Counselors & Staff

Aaron Fears

Counseling Resident
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Allison Smith

Counselor
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Anne Fletcher

Senior Counselor
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Brian Hogan

Counselor
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Bryan Launer

Executive Director
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Charissa Stevens

Counselor
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Cory Lisk

Counselor
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Crystal West

Counselor
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Elizabeth Kinlaw

Counselor
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Evan Marbury

Counselor
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Jacklyn Tubel

Senior Counselor
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Jenna Jobe

Counseling Resident
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Jennifer Mallard

Counselor
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John Sherwood

Counselor
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Julie Ross

Counseling Resident
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Kevin Sine

Counseling Resident
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Kim Handley

Counselor
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Kristen Bons

Counseling Resident
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Lauren Turner

Counselor
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Lily Martin

Counseling Resident
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Mark Miller

Counselor
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Marla Decubellis

Counselor
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Miriam Garner

Counselor
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Rachel Evans

Counselor
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Rebekah Sullivan

Office Administrator
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TiLissa Jones

Counselor
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Tim Roden

Counseling Resident
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Sarah Howard

Counseler
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Susan Bradford

Counselor
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Aaron Fears

Counseling Resident

I am 35 years old, originally from Massachusetts, and moved to Raleigh in 2014. I have served with a para-church organization called Athletes In Action since 2011. I am in process of completing my Masters degree in Pastoral Counseling through Liberty University. I have always had a coaching/teaching gift and that has been most employed in my ministry career. I enjoy being able to connect God's word to the relevant experiences of my life and the lives of others. I enjoy helping people see that God's word is the surest foundation that they can stand on.

Allison Smith

Counselor

Allison grew up in rural Wisconsin. She and her husband have been married for over twenty years and are blessed with four sons. For twenty years, she and her family have lived in East Asia. She has been active in mentoring and counseling women, as well as helping other expats adjust to life overseas. Allison earned a Master of Arts in Counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary. She holds a Certificate in Global Trauma Recovery from Missio Seminary as well as a Certificate in Addictions Counseling from Waynesburg University. She enjoys learning about other cultures, reading biographies, running, and hiking in nature.

Anne Fletcher

Senior Counselor

Anne grew up in Atlanta, GA and quickly found North Carolina to be home while at UNC-Chapel Hill where she completed a B.A. in Psychology. After a year of missionary work in East Asia, Anne married Van and taught Pre-Kindergarten in Raleigh before moving to Philadelphia where she received a Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary. Upon completing a counseling internship at Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation, she returned to Raleigh in 2006. Anne has counseled in private practice ministry for 17 years. She enjoys leading women’s ministry, teaching the Bible, equipping others in ministry, speaking at retreats and conferences, and serving in a commissioned role to come alongside the elders of her church in shepherding care cases. Anne has three teenaged children, and in her free time, she loves to play the piano, read, write, and sip coffee with friends.

Brian Hogan

Counselor

Brian Hogan is a 2014 graduate of Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. He earned a Master's of Divinity concentrated in biblical counseling. Since graduating seminary, Brian has served on staff at a church, walked alongside refugees teaching ESL, conducting case work, and facilitating trauma healing groups. He has been certified as Master Facilitator-in-Training through the Trauma Healing Institute. Brian currently works at World Relief Texas as a Post-Arrival Resettlement Manager. Biblical counseling, however, remains his first love as it pushes us to understand our world and our circumstances through a biblical lens. Outside of the counseling room, Brian enjoys spending time with his wife and three children.

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Bryan Launer

Executive Director

Bryan earned his Master of Arts in Counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary as well as a Master of Theology from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Bryan married his high school sweetheart, Emily, in 2010. Bryan has been working at Hope since 2019. Additionally, he has seven years of pastoral experience where he counseled and equipped others to care for one another. In his free time, you’ll find him cycling and exploring new restaurants with his wife.

Charissa Stevens

Counselor

Charissa grew up as a third culture kid in the Philippines until age 11, when her family moved to Philadelphia. After completing a BA and MA in English Literature, she gradually became interested in serving others through Biblical counseling and began taking CCEF courses. This eventually led to her completing her MA in Counseling from Westminster Seminary. She married her husband after college and, after spending 7 years in California, they moved to East Asia in 2013, where they continue to live and raise their three kids. While her husband works as a research professor, their family has had many opportunities to invest in local friends and other expats. In addition to counseling, Charissa also serves on a regional leadership team of an organization of cross-cultural workers. She loves reading and discussing good books, exploring her city, traveling with her family, trying new foods, and spending time with people of all cultures.

Cory Lisk

Counselor

Cory calls West Virginia home with her husband, Roger. Together they have eight children and eight grandchildren. Cory has lived in many different locations first as a military dependent, then as a military wife. Besides raising a family, Cory serves in her local church teaching and discipling women, as well as nursery ministry. She earned her Master of Arts in Counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary. It is her passion to walk alongside women and share how Jesus meets us in tangible ways in our seasons of difficulty and struggle. In her spare time, she loves spending time with family, grandkids, and friends, reading, and growing many beautiful flowers.

Crystal West

Counselor

Crystal earned her Master of Arts in Counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary and has been working at Hope since 2019. She is a Raleigh native and graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill. Crystal is also a dance educator, a Nationally Certified Pilates Instructor (NCPT), and a former software engineer. She has been married since 2003 and is grateful to parent two amazing children with her husband in Chapel Hill. She loves traveling, hiking, reading, and of course, dancing.

Elizabeth Kinlaw

Counselor

Elizabeth grew up in Raleigh, NC (Go Pack!) and earned a BA in Education from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Teaching elementary school for the Wake County Public School System for many years, Elizabeth encountered many broken families with little hope. This led Elizabeth to pursue training and certification through the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC) as a Biblical Counselor. Elizabeth received her certification in 2017, and has spent the last six years serving as an on-staff counselor for Vision of Hope Residential Treatment Center in Lafayette, IN. She is also currently pursuing her MSW online from Indiana University. In her spare time, she likes to serve at church, travel, hike, watch sports (especially college basketball), and spend time with her family and friends. Elizabeth has a passion for helping hurting people, especially women, and looks forward to being part of the Hope team.

Evan Marbury

Counselor

Evan grew up outside of St. Louis, Missouri. After graduating from University of Missouri-Columbia (Mizzou) with a degree in Psychology, he earned a Master of Divinity and a Master of Arts in Counseling from Covenant Theological Seminary. He also earned a Doctor of Ministry in Counseling from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Evan’s passion for counseling grew when he joined the Army Reserve as a Chaplain for over four years and continued as he served for two years as the Executive Director of a pregnancy center in Chapel Hill. Aside from his work at Hope, Evan serves as a pastor in Durham, and he also serves as an online adjunct professor of Psychology and Biblical Studies at Belhaven University. Evan has been married to his wife Katrina since 2013, and they have two children.

Jacklyn Tubel

Senior Counselor

Jacklyn holds a Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary and an Advanced Certificate in Professional Counseling from Biblical Theological Seminary. She served as a counselor at the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation from 2011-2016. Prior to her work at CCEF, she spent seven years as a missionary in South Africa, working with university students. She has also served in her local church over the years through children’s ministry, women’s ministry, counseling, and equipping others for ministry. In addition to her work at Hope, Jacklyn is an Online Adjunct Faculty at Westminster Theological Seminary for the Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling program. Jacklyn is married to Wes, has three children and enjoys movies, reading, nature, and having fun with friends.

Jenna Jobe

Counseling Resident

Jenna grew up in Reidsville, NC. She attended UNC-Wilmington to obtain her Bachelor's Degree in Therapeutic Recreation, while also minoring in Psychology. After finishing her undergraduate degree, she began working in a Residential Facility for Adults with Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities in Danville, Virginia. She recognized her love and desire to work with Adults with I/DD. The Lord then opened the door for her to become the Mount Jubilee Ministries Program Director. MJM is a Christ-centered non-profit partnering with Adults with I/DD. During her journey as Program Director, she completed her Master's of Biblical Counseling at Westminster Theological Seminary. She is excited & expectant about what the Lord is doing at Hope & being able to be apart of it all! Jenna loves reading, beating her family and friends in Spades/Rook and the 2005 movie adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.

Jennifer Mallard

Counselor

Jennifer is a NC native with a BA in Spanish from UNC-Chapel Hill and a Masters in Counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary, and has served also in Bible study and church women’s ministry leadership. She loves seeing how God’s Word “comes alive” in the intensely personal details of our lives. She and her husband Ken adopted two wonderful sons from Guatemala. Jennifer enjoys walking with friends, cycling, knitting, and music.

John Sherwood

Counselor

John grew up in Atlanta, GA. After finishing a ThM in OT, he moved in 1985 with his wife, Rachael, and young daughter to the Philippines for ten years of outreach work. While still there, he started a DMin with CCEF near Philadelphia in counseling. In 1995, John was invited to join the leadership staff of an international Christian org with which they served in the Philippines, also located at the time near Philadelphia. Soon after, he completed his DMin, focusing his dissertation on counseling and ministering in communal cultures. John and Rachael, with their 2 kids, served in that capacity for 14 years, opening up new ministry areas, traveling much to provide care to overseas members, and establishing a member care focus for their org.

At the end of that time, as empty nesters, John and Rachael moved in 2009 to N. Africa to establish a new team. After a short stint there, they have served for 11 years in Atlanta, GA, working with the same org to serve international students in local universities and involved in ministry in an underserved neighborhood in inner-city Atlanta. Throughout all those years, John – often with Rachael – has continued counseling in the local church and with overseas workers. Interests include hiking, biking, running with Molly, their dog, reading, and trying new restaurants with international friends. John is an elder in Refuge Church, Atlanta.

Julie Ross

Counseling Resident

Julie grew up in Western NY and calls Durham her home. She has been married for over thirty years and has two grown children, both adopted and homeschooled. She has a B.S. in Occupational Therapy and a broad and diverse career in many healthcare settings. Julie is pursuing a Master of Arts in Counseling at Westminster Theological Seminary. Her calling to counseling began while leading a young adult group and engaging in pre-marital counseling with her husband at their church. Julie is known for being an encourager and living authentically; her faith has been forged through deep questions and enduring trials. Away from her studies, she can be found walking with her husband and beloved dog.

Kevin Sine

Counselor

Kevin grew up in eastern Pennsylvania and resides in the small town of Easton with his wife and 2 adult children. Kevin has always been drawn to encouraging, supporting and helping people for as long as he can remember. Although Kevin’s primary career has been spent treating cancer patients he has felt the Lord calling him to counsel formerly. He recently earned his BS in Biblical studies at Moody Bible College and is now wrapping up his Masters in Counseling at Westminster Theological Seminary. Kevin enjoys running with his wife, mountain biking and playing his guitar in the church’s praise team. He also fills the role of an elder, and is involved in various ministries in his local church.

Kim Handley

Counselor

Kim resides in eastern North Carolina. She is married to Danny, who is an elder at Wilson Presbyterian Church. As an elder’s wife, Kim enjoys leading women’s Bible studies and mentoring/counseling women, while enjoying a cup of coffee or tea. She has earned three certificates through CCEF: Foundation of Biblical Counseling, Topics in Biblical Counseling and Counseling Skills and Practice. Biblical counseling has been life changing for her and her family. Kim enjoys teaching piano. She loves hanging out with her husband and four grown children and spending time with her grandchildren. Kim enjoys swimming, kayaking, taking walks at the lake, reading in her hammock and knitting.

Kristen Bons

Counseling Resident

Kristen, a Southern California native, currently resides in San Diego County with her husband, Ruben. They have three grown children—one married and the other two in college out of state. With a psychology degree earned in 1995, Kristen spent almost 30 years raising her family while nurturing a passion for counseling. Having personally experienced the transformative impact of biblical counseling, Kristen was led to pursue a masters in counseling at Westminster Seminary. Her enthusiasm lies in imparting God's redemptive love to others. She participates in the counseling and women's ministry at her local church. Kristen finds solace and joy in the great outdoors. Hiking and backpacking are favorite pastimes, with the Grand Canyon and Eastern Sierras holding a special place in her heart. In addition, she loves entertaining and spending quality time with friends and family.

Lauren Turner

Counselor

Lauren grew up on the west coast and attended Biola University in California. Through work in the residence life program as an undergrad it became clear that Biblical Counseling was a growing passion and she began to pursue an MA Biblical Counseling at Talbot Seminary. She and her husband moved to Raleigh in 2011 where Lauren finished her degree at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2015. Upon completing a counseling internship through the Summit Church, Lauren became a staff counselor at Bridgehaven Counseling Associates in 2016. Lauren has continued counseling in private practice ministry and also enjoys teaching on leadership development topics, spiritual formation as well as serving alongside her husband in college and small group ministries. She is the mother of 4 kids and in her spare time enjoys good coffee, good books and good conversation as well as the outdoors and overseas travel.

Lily Martin

Counseling Resident

My name is Lily, and I served as a lay counselor and in volunteer congregational care roles since 2019 before beginning my M.A. in Counseling in 2022 at Westminster Theological Seminary. I started as a biblical counseling intern at a clinical Christian counseling center in March 2023 and will graduate from Westminster in May 2024. My heart is for the local church and I have worked with those who are or have experienced identity issues, doubt, abuse, and anxiety/depression. I am jealous for individuals to see how the person and work of Christ has direct impact on how their unique sufferings, and it brings me immense hope and joy to see counselees' lives and stories changed by the Gospel.

Mark Miller

Counselor

Mark grew up on the mission field in Mexico where his parents were full time missionaries. As an adult, from 1996- 2010, he served as a church planter in Spain and Europe. He earned a Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling at Trinity Seminary and Bible College in 2004. When He moved back to the U.S., he started a biblical counseling ministry at Terrace Lake Church (TLC) in Columbus Indiana. There he served as the Senior Counselor and Director of Biblical Counseling, providing training and oversight to the 10 counselors at TLC from 2012-2022. He also trained church leaders in counseling as well as trained and mentored people in biblical counseling from other churches. Mark and his wife Rhonda served together as a part of a member care team for a mission agency, providing training, counseling, debriefing & care for missionaries from 2018-2022. Mark also taught Art History, Drawing and Painting at Purdue and Indiana University in Columbus, IN. Mark loves riding bikes with Rhonda and landscape painting. He is currently working on a second Masters of Arts in Counseling from Westminster Seminary.

Marla Decubellis

Counselor

Marla grew up in North Carolina and after college and working on staff at her home church as a Children's Director for 4 years, she served for 3 years in Guatemala with the International Mission Board of the SBC. She came home intending to go to seminary to study missions, but after an Intro to Biblical Counseling class she realized her heart was discipleship in the form of walking with those who are hurting and struggling. She graduated with a Masters in Biblical Counseling from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC and then worked as a staff counselor for The House of Hope in Clayton, NC for several years. She then met and married her husband (a widower with three young girls) and moved to Wilmington, NC. There she worked on staff at Port City Community Church as a Biblical Counselor and Coordinator of a biblical counseling lay ministry for 11 years where she developed and taught counseling classes and mentored those in the church wanting to walk with hurting people. In her free time, Marla loves spending time with her family and friends, reading, hiking, traveling, photography, eating good food, watching football and basketball and being creative!

Miriam Garner

Counselor

Miriam grew up in Wake Forest, NC and now lives in Youngsville, NC. She is an artist who enjoys working with different mediums and found materials to make art as a response to the beauty she sees in the world around her. She is the second to youngest in her large family and is grateful for the ways these relationships have shaped her. Miriam was introduced to Biblical Counseling in 2017 through a class lecture offered by the Christian Counseling & Education Foundation. She has since been delighted and grateful to complete the courses required to receive three certificates from CCEF (Foundations of Biblical Counseling, Topics in Biblical Counseling, and Counseling Skills and Practice). Miriam has been changed by encountering the love of God for her personally and desires to help others experience His redemptive love in their own lives.

Rachel Evans

Counseler

Rachel Evans has a M.A. in Biblical Counseling from Southeastern Seminary (2014). One year after graduation, she moved to South Asia where she was able to apply her degree in various ways. While in South Asia, she was trained in Healing Wounds of Trauma. She joined the Global Trauma Recovery Institute Cohort from 2020-2021 with Missio-Seminary. She has a passion to see people heal and walk in the fullness of who they are created to be. Rachel enjoys coffee, the outdoors, a good book and time with her husband and son.

Rebekah Sullivan

Office Administrator

TiLissa Jones

Counselor

TiLissa grew up in Charlotte, NC and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Lenoir Rhyne University. She served on staff with CRU in the Charlotte Metro Area for two years before attending Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary where she received her Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling. TiLissa is married to Tim, and together they own a specialty coffee shop in downtown Durham. When she’s not counseling, you can find TiLissa having tea time with her four young girls, refinishing thrifted furniture, immersed in historical fiction, or digging in the yard.

Tim Roden

Counseling Resident

Timothy grew up in the Chicago area and graduated from Houghton College (music education) in upstate New York. After a short stint teaching in the public schools, he completed a Ph.D. in music history and literature from Northwestern University. He spent his career in collegiate education, retiring as Emeritus Professor from a liberal arts college in central Ohio, whereupon he completed a Master’s Degree in counseling from Westminster Seminary. Having experienced many of the blessings and struggles of life, Timothy desires to fulfill Paul’s hope (II Cor 1:7) that we encourage others with the consolation we have received from Christ. He and his wife have been married for forty years and are blest with two adult sons. He enjoys reading, listening to music and studying scores, as well as hiking in the backcountry of West Virginia.

Sarah Howard

Counseling Resident

Sarah lives in Central Asia with her husband and three kids (and also recently decided to add a puppy to the mix!). Sarah and her husband have both lived overseas most of their adult lives, and the various needs they encountered along the way led her to seek counseling training first at the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation, and then later to pursue a Masters in Counseling from Westminster Theology Seminary. Because of her background, she loves seeing counseling skills grown in other cultural contexts where access to counseling is scarce. She also loves getting to help others from her own culture who are working abroad.

Susan Bradford

Counselor

Susan Bradford planted a church alongside her husband, Geoff, in Philadelphia, 2002-2011. She and her husband are now serving at Christ the King Presbyterian Church in Raleigh, NC. Susan has taken four classes through the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation (CCEF) as well as attended many of their national conferences. Susan’s involvement in Parakaleo ministry, a ministry for church planting wives, allowed her to receive Coming Alongside training as well as Group Leadership training. She served as a Network Leader, 2011-2013, as well as a Gospel Coach to church planting wives for the past several years. Susan has participated in years of premarital counseling alongside her husband and has recently counseled engaged couples on her own. All of the experience in informal counseling led Susan to enroll at Southeastern Baptist Seminary where she earned an MA in Counseling in December 2021. She has also served as a Commissioned Woman, coming alongside the elders of her church for the past three years and has served on the Shepherding team for the past two years. Susan also served as a board member for The Welcome Mission ministry. She is also mother to six sons. In her spare time, Susan enjoys cultivating her garden, art museums, reading, cooking and baking. Special areas of interest include family systems, trauma, and soul care.