Executive Director and Founder, Licensed Professional Counselor, Therapeutic Parent Coach – TBCP Program, Certified Splankna Trauma Therapist. and Trainer

After receiving a master’s degree in Education and working with troubled youth for several years, Steve returned to school and completed a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Duquesne University. Stephen is a licensed professional counselor in the state of Pennsylvania. Since 1997, he has been helping children, adolescents, and adults suffering with many different issues. Steve works through various treatment modalities including Attachment-Based Therapy and Splankna (mind and body trauma therapy). He specializes in working with hurting families including those who have foster, adopted, or traumatized children.

Steve is the founder and director of our Trauma-Based Christian Parenting program. As an expert in Attachment Therapy and parenting, he has put together this Christ-Centered program to help families who are stuck in the same old failed patterns, and helps them to not just survive but to THRIVE as a family.

Steve is available to see clients in North Huntingdon on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. He also does online and phone therapeutic parent coaching and consultation. He accepts most major insurance plans. Call the office for confirmation of coverage.

Women’s Counselor, Grief Specialist

Abby is a graduate of the University at Buffalo, NY where she earned her master’s degree in Social Work (MSW). Since graduating, Abby obtained her LMSW while working in a school system with at-risk youth, and in healthcare working with the elderly, chronically ill, and dying patients. For ten years, Abby worked in hospice care as a medical social worker, and as a grief counselor, where she provided support to patients and families through the end-of-life process. She specialized in the areas of chronic illness, grief and loss, and complicated bereavement. For the past two years, Abby ran her own private practice as a women’s mental health counselor. She has experience working with women facing depression, anxiety, PTSD, abuse, spiritual conflict, family system challenges, grief and loss, and personality disorders.

Abby is passionate about guiding and supporting women as they overcome their challenges, while encompassing Christian values and beliefs. Abby and her husband have been married a little over a year, and have a beautifully blended family consisting of a 16-year-old son and two daughters, aged 12 and 6.

Certified Prepare/Enrich Facilitator, Counselor, Coach, Speaker

Aki is a relationship coach and counselor with 15+ years of experience, providing individuals, married couples, and those preparing for marriage with insights that focus on couples’ strength assessments, communication, conflict resolution, finances, family of origin examinations, and intimacy. He received his Master of Arts in human services counseling with an emphasis in marriage and family therapy from Liberty University. He relies heavily on biblical truths to support the practical and clinical guidance he offers his clients.

Married for 18 years, Aki and his wife are the proud parents of two beautiful children. He and his wife are ordained deacons at his local church, where he has led numerous marriage mentoring and enrichment groups. Aki has played a role in creating Christlike maleness education and programming. His primary passions are revealing God’s purpose for marriage and His desire for Godly men to lead Christian households.

Aki is also a published author with more than 20 years of experience in the managing, brokering, and coaching of relationships for corporations in the experiential marketing, beverage, real estate, and finance industries. His book, The Spider Web Philosophy: Catch Your Dreams, seeks to open the minds of readers to the direct correlation between the quality of our relationships and our quality of life; it provides strategies to greatly improve both. The theme of the book is also a model for our THRIVE coaching program created by our founder, Steve Luther.

Aki was previously the co-host and co-producer of Called to THRIVE Radio, which aired locally in Pittsburgh on WPIT, 730 AM and 96.5 FM, on Saturday mornings at 8:30 am. He has also been a consistent contributor to several Christian magazines, lifestyle blogs, and nationally syndicated radio programs as a faith-based marriage and relationship expert.

Counselor

Bethany is a graduate of Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA where she earned a B.S. in Psychology and an M.A. in Human Services Counseling. She is currently working on a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology.

Bethany is passionate about walking with people as they find healing and hope. Bethany’s counseling style is compassionate, relaxed, and approachable. She integrates various theoretical approaches based on the client’s needs. Respecting the client’s background and beliefs is important to Bethany. She will incorporate faith and Biblical truth to the degree that the client feels comfortable.

Bethany worked in her community counseling families, individuals, and children for 9 years prior to joining the staff at NuWell. She specializes in work with adolescents and young adults; however, she also has experience both working in the church, and with foster youth and their families in her community.

Bethany is passionate about health and fitness, and is available for health and wellness coaching in addition to counseling services. She is available for virtual sessions in the morning, afternoon, some evenings, and has some weekend availability.

Author, Speaker, Weight Loss Expert

Jeremy Rochford is a certified personal trainer, corporate fitness trainer, and corporate fitness specialist. His entrance into the weight-loss/fitness field came by way of his success of not only losing 200lbs, but also keeping it off for over 15 years.

He has been developing custom weight loss programs and has been guiding others towards their own success for over 10 years. He specializes in body-positive, Christ-entered weight loss, while emotionally and psychologically supporting clients.

He is actively involved in the study of fitness, nutrition, and PiYo. With a personal and professional understanding of the entire weight loss process, there are few more qualified to guide you through your weight loss journey.

While in Nashville, TN, Jeremy established the Nashville Wellness Academy, which utilizes a cutting-edge approach to sustainable weight loss that blends the three main conflicts one must address while attempting to lose weight. Since partnering with NuWell, he has been able to employ his proven approach nationwide to satisfied weight loss mentees.

If you are interested in working with Jeremy one-on-one to achieve your weight loss or fitness goals, get in touch.

Counselor, “Church Hurt” Recovery Coach

Reverend Karen Spafard is a Board-Certified Chaplain with the Spiritual Care Association and the Association of Certified Christian Chaplains. She obtained a Master of Religious Studies through Nations University and has completed four units (1600 hours) of Clinical Pastoral Education through the Institute for Clinical Pastoral Training. She is a candidate for her Doctor of Theology in Spiritual Direction and Spirituality at the University of Theology, and the Spiritual Care Association respectively.

Karen provides pastoral counseling and coaching as well as spiritual direction. She is sensitive to the needs of those recovering from negative church experiences and high-control religious groups.

Marriage & Relationship coach, Prepare/Enrich Facilitator, Certified Mental Health Coach

With more than a decade of teaching thousands of couples about principles that make marriage work, and 30 years of being married himself, Ken comes to NuWell seeking to help you grow the thriving marriage you are seeking. As a certified Gottman facilitator and a Prepare/Enrich instructor, Ken continues to pursue learning in this vital and foundational relationship that forms the basic building block of society.

Marriage coaching is a way to help couples learn to grow closer and breathe new life into a marriage that may be experiencing stress from the demands of daily life. Sometimes, as little as 30 minutes a day is all that is needed to begin to build back from the doldrums that can impact many marriages.

Counselor, Coach, Mentor

Mia is a graduate of Grand Canyon University with a master’s degree in Addiction Counseling, emphasizing in Trauma and Christian Integration. Currently, she is working on her certification in Adoption Competency to serve the community of adoptees, parents, and children. Based in Biblical truths and the Word of God, Mia takes an eclectic approach to counseling by combining Trauma-Informed care with Relational Therapy, REBT, and MI models.

Mia personally believes there is no such thing as “hopeless.” She loves to share that truth with others and watch how refreshing it is for them to discover. Her passions include serving: 1) Clients of the adopted community as they move through the struggles of that reality, and 2) Those who are battling with the weight of substance abuse, anxiety, depression, PTSD, infertility, and identity. As the creator of “Come Sis with Me” – a movement that encourages true sisterhood – Mia’s goal is to empower women to be their best through the relationships they create with one another. She uses her infectious spirit and welcoming smile to edify God’s people through healing of the mind, body, and spirit.

Married for 5 years, Mia and her husband are currently on their own journey to becoming parents. Together they enjoy sharing the beauty of their journeys through infertility and the ministry of their marriage. Mia also serves as the Leadership Development Coordinator for a Women’s Deliverance Ministry online. She loves accompanying women as they reconcile in Christ.

“My goal in session is to create an inviting and safe space to be your authentic self.”

Counselor, Certified Life Coach

Sarah is a graduate of Crown College with a Master of Arts in Counseling and is a Certified Life Coach through ICF (International Coaching Federation).

Sarah has worked with children and adolescents since 2003 in various roles including teacher, youth group leader, mentor, basketball coach, Resident Assistant, Behavioral Assistant, life coach, and counselor.

Sarah has cross-cultural experience, having lived mostly overseas from 2009-2017. She initially worked in Venezuela through an organization called NICS (Network of International Christian Schools) and then through the Christian and Missionary Alliance at Black Forest Academy in Germany. She continues to have a heart for other cultures, missions, and TCK’s (Third Culture Kids).

Sarah has worked with individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem, and has helped others identify struggles in the areas of missions, TCK’s, and transitions.

Pastoral Counselor, Coach, Teacher, Speaker, Writer

Samantha is a servant of Jesus Christ. She is a recent graduate of Moody Bible Institute/Moody Theological Seminary in Chicago, IL, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Master of Divinity in Pastoral Studies. Upon graduation, Samantha was the first woman from Moody to ever be awarded the Faculty Award for Excellence in Pastoral Studies. She is grateful to be a part of the NuWell family, as well as the Moody Radio family.

Samantha grew up in a home with verbal, mental, emotional, spiritual, physical, and sexual abuse. As a result, she made regrettable decisions as an adult including delving into drugs, pills, alcohol, and promiscuity. While suffering internally, she felt the need to succeed professionally to be worthy of love, so she obtained a B.S. in Agriculture and an M.S. in Animal Science from Illinois State University. She completed all requirements for her Ph.D. (apart from her dissertation) in Animal Science/Beef Cattle Nutrition from Texas A&M University. While in her Ph.D. program, God made His presence and love fully known to Samantha. It was here that she realized she could no longer teach nutrition/biochemistry, and thus left to pursue a new career path.

Samantha was working at a home for sex trafficked children when she recognized her call was to be in ministry – counseling, coaching, teaching, speaking, and writing. She met her former husband during this time, who was a Christian radio DJ attending Bible School. Dating long distance, she found out upon marriage that he was addicted to alcohol, methamphetamines, and crack-cocaine, was often intimate with both men and women, was prostituting himself for drug money, and was abusive verbally, mentally, emotionally, and physically. Her journey through separation and divorce was what led her to Moody, as it is the times of affliction that cause us to produce our best fruit.

Since this experience, Samantha has worked with domestic violence, all kinds of abuse and addictions, sexuality, identity confusion, gang violence, homelessness, poverty, divorce, mens’ prison ministry, children in abusive/traumatic situations and/or with behavioral issues, depression/anxiety, and all kinds of trauma. She started and is head of a women’s ministry at her church (New Life Community Church Midway in Chicago, IL) called Soul Care. She teaches weekly at Soul Care to offer a new perspective on hope, healing, and freedom found in Christ. She teaches women how to cultivate a deeper relationship with Christ, employ spiritual discipline, and live out faith practically.

Samantha is a counselor, coach, teacher, speaker, and writer. She yearns to help others with the pain she has experienced. She would love to serve you with her gifts, partnering with you in your journey towards a healing that is found only in and through Christ.

Licensed Minister, Certified Life Coach, Relationship Coach, Author, Speaker

Tamara Knight is a certified life coach, minister, marriage enrichment facilitator, and author. As a Geneva College graduate, her life experiences include over 25 years of church leadership, and 19 years of Christian pastoral counseling. Tamara uses her creative coaching style to practice relationship coaching, facilitate marriage workshops, prepare couples for marriage, and minister to families and church groups. A couple more of her passions include mentoring youth and empowering women.

Tamara’s book, God’s Got a Habit –a 30-day devotional for women – is available for purchase on Amazon. Tamara and her husband John have 3 adult children and 3 granddaughters. She and John reside in Lancaster, PA where John is the Senior Pastor of Bright Side Baptist Church.

Certified Pastoral Counselor, Certified Life Coach, Author, Award-Winning Artist

Tracy Manno is a husband, father, certified life coach, counselor, consultant, and author. In addition to being published on numerous online Christian magazine platforms, Tracy authored his three-book core discipleship series including Know God Find Freedom, Fearful to Fearsome, and Faith Works. He is the founder and CEO of His Way Worship and serves as Vice President of Narrow Road Ministries, Inc, an international missions organization.

As a Life Coach, Tracy brings a diverse range of training and experience in the areas of life transition, personal and spiritual growth, career development, leadership management, and creative facilitation. As well as being trained and certified in modern coaching techniques, Tracy developed the Full Focus Life Coaching Method: his foundational process that blends these techniques with time-tested principles of Biblical discipleship. Tracy’s coaching proficiencies draw from over 25 years of experience in full-time ministry, as a corporate executive, and in the music and entertainment industries.

For over 15 years, Tracy has served as a worship team leader, pastor, and counselor alongside missionaries in the Middle East, South Asia, and the US. As a corporate executive, he oversaw the startup of several digital and retail marketing companies, non-profit and charity organizations, and has served as VP for some of the world’s largest advertising and marketing firms including Saatchi & Saatchi, and Publicis Groupe.

Tracy’s rich background in music and arts serves as the canvas for his passion to help others recognize and achieve their God-given potential as created and creative beings. In addition to being an award-winning CCM recording artist, his work in the music industry spans the Hollywood film industry scoring soundtracks for Silicon Valley media companies and collaborating with songwriters and producers from Nashville, Atlanta, and LA.

Christian Counselor

Waneko Bivens was born and raised in Salisbury, MD where she received her early education. She later obtained her master’s degree in ministry from Christian World College of Theology (Camden, DE extension). Through hard work and faithful studies, she graduated with the honors of Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and was respectively presented with the Presidential Award. This resulted in Waneko being brought on as an instructor at the Christian World College of Theology, where she would teach in the associate’s degree program, and was later added as an instructor in the bachelor’s degree program.

Waneko is a woman of faith and is an ordained evangelist under the leadership of Pastor G. Sharps in Hanover, MD. Her desire to help others outside of the ministry led her to serve in many capacities such as community outreach and mission assignments as it relates to homeless shelters, nursing homes, hospitals, and volunteering through mentorship programs. Moreover, she traveled to New Orleans, LA to help rebuild and counsel the Hurricane Katrina disaster victims.

Now residing in Delaware, Waneko is on the ministerial staff at Watch God Move Ministry in Bridgeville under the leadership of Pastor Patricia Powell. Here she is a teacher, servant-leader, and guest speaker. She also speaks at other ministry events, women conferences, etc. She is an active member of the Association of Christian Therapists and adheres to their code of ethics and professional conduct.

Waneko is a visionary. In pursuit of fulfilling her dreams to open a counseling practice and to publish her autobiography, she seeks to empower those that go through hardships and trauma by letting them know that their dreams can become a reality, and can be reached through faith, hard work, and perseverance. This is evident by raising her 6-year-old son (Samuel, who is the love of her life) as a single parent all while working full-time and going to school.

In her desire to maintain a life driven with purpose, Waneko obtained her Ph.D. in Christian Counseling at Newburgh Seminary and Theological College. Her dissertation was written and is titled, “The Effects of Negative Counsel.” Waneko Bivens is a living example of what can be done and what will be done. Her passion for life is to bring hope, help, and healing, without bias to everyone she meets… to anyone desiring to be made whole!

Pastoral Counselor, Ordained Minister, Professor, Certified Coach, Author

As a writer, creative, teacher and counselor, Erin is passionate, divinely purposed and driven toward maximizing God-given human potential with an emphasis on youth development.

After forging a success path spanning several decades as a C-Suite executive for global corporations including Nike, Inc. and successfully launching and exiting a series of start-up brands driving social impact, Erin answered the call to Ministry. He has dedicated his life to healing families, communities and organizations while evangelizing the good news of the Gospel.‍

Erin graduated from Northwestern University’s prestigious Medill School of Journalism and received his MBA from the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University before pursuing the Master of Divinity (MDiv) with a concentration in Leadership from the Fuller Theological Seminary.

Life Coach & Inner Healing

Aimee holds a bachelor’s degree in child development from Purdue University, along with a master’s degree in Marriage and Family therapy from Indiana University. She is a Myers-Briggs personality practitioner as well as a Life Coach with training in inner healing. Aimee believes that if everyone pressed into a deeper level of healing, freely embracing who Jesus created them to be, the world would be a much better place.

Walking with courageous clients and holding space for them as they discover their voice on the journey towards healing is one of Aimee’s greatest passions. After coming out of a spiritually abusive organization, Aimee fought hard along her own healing journey. She found that clinging to Jesus, choosing forgiveness, and walking with others who have had similar trauma, along with other healing tools, facilitates the trek towards overcoming. Every healing journey looks differently as spiritual abuse victims do the difficult work of becoming survivors who transform into overcomers.

By providing a safe space for support, learning, and community in addition to facilitating conferences for those who have by affected by spiritual abuse, Aimee hopes to instill the truth that you are not alone. Part of healing is learning what healthy spirituality and community look like. Another part is discovering what is getting in the way of truly overcoming. Aimee would be honored to partner with you on your journey to overcoming.

Aimee and her husband of more than 22 years reside in Ohio with their three teenage children. She loves hiking, trying new cuisines, experiencing new cultures, and worshiping Jesus.

Christian Counselor

Brenda has over 20 years of experience as a counselor and believes that she has been called by
God to minister to others through counseling. Since graduating college in 1993, she has worked
within this helping profession. During the course of her career, Brenda has serviced people of
all ages but primarily older teens and young mothers struggling with depression, anxiety and
trauma.
Brenda holds a Master of Arts degree in Psychology from SUNY Brockport in Brockport, NY. She
is a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) and is a certified
mental health coach through the International Board of Christian Care. Brenda is a devoted
Christian, wife and mother of two. She has been married for almost 29 years and has held
various roles in ministry within her church, including but not limited to youth counselor, Sunday
school teacher and church musician.
Brenda believes that the Bible is God’s infallible word. Although she is trained in various
evidence-based therapeutic models such as Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depression,
Brenda will rely most on biblical principles to guide her therapeutic work. Brenda deems it an
honor to walk alongside people during their darkest times and has witnessed firsthand the
power and importance of a helping relationship. Brenda desires to offer those who seek her
therapeutic support a helping relationship that is empowered by God’s Holy Spirt and reflects
His love, care and concern for them.
As the youngest of 8 raised by a single mom, Brenda experienced her fair share of hardships in
life including trauma. Brenda attributes her personal healing and ability to overcome these
hardships to the grace of God and a few soul-care helpers He sent her along the way. Brenda
recognizes that seeking help can be scary but hopes that people who are hurting, like she once
was, take the courageous step of asking for and embracing help.