OUR TEAM
We believe in the restorative and transformative work of the Holy Spirit in individuals for holistic health. Our teams reflect that. Our ministry team is made up of clinical counselors, pastoral counselors, social workers, and trained ministry lay leaders that have a heart and knowledge of integration of faith and psychological principles, and the interaction of spiritual, emotional, and physical health. Our ministry team also includes licensed movement instructors.
Every member of our ministry team has completed our extensive Free to Be Integrative Prayer and Counsel training that applies our unique approach. Each ministry team member is under the supervision of licensed counselors.
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Leigh-Ann Brisbin
Executive Director, Founder
Licensed Clinical Counselor, Ministry Team
Fairlawn Office
Leigh-Ann is a Licensed Clinical Counselor and the Executive Director of Free to Be Ministries. She is the author of My True Reflection; Freedom from Eating Disorders. In 2011 Leigh-Ann graduated from Ashland Theological Seminary with a Master of Arts Degree in Clinical Pastoral Counseling and has worked in both clinical and ministerial settings, counseling, teaching, leading and training others. She is passionate about the work of the Holy Spirit in holistic health and believes in the impact of integrating faith and counseling for healing. Through our Free to Lead programs, Leigh-Ann also speaks, writes, and trains church leaders and counselors, in spiritual formation and the integration of faith and counseling.
Amanda Hooley
Ministry Team, Licensed Professional Counselor, Registered Art Therapist
Fairlawn Office
Amanda earned her Masters in Counseling and Art Therapy from Ursuline College in 2018 where she gained experience working with children in low socioeconomic settings, behavioral health and detox floors in hospitals, older adults living with dementia and assisting families with end-of-life issues. Amanda became a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Certified Dementia Practitioner in 2018. She worked in long term care providing activities and support for people living with dementia as well as helped families grieve the loss of their loved one through the disease process and at end-of- life. Amanda has been on the board for a non-profit organization called Dementia Friendly Life since 2019. In 2021, Amanda became a Board Certified, Registered Art Therapist. Currently, Amanda works part time in private practice serving primarily children and adolescents. Amanda is passionate about the healing aspects of art and how transformative it is for the mind, body, and spirit.
Todd Brisbin
Ministry Team, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and Addiction Specialist
Fairlawn Office
In 2011 Todd graduated from Ashland Theological Seminary with a Master of Arts Degree in Clinical Pastoral Counseling. He completed his internships with EMERGE Counseling Services and Edwin Shaw Rehabilitation Center and then worked at EMERGE Counseling Services in private practice, and Edwin Shaw and Laurelwood Hospitals PHP and IOP programs. He is currently the Director of Outpatient Services at Laurelwood and works part time at Free To Be Ministries. He has also attended Christian Fellowship Church Encounter Conferences for training in prayer that offers opportunities for healing and spiritual growth.
Carlee Clawson
Ministry Team, Kids and Teens
Fairlawn Office
Carlee has completed coursework in psychology, child and family development, and religion. In 2019 she completed integrative prayer training with Free To Be Ministries. She has a special interest in trauma informed care for teens and adolescence. Carlee interned at the Chapel in Akron's Urban Ministries Department for 7 years, working with children in their afterschool and summer camp programming. There, she specifically served children with emotional, mental, and behavioral needs. She has many years of experience serving in youth ministries, discipling/mentoring adolescent girls. She has served clients in an administrative role at EMERGE Counseling Services. Currently, along with working with children and adolescence at Free To Be, she also works part time for RAHAB Ministries serving women who have been victims of human trafficking or at high risk of being trafficked.
Joy Trachsel
Ministry Team, Certified Mental Health Coach, Certified Premarital Prepare/Enrich Program Facilitator
Fairlawn Office, Fridays-Only Redemption Chapel Sessions
Joy graduated from Mary Baldwin College with a degree in Business Administration. She has also done graduate studies at Trinity Evangelical School of Divinity. Joy has served over 10 years in the non-profit arena focusing on women in poverty and crisis. She has been speaking to women for over 15 years both nationally and internationally at women's events and can be heard on Moody Radio – Cleveland (WCRF) as part of the Pause For Prayer Team. She is also the author of The Great Cover-Up, a book that inspires women to say YES to God.
Joy is a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors and a Certified Mental Health Coach. She is also a certified Prepare/Enrich program facilitator for enagaged couples seeking premaritial counseling. She has a passion for working with women that are feeling trapped by anxiety and depression and watching them be set free in Jesus.
Adrean Stulak
Ministry Team
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Fairlawn Office
Adrean graduated from Bowling Green State University with a degree in Special Education. She worked at Brunswick City Schools as an Intervention Specialist. While teaching, Adrean completed coursework in Counseling Education at Cleveland State University. She has worked in ministry leadership, overseeing and developing groups for women of all ages, especially young mothers navigating difficult life transitions for many years. Adrean currently serves in Children’s Ministry teaching, discipling, and serving young hearts in Christ. She is a student at Ashland Theological Seminary's clinical pastoral counseling program. She completed the Integrative Prayer and Counsel training with Free To Be Ministries in 2020. Adrean has a heart for spiritual formation and holistic approaches to wellness for women in all ages and stages of life.
Audrey Pace
Ministry Team, Licensed Social Worker, Certified Yoga Instructor
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Virtual Appointments Only
Ms. Audrey Pace hails from Cleveland, Ohio. She graduated from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science in Human Ecology. Audrey is a Certified Yoga Instructor, as well as a Licensed Massage Therapist. In 2008 she received her Master of Social Work degree from Cleveland State University. She has completed integrative prayer training through Free To Be Ministries. Working for the Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center, Audrey served in the Freedom Center where she greatly enjoyed working with the OEF/OIF veterans as a Case Manager! She has worked as a Licensed Social Worker and Outpatient Mental Health Therapist for six years at the Cleveland VA Medical Center.
Her focus is working with women that may be struggling with addiction, mental heath, recovering from trauma, and those who may be healing after abortion. She is passionate about helping others find healing from wounds and the opportunity to walk alongside them in their spiritual and emotional journey.
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Erica Howard
Licensed Social Worker, Ministry Team
Fairlawn Office
Erica Howard holds a BA in social work from the University of Akron, and a Masters in Social work from Florida state University. She is a member of the National Association of Social Workers. She is also certified by The Grief Recovery Institute® as a Grief Recovery Method Specialist. She began working with survivors of trafficking in 2013 when she felt a call to "go get God's daughters". She has worked with RAHAB ministries in the safe house, drop in center, and retreats, leading both groups and individuals into deeper relationships with Christ. She currently works as an advocate for survivors of trafficking with Empower Her Network. She has been part of leadership with Akron Women on Purpose, sharing her story authentically and leading women into redemptive work of Christ. Erica’s education, experience and training are of trauma informed care and breaking down strongholds. She has experience working with women in addiction, adult children of addicts, post abortive, sexual trauma, and childhood wounds. Erica has a heart for speaking to all of God’s daughters, with an emphasis on diversity. She believes everyone has a story that only their voice can tell. She is passionate about women knowing their identity in Christ and His redemption in their story
Tina Farist
Ministry Team, Story Coach, Spiritual Director & Certified Trauma-Informed Yoga Instructor
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Fairlawn Office
Tina believes that healing and wholeness can be found by integrating mind, body, and spirit through mindfulness, movement, and story. She is passionate about seeing women reconnect with their bodies, releasing trauma to find freedom and wholeness.
By combining her Narrative Focused Trauma Care Training through The Allender Center at The Seattle School of Psychology and Theology with her Somatic Trauma Therapy, Trauma Informed Yoga and Spiritual Direction Certification, Tina will journey alongside you on your path to healing. She will guide you into compassionate self-care; through breath, prayer, and mindfulness practices, bear witness to your story with honor, and hold space as you discover God’s movement throughout your life. Tina sees herself as a spiritual midwife for women as they witness their bodies, spirits and souls and allow for the Spirit to move in all three.
She offers Individual Spiritual Direction and both Individual & Group Story Work and Movement Classes. In person and virtual.
Tina has also partnered with RAHAB Ministries since 2016, bringing movement and prayer to survivors of human trafficking.
Education & Training:
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Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapy Certificate, Embody Lab, 2022
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Narrative Focused Trauma Care, Levels I-III, Allender Center, 2019 - 2023
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Spiritual Director, Sustainable Faith, 2020-2022
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Integrative Prayer and Counsel, Free to Be, 2021
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Trauma Informed Yoga, Holy Yoga, 2017
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International Ministries, Moody Bible Institute, 1994
Laura Brenner
Prayer and Counsel & Somatic Ministry Team, Bowen Technique
Fairlawn Office
Laura is a women's ministry leader, National Certified Bowen Practitioner, and a trained staff member of Free to Be. Laura graduated from Mount Vernon Nazarene University and started her career teaching elementary school. She later went on to receive a Master of Arts in Ministerial Studies with Women’s Leadership Concentration from Grace Seminary in 2020. She now works at Grace Church as a leader in women’s spiritual leadership support. She has completed the Free to Be Ministries Integrative training as well.
"Through my own life experiences and journey, the Lord has fostered in me a desire to help other women find hope and healing through holistic means. I believe in God’s power to restore and redeem all aspects of our lives in this broken and fallen world. By focusing on all areas of our health – mental, emotional, physical and spiritual – I believe we can become all we were created to be in Jesus. I find joy and purpose in encouraging and helping others become and remain healthy."
Shannon McKee
Ministry Team, Certified Life Coach and Enneagram Practitioner
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Fairlawn Office, Fridays Only - Redemption Chapel
Shannon is a Certified Enneagram and Life Coach. Having gained most of her theological training through Trinity Evangelical School of Divinity, she has been working in coaching, mentoring, and teaching roles for the last 30 years – first on college campuses in Ohio and now on staff as the Women’s Ministry Director at a local church. Her passion is holding space for curiosity around issues of identity, greater self-awareness, spiritual formation, and Spirit-led transformation. She works with individuals, couples, and teams who are ready to engage in some wholehearted inner work to become more self-aware and live in the freedom that kind of awareness brings. She completed the Integrative Prayer and Counsel training with Free to Be Ministries in early 2023.
Her particular sweet spot is working with women who are in ministry or in leadership or in a season of major life transition.
David Black
Ministry Team, Pastor, AF Chaplain, Certified Prepare/Enrich Facilitator
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Fairlawn Office
David earned his Master of Divinity from Harding School of Theology in 2001. He
served on Active Duty as a Chaplain for 8 years with the Air Force and has
continued in the AF Reserves since 2011. He was the Sr. Pastor of Church in the
Falls for 11 years and has been doing pastoral counseling for over 20 years. He
has a passion for encouraging and mentoring those younger in ministry and
desires to see a more holistic model of discipleship and healing for local
churches. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry from Ashland Theological
Seminary. David completed the Integrative Prayer and Counsel training with Free to Be Ministries in early 2023.
Ted Kruse
Ministry Team,
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Fairlawn Office
Ted grew up outside of Chicago. He graduated from Cedarville University with a B.A. in Psychology. He has done graduate work at Ashland, Liberty, Capella and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.
Ted was a Lead Teaching Pastor for 17 years and has been doing pastoral counseling for over 17 years. He holds certificates in Spiritual Formation from The Christian Leadership Institute in California, a certificate in Spiritual Direction from Sustainable Faith in Columbus and completed the Integrative Prayer and Counsel training with Free to Be Ministries in early 2023.
Ted is married to Alissa and has three children.
OPERATIONAL TEAM
Emily Brisbin
Executive Admin & Creative Design Manager
Mary Scherer
Operational Finances
Susan Mook
Intake Coordinator & Event Hospitality
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Sarah Mihalik
President of the Board