of Biblical Counseling. She has counseled in the local church context and held leadership roles in women’s and singles ministry. She is single.
Darby Strickland
Darby has a master of divinity degree in counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary. She has been counseling at CCEF for more than seventeen years. Darby has published and contributed to books and mini-books and written numerous articles, including for the Journal of Biblical Counseling. Darby counsels in a local church and has counseled in a missionary church setting. She has also held leadership roles in women’s ministry. Darby is married with three children.
Ed Welch
Ed has a doctor of philosophy degree in counseling (neuropsychology) from the University of Utah, and a master of divinity degree from Biblical Theological Seminary. He is a licensed psychologist and has counseled at CCEF for over thirty-nine years. Ed is a faculty member and has published numerous books, mini-books, and articles, including writing for the Journal of Biblical Counseling. He has been active in local church ministry for decades. Ed is married with two adult daughters and eight grandchildren.
Esther Liu
Esther has a master of arts degree in religion and a master of arts degree in counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary. Esther has been a counselor at CCEF for over three years, with additional experience counseling with the Philadelphia Renewal Network. She has been involved with campus and youth ministry. She is single.
Gregory Lowe
Greg has a master of divinity degree with an emphasis in counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary, and a master of social work degree from the University of South Florida. Greg has counseled at CCEF for over nineteen years. He currently works as a hospice social worker and has additional experience working with youth in alternative school settings and with the severely mentally ill. Greg and his wife have five children and serve as foster and adoptive parents.
Jamie Yoo
Jamie has a master of divinity degree in counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary. She has counseled at CCEF for over two years and teaches as a recitation instructor in our online program. Jamie has worked in pastoral leadership and counseling, with children and families as well as in corporate settings. She currently has a private counseling practice in New York City. She is married.
Janet Nygren
Janet has a master of arts degree in counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary. She has counseled at CCEF for over four years and she teaches as an online recitation instructor. Janet has published a number of Bible study guides. She has counseled at a crisis pregnancy center and has cross-cultural counseling experience both in the U.S. and in Malaysia. She has many years of experience in ministry, including working with women and small groups. Janet is married with two adult children and two grandchildren.
Jimmy Adkins
Jimmy has a master of arts degree in counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary. Jimmy has worked as a counselor at CCEF for over four years. He is married and has three children.
Joel Bassett
Joel has a master of divinity degree in counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary. Joel has worked as a counselor at CCEF for over six years. He serves in his local church as a community group leader and has done college ministry. He is single.
Julie Smith Lowe
Julie holds a master of arts degree in Counseling from Biblical Theological Seminary. She is a licensed professional counselor and a registered play therapist, and has trained and works with therapy dogs. Julie has counseled at CCEF for over twenty-two years and has extensive training and experience working with children, families, women, and abuse in the church. She is a faculty member at CCEF and has published books, articles, and has written for the Journal of Biblical Counseling. Julie and her husband have five children and serve as foster and adoptive parents.
Katie Leander
Katie has a master of arts degree in counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary. She has counseled at CCEF for over seven years. Katie has counseled in her local church and worked with children and youth, and cross-cultural ministries. She is married with three children.
Laura Andrews
Laura has a master of divinity degree in counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary. Laura has worked as a counselor at CCEF for over eleven years and has been active in local church ministry. She has written for the Journal of Biblical Counseling. Laura is married with two children.
Lauren Whitman
Lauren holds a master of arts degree in counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary. She has counseled at CCEF for nearly ten years and edits the Journal of Biblical Counseling. Lauren has published a devotional book and written numerous articles for the Journal of Biblical Counseling. She is married with two children.
Matt Marshall
Matt has a master of arts degree in counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary. He has been a counselor at CCEF for over three years. He has experience working with people with physical and mental disabilities, and has also served as a youth minister. Matt is married with two children.
Mike Emlet
Mike holds a doctor of medicine degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a master of divinity degree from Westminster Theological Seminary. He worked as a family physician for twelve years before joining CCEF, where he has counseled for over nineteen years. Mike is a faculty member and has published numerous books, and has written extensively for the Journal of Biblical Counseling. Mike is married with two children.
Monica Kim
Monica is a PhD Candidate at Lehigh University and has a master of arts degree in counseling from Lehigh, and a master of arts degree in religion from Westminster Theological Seminary. She has counseled at CCEF for over fifteen years. Monica has worked in church ministry for many years and is currently a part of the pastoral staff at her local church. Monica has published numerous studies and articles as well as written for the Journal of Biblical Counseling. She is married with three adult children.
Paige Poole
Paige has a master of arts degree in counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary. She has counseled at CCEF for over two years. Paige has taught counseling and led group counseling and discipleship in the local church context. She plays a mentoring role with young people both in counseling and ministry contexts. Paige is single.
Todd Stryd
Todd holds a doctor of psychology degree from Immaculata University and a master of divinity degree from Westminster Theological Seminary. He has counseled at CCEF for over fifteen years and serves as the counseling coordinator and a faculty member. He has published a mini-book and has written for the Journal of Biblical Counseling. He has experience as a hospital chaplain, crisis worker, and university counselor. Todd is married with three children.
Counselors In Training
Counselors-in-training are counselors at CCEF who have graduated from our intern program and are now operating in the capacity of first year counselor.
Jacqueline Mize
Jacqueline has a master of arts degree in counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary. She is a counselor-in-training at CCEF and also has her own counseling practice in a local church. Jacqueline has counseled in a church context in various capacities for over fifteen years. She is also a recitation instructor for our online program. Jacqueline is married with four children.
Samuel Alex
Sam is currently pursuing a doctor of psychology degree in clinical psychology at Immaculata University. He has a master of arts degree in counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary. Sam is a counselor-in-training at CCEF. Through his PsyD program, Sam has worked with children, families, and groups on trauma and other issues, with social services, and with sexual offenders. He has also ministered to children and youth, the homeless, and through missions in the local church context. Sam is married.