Valerie Arnett completed her Bachelor of Science in Social Services and Master of Arts degree in Counseling from Bradley University. She is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. She is certified through IAODAPCA (Illinois Alcoholism and Other Drug Abuse Professional Certification Association) as a CAADC (Certified Advanced Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counselor).
Ms. Arnett previously worked as an inpatient and outpatient treatment counselor. She has also worked as an Employee Assistance Professional, both as a consultant and as an on-site counselor. She has also presented seminars and workshops dealing with a variety of wellness topics. Ms. Arnett is the current President of the Board of Directors of IAODAPCA and is a member of The Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health.
Richard Blankenship, LPC, NCC, is the president and co-founder of the International Association of Certified Sexual Addiction Specialists (IACSAS). He also directs the North Atlanta Center for Christian Counseling and Faithful & True – Atlanta, a program for male and female sex addicts, spouses, and couples in recovery. Richard’s a licensed professional counselor (LPC) with the state of Georgia, a nationally certified counselor (NCC) with the national board of certified counselors, a certified clinical hypnotherapist, and a certified clinical sexual addiction specialist (CCSAS).
Richard currently directs the Cornerstone Professional Counseling Center and Faithful & True – Atlanta, a program for male and female sex addicts, spouses, and couples in recovery. Richard is the president and co-founder of the International Association of Certified Christian Sexual Addiction Specialists (IACCSAS).
He developed the first graduate course to be taught on sexual addiction with Dr. Mark Laaser and guest lectures in a variety of courses. He is a frequent guest on radio and television shows in the Atlanta area dealing with sexual addiction, coaddiction, and domestic violence. He is also the author of the LIFE guide for young men, S.A.R.A.H. (Spouses of Addicts Rebuilding and Healing) and the LIFE Guide for Couples, coauthored by Jackie Coleman.
Richard holds two masters degrees; an M.Ed. from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and an M.A. from Harding University Graduate School of Religion. He is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) with the state of Georgia, a nationally certified counselor (NCC) with the national board of certified counselors, and a certified clinical sexual addiction specialist (CCSAS).
He is married with two children and has practiced with churches and counseling centers for almost 25 years. For more information on Richard and his work go to www.cornerstoneprofessional.com
Troy Snyder is a Biblically based and clinically sound Christian Counselor. He received his Master’s in Professional Counseling from Georgia State University along with a Diploma in Christian Counseling from the Psychological Studies Institute in the Fall of 1999. He began his career work as a faculty college counselor. He currently has a thriving practice at Paraclete Counseling Center in Alpharetta, GA.
Troy specialized in three distinct areas: sexual addiction, anger, and adolescent issues. In these specialties he works with adult males, adolescent males and couples. He takes a holistic approach to helping his clients by working closely with the parents, spouse, family members and friends to help his clients create a better foundation for success.
Along with the distinct areas of specialties he also provides counseling for all issues relating to men and adolescent boys. This allows Troy the ability to stay connected with all current issues with this population along with strengthening his skills in working with multiple symptoms.
Troy is married and has two boys. He takes great joy in spending quality time with his family. He also is a faithful member and worker in his Church. For more information on Troy and his work go to www.paracletecounseling.com
Barbara Steffens, PhD., LPCC, specializes in the area of sexual addiction and help for the spouse, providing individual and group counseling at her private practice in Cincinnati, Ohio, speaking at international and national conferences on sexual addiction, and educating her peers on the traumatic effects disclosure of this addiction has on the spouse. A recognized expert in this field, her new book, co-authored with Marsha Means – Your Sexually Addicted Spouse: How Partners Can Cope and Heal – was released nationally on September 1, 2009, by Horizon Press.
Steffens obtained her doctorate in Counselor Education & Supervision from Regent University in May, 2005, where she was the program’s first graduate in its premiere online program. She earned her Master of Education in Agency and Community Counseling, from Xavier University (1991) and her B.A. in Human Services from the College of Mt. St. Joseph (1988). She is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) in Ohio, and a Certified Clinical Sexual Addiction Specialist (CCSAS) with a broad range of clinical mental health treatment experience.
She is currently serving as adjunct faculty at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana, and for the University of Phoenix, where she facilitates the Abnormal Psychology course for their graduate school arm. She also teaches for Liberty University’s Online Counseling program.
Barbara resides in Cincinnati, Ohio, with her husband of 36 years, Steve. They are the proud parents of two adult daughters, who live in the Cincinnati area. For more information on Barbara and her work go to www.steffenscounseling.com.
Dave Brown serves pureHOPE as Director of Counseling & Support. In his role as a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) he facilitates, trains, teaches, and counsels in areas of biblical sexuality, treatment of sexual addiction, parenting, and men’s support groups.
Prior to joining pureHOPE, Dave was a clinical social worker (since 1995) in both Chicago and Cincinnati. He has served on staff with New Life Clinics, Miami Valley Christian Academy, and Dr. Douglas Reed & Associates.
Dave graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Oral Roberts University (1978). He later received a Master of Divinity degree (emphasis-Pastoral Counseling) from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (1988), and a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from Loyola University of Chicago (1993). For more information on Dave and his work go to www.purehope.net.
Michael Leahy is an author, communicator, and recovering sex addict. A nationally recognized expert on the subjects of pornography, sexual addiction, and the sexualization of the culture, he’s appeared on ABC’s 20/20, The View, Good Morning America, CNBC, CNN, in The Wall Street Journal and USA Today.
He is the founder and Executive Director of BraveHearts, an organization dedicated to increasing the public’s awareness of the hidden dangers and long-term consequences of pornography consumption.
As a communicator, Michael has shared his compelling redemption story and expertise before over 130,000 people attending over 300 BraveHearts-sponsored speaking events. Before launching BraveHearts in 2002, Michael was a sales executive in the computer industry and worked for blue-chip corporations like IBM, Unisys, and NEC.
He is the father of two boys, Chris (22) and Andrew (14), is remarried, and currently resides with his wife, Christine, in the Washington, D.C. area. For more information on Michael and his work go to www.bravehearts.net.