Meet Our School of Counseling Team

Clinical Supervisors

Stephanie Baker

Founder/Executive Director
Clinical Pastoral Counselor
CAI Clinical Supervisor

Stephanie Baker is the Founder and Executive Director of Life In Abundance, a non-profit Christian Counseling Ministry. Additionally, she is a Clinical Pastoral Counselor (NCCA), Licensed Ecclesiastical Holistic Practitioner (GEHA), Certified Functional Nutrition Counselor (FNA), Board Certified Functional Health Coach (AANWC), Certified Professional Coach (FWI), Certified Temperament Counselor (NCCA), Speaker, and co-author of Organizing from the Heart: Change Your Mindset, Conquer Your Challenges.

Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Christian Counseling and a Masters Degree in Clinical Christian Counseling. She is also Level 3 Certified in Solution Focused Brief Therapy through the SFU.  She holds a diploma with distinction in EMDR (Centre of Excellence). Stephanie is currently an active member of the American Association of Christian Counselors, the National Christian Counselors Association, the Sarasota Academy of Christian Counselors, the American Association of Natural Wellness Coaches, and the Guardian Ecclesiastical Holistic Association.  She is commissioned as a Commissioned Minister of Counseling by Connection Fellowship Church.

Stephanie believes that we are created as triune beings; having a body, a soul, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit as believers in Christ. As a Certified Functional Nutrition Counselor, she works with each client as whole being, using a ‘food is medicine’ approach to specifically promote physical health. Stephanie’s no-nonsense approach to helping clients improve their overall health and well-being stems from the knowledge that when one area of body, soul, or Spirit is not functioning at its best, the other two areas are potentially negatively impacted as well. She believes that change starts with mindset and continues with education. She understands that when people understand how their body, soul (mind/will/emotions) and Spirit work together, desired and sustainable change is made possible.

As a sought-after Christian counselor, Stephanie works with a limited number of new clients within each year. She is interested in working with those who are serious about turning their emotional, physical and spiritual lives around for the better. Her best client is one who is not afraid of hard work and is also willing to make tough choices, as necessary, in order to obtain better spiritual, emotional and physical health. Stephanie expects that her clients will invest in themselves by keeping their appointments and bringing rigorous honesty into each session. She is known for asking thought-provoking (and sometimes tough) questions and challenging her clients in their thinking. Stephanie has a track record of helping her clients achieve positive results in their journeys to health and wellness. What she does is both a calling and her passion.

Stephanie has over 20+ years of management experience across multiple industries, and has worked with all levels of management and staff in both full time and private consulting positions. In addition, she is a Certified Technical Trainer and has delivered hundreds of classes and workshops focusing on emotional intelligence, leadership, project management, time management, customer service, professional writing, conflict resolution, and negotiation. She is also a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist for Microsoft Project.

Stephanie is a requested speaker for various ministry events. Her energetic delivery and sense of humor resonates well with audiences. She has been a frequent guest on His Radio (89.3 – Greenville). Additionally, she has appeared on the PeaceTalk radio program, on Christian Radio 660AM and on WGGS Channel 16’s television program, Niteline. Stephanie has also been an invited guest on various Christian podcasts.

Cindy Van Wingerden, PhD

Clinical Pastoral Counselor
CAI Clinical Supervisor

Cindy is a Clinical Pastoral Counselor and Temperament Counselor through the NCCA., and is also a Certified Life Coach.  Cindy is certified in the Prepare/Enrich premarital assessment coaching program as well as the SYMBIS premarital assessment coaching program. Cindy holds a PhD in Clinical Counseling from Cornerstone University and is a former RN and nurse educator.

She is an active member of the American Association of Christian Counselors, the National Christian Counseling Association, the International Christian Coaching Association, and the Association of Biblical Counselors. Cindy is commissioned by GracePoint Church.

Cindy has been married to Nick for over 40 years. They now live in Greenville SC. They are blessed to have a son and daughter in law who live and serve on the mission field in France, and 4 lovely grandchildren. Cindy and her husband Nick attend Grace church.

Instructors

Stephanie Baker

Founder/Executive Director
Clinical Pastoral Counselor
CAI Clinical Supervisor

Stephanie Baker is the Founder and Executive Director of Life In Abundance, a non-profit Christian Counseling Ministry. Additionally, she is a Clinical Pastoral Counselor (NCCA), Licensed Ecclesiastical Holistic Practitioner (GEHA), Certified Functional Nutrition Counselor (FNA), Board Certified Functional Health Coach (AANWC), Certified Professional Coach (FWI), Certified Temperament Counselor (NCCA), Speaker, and co-author of Organizing from the Heart: Change Your Mindset, Conquer Your Challenges.

Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Christian Counseling and a Masters Degree in Clinical Christian Counseling. She is also Level 3 Certified in Solution Focused Brief Therapy through the SFU.  She holds a diploma with distinction in EMDR (Centre of Excellence). Stephanie is currently an active member of the American Association of Christian Counselors, the National Christian Counselors Association, the Sarasota Academy of Christian Counselors, the American Association of Natural Wellness Coaches, and the Guardian Ecclesiastical Holistic Association.  She is commissioned as a Commissioned Minister of Counseling by Connection Fellowship Church.

Stephanie believes that we are created as triune beings; having a body, a soul, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit as believers in Christ. As a Certified Functional Nutrition Counselor, she works with each client as whole being, using a ‘food is medicine’ approach to specifically promote physical health. Stephanie’s no-nonsense approach to helping clients improve their overall health and well-being stems from the knowledge that when one area of body, soul, or Spirit is not functioning at its best, the other two areas are potentially negatively impacted as well. She believes that change starts with mindset and continues with education. She understands that when people understand how their body, soul (mind/will/emotions) and Spirit work together, desired and sustainable change is made possible.

As a sought-after Christian counselor, Stephanie works with a limited number of new clients within each year. She is interested in working with those who are serious about turning their emotional, physical and spiritual lives around for the better. Her best client is one who is not afraid of hard work and is also willing to make tough choices, as necessary, in order to obtain better spiritual, emotional and physical health. Stephanie expects that her clients will invest in themselves by keeping their appointments and bringing rigorous honesty into each session. She is known for asking thought-provoking (and sometimes tough) questions and challenging her clients in their thinking. Stephanie has a track record of helping her clients achieve positive results in their journeys to health and wellness. What she does is both a calling and her passion.

Stephanie has over 20+ years of management experience across multiple industries, and has worked with all levels of management and staff in both full time and private consulting positions. In addition, she is a Certified Technical Trainer and has delivered hundreds of classes and workshops focusing on emotional intelligence, leadership, project management, time management, customer service, professional writing, conflict resolution, and negotiation. She is also a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist for Microsoft Project.

Stephanie is a requested speaker for various ministry events. Her energetic delivery and sense of humor resonates well with audiences. She has been a frequent guest on His Radio (89.3 – Greenville). Additionally, she has appeared on the PeaceTalk radio program, on Christian Radio 660AM and on WGGS Channel 16’s television program, Niteline. Stephanie has also been an invited guest on various Christian podcasts.

Cindy Van Wingerden, PhD

Clinical Pastoral Counselor
CAI Clinical Supervisor

Cindy is a Clinical Pastoral Counselor and Temperament Counselor through the NCCA., and is also a Certified Life Coach.  Cindy is certified in the Prepare/Enrich premarital assessment coaching program as well as the SYMBIS premarital assessment coaching program. Cindy holds a PhD in Clinical Counseling from Cornerstone University and is a former RN and nurse educator.

She is an active member of the American Association of Christian Counselors, the National Christian Counseling Association, the International Christian Coaching Association, and the Association of Biblical Counselors. Cindy is commissioned by GracePoint Church.

Cindy has been married to Nick for over 40 years. They now live in Greenville SC. They are blessed to have a son and daughter in law who live and serve on the mission field in France, and 4 lovely grandchildren. Cindy and her husband Nick attend Grace church.

Academic and Admissions Coordinator

Stephanie Laserna

Academic and Admissions Coordinator

Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business, with a major in Finance, from UNC Charlotte and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Christian Counseling.  She is an active member of the National Christian Counselors Association (NCCA) and the Sarasota Academy of Christian Counseling (SACC) and serves as the Administrator for LIA School of Counseling, a Certified Academic Institution of the NCCA.  Additionally, she is a Temperament Counselor through the NCCA, has been a Dave Ramsey Certified Financial Coach since 2007, and is commissioned as a Minister of Counseling by Grace Christian Church in Greenville.

In over 15 years as a Financial Coach, Stephanie has come to realize that money problems are typically a symptom of wrong mindsets and behaviors that must be addressed before someone can successfully follow a sound financial plan and enjoy true financial freedom.  After being introduced to the Director of Life in Abundance as a counseling resource for her financial coaching clients, she began to sense a calling to go beyond financial coaching and pursue her education as a Pastoral Counselor, in order to help people work through these root issues.  Her prayer is that this will not only lead to financial freedom in her clients’ lives but will ultimately lead to true freedom in the depths of their souls, because if the Son sets them free, they will be free indeed!  (John 8:36)

Stephanie grew up in the NC mountains but her husband’s civil engineering job brought them to the Upstate of SC in 1995.  They have attended Grace Christian Church in Greenville since moving to the area and now have two grown children.  In her spare time, Stephanie enjoys spending time outdoors, in-depth Bible studies, reading, biking, playing games with her family, watching a good courtroom drama, organizing, boating, water sports, and visiting lighthouses, beaches, lakes, & waterfalls.

Office Hours

Tuesday – Thursday 8:30-5:00pm
Monday & Friday – Closed