Faculty

Daniel Amen , M.D., is director and founder of The Amen Clinic for Behavioral Medicine. His private practice specializes in child, adolescent, and adult behavioral medicine and nuclear brain imaging. He is board-certified in general psychiatry and child psychiatry. He has authored 15 books, including Healing ADD: The Breakthrough Program That Allows You to See and Heal the Six Types of Attention Deficit Disorder and Change Your Brain, Change Your Life, as well as many professional publications.

John Baker , M.B.A., is the founder of Celebrate Recovery, a ministry born out of the heart of Saddleback Church. Over the last 18 years, nearly 10,500 individuals have gone through this Christcentered recovery program at Saddleback. The Celebrate Recovery program is now being used in thousands of churches nationwide.

Jennifer Cisney Ellers, M.A., is director of Professional Relations for the American Association of Christian Counselors. She received her master’s degree in counseling from Wake Forest University and has worked in the field of Christian counseling since 1994. She specializes in working with issues of grief, crisis, and trauma. Jennifer currently serves as Coordinator for AACC’s National Crisis Response Team and is a Trained Trainer through the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation. She was director of AACC’s Soul Care Trip in New York City following 9/11.

Tod M. Clements M.D., is an adolescent and adult psychiatrist who specializes in SPECT brain imaging. He is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology (ABPN). Dr. Clements was chosen in both 2007 and 2008 as one of the top adolescent psychiatrists in the country by the “Consumers’ Research Council of America.”

Tim Clinton , ED.D., LPC, LMFT, is president of the nearly 50,000-member AACC and is Professor of Counseling and Executive Director of the Liberty University Center for Counseling and Family Studies. He is a popular speaker and author of several best-selling books.

Marian Eberly, RN, MSW, LCSW, is Vice President of Program Development at Remuda Ranch. She is the clinical advisor to Remuda’s
patient care team and is responsible for the development of new programs.

Marnie Ferree , M.A., LMFT, is a therapist with the Woodmont Hills Counseling Center in Nashville, Tennessee, and the leader of the Bethesda Workshop Ministry. She specializes in sexual recovery, with a specific focus on the treatment of female sexual addiction. Marnie also works with adult sexual abuse survivors and conducts marital therapy around the issues of addiction and abuse. She is also an author and speaker.

Paris Finner-Wiliams , Ph.D., J.D., Esq., was the founder and chief executive officer of the Detroit-based Finner-Williams and Associates Psychological Services, created in 1979, and the legal professional association of Paris M. Finner-Williams, Esq., P.C., created in 1991. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from the University of Detroit, a Master of Education degree in educational psychology from Wayne State University, a Doctor of Philosophy degree in psychological counseling from the University of Michigan, and a Juris Doctorate from the Detroit College of Law, which is now a department at the Michigan State University.

David Jenkins , Psy.D., is a licensed psychologist and serves as Associate Professor of Counseling and the Coordinator of Clinical Training in the Center for Counseling and Family Studies at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. He serves on the Executive Board of the Society for Christian Psychology and as clinical director of the International Board of Christian Counselors of the American Association of Christian Counselors. He has worked extensively with addictive, mood, and anxiety disorders in the context of individual, marital, family, and group therapy.

Archibald Hart , Ph.D., B.Sc., University of South Africa; M.Sc., Ph.D., University of Natal; Licensed Psychologist; Professor & Former Dean of the School of Psychology, Fuller Graduate School of Theology; Certified Biofeedback Practitioner; Board Certified Diplomate Fellow in Psychopharmacology.

Ronald E. Hawkins, D.Min ., Ed.D., B.A., Barrington College; M.Div., Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary; Ed.S., Lynchburg College; D.Min., Westminster Theological Seminary; Ed.D., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; Licensed Professional Counselor; Dean, Liberty University, College of Arts & Sciences.

Greg Jantz, Ph.D., is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Certified Chemical Dependency Professional, Washington State Mental Health Professional, and Certified Eating Disorder Specialist in Edmonds, Washington. Ph.D., Columbia Pacific University; M.A., Seattle Pacific University.

Debie Laaser , B.S., Iowa State University. She started and ran a national company for over 20 years, becoming president and CEO of its operations. She currently works full-time with her husband, Mark, at their counseling center providing support for women and counseling couples. She is the author of Shattered Vows and co-author with Mark of The Seven Desires of Every Heart.

Mark Laaser , Ph.D., B.A., Mark is the director of Faithful and True Ministries Inc. and is widely regarded in the Christian counseling community as the treatment leader in the field of sexual addiction. He has published 10 books on the subject including his groundbreaking book, Healing the Wounds of Sexual Addiction. Mark lectures around the world and teaches at various religious organizations, colleges, universities and treatment centers. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Iowa and a divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary.

Michael Lyles, M.D., Founding Partner, Lyles & Crawford Clinical Consulting; and member of AACC Executive Board. M.D., B.S., University of Michigan Accelerated Medical Program; Psychiatric Residency, Duke University Medical Center.

Linda Mintle, Ph.D., LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker, specializing in marriage and family therapy, eating disorders and infertility. She is the author of numerous articles and books, including A Daughter’s Journey Home, Kids Killing Kids, Getting Unstuck, Divorce Proofing Your Marriage, Lose it for Life and Overweight Kids.

Ken Nichols, Psy.D., received his doctorate from Rosemead Graduate School of Psychology, Biola University in 1979. He is the founder and president of ALIVE Ministries, author, and conference speaker. Dr. Nichols is also Associate Director of the IBCC for AACC.

Eric Scalise, Ph.D., LPC, LMFT, is an author, speaker, and Vice President for Professional Development at AACC and the former Dept. Chair for Counseling Programs at Regent University. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist with over 29 years of clinical experience. He is also President of Beacon Counseling & Consulting located in Tidewater, VA.

Leroy Scott, Jr., M.S., M.Div., LHMC, is a licensed professional counselor, minister, motivational speaker and the founder of Agape Family Counseling Center in Eatonville, Florida. In 2003, Leroy founded and organized the Central Florida Christian Counselor Conference — a local conference that supports the training of pastoral counselors and ministry leaders.

Gary Sibcy, Ph.D., LCP, LPC, LMFT, is a licensed psychologist and professional counselor with Piedmont Psychiatric Center in Lynchburg, VA. Gary is also an assistant professor in Liberty University’s doctoral program in professional counseling.

David Stoop , Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist and founder and director of the Center for Family Therapy in Newport Beach, CA. David is a member of the AACC Executive Board.