We have two counselors on staff at Redeemer who are available for Redeemer members to work with. If you are facing a challenge in your life that goes beyond issues of discipleship, repentance, sanctification, and faith, we encourage you to seek out help from one of these counselors.
Sarah Ryburn Mealer
Sarah Ryburn and her husband Rick joined Redeemer after relocating to Texas from Jackson, Mississippi. She was a lifelong member of First Presbyterian Church in Jackson. She also completed a degree in Marriage and Family Counseling at Reformed Theological Seminary there.
Licensed by the state of Mississippi as a professional counselor, Sarah Ryburn had a variety of work experiences before moving to Texas. She worked for the Warren–Yazoo Mental Health Center in the Adult Chemical Dependence Center. She also worked for Mississippi Children’s Home Services, CARES, Inc, at the ARK: a psychiatric residential treatment facility for adolescents with severe emotional disturbance and/or chemical dependence. She was also the Social–Emotional Counselor for Middle and Upper School (grades 5-12) at Jackson Academy, a college preparatory school in Jackson.
Elizabeth Brisola
Elizabeth Brisola and her husband Gerson joined Redeemer after immigrating from Brazil with their children Joel and Deborah two years ago. Elizabeth and Gerson sing in the choir and are active in other church ministries. Earlier this year, I learned of her education and professional expertise in the area of psychology and counseling. From 1988 to 2000, Elisabeth earned a B.S. in Psychology and an M.S. in Clinical Psychology. In 2017, she was awarded a Doctorate in Psychology from the Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas, Brazil. She has served internships in the United States (at Yale University) and Brazil. She has conducted therapy in her own private practice and has also taught at the Presbyterian Seminary in Campinas, Brazil. She has given lectures and has also coauthored several scientific articles in prestigious journals, both here in the United States and in Brazil.
Other Resources
Redeemer also works with several other Christian counselors in the area to provide counseling resources to Redeemer members. If you wish to take advantage of one of the outside subsidized counseling options below, please contact either Pastor Eric or Pastor Bryce for a referral.
Gene Kummerer is a local PCA ruling elder and a Licensed Professional Counselor. He has more than 25 years of experience in counseling and social work, including:
- Addictions
- Depression and Anxiety
- Marriage therapy
- Abuse
- Grief and Loss
You can contact Gene via his website: www.genekummerer.com.
Sandy Yaklin, a member at Redeemer, is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) and is board-certified in psychiatry and mental health (PMHNP-BC). She can assess, diagnose, and treat patients with psychiatric disorders including the prescription of medications and administration of psychotherapy. PMHNP’s provide a full range of psychiatric and mental health services including:
- Diagnosing and treating psychiatric/mental health conditions
- Prescribing medications and treatments
- Ordering, performing and interpreting diagnostic tests
You can contact Sandy via her website: www.sandrayaklin.com.
The Austin Stone Counseling Center is made up of a variety of trained and licensed professionals who are passionate about Jesus, the gospel, and the local church. With nearly 30 counselors across four locations around the city, there is sure to be someone nearby who can help. You can contact Austin Stone Counseling Center via their website: www.austinstonecounseling.org.