The silence doesn't mean you're alone

When coping isn’t enough, find the care that restores mind, heart and spirit.

We are here to offer compassionate care that nurtures the whole person—emotionally, physically, and spiritually.  Our team provides professional psychiatric care, therapy, psychological assessments and educational services, all guided by Biblical principles.

While we're not tied to any particular denomination, our staff is made up of licensed mental health professionals who are also deeply rooted in their faith in Jesus Christ. We believe in combining clinical expertise with genuine, Christ-centered care to help you heal and grow.

Meet the team

Dr. Al Saunders is a committed Christian and the Director of Wellspring Christian Clinic. In addition, he provides therapy services and conducts psychological and intellectual (IQ) evaluations as a Licensed Psychologist.

He is a native of Birmingham, AL. Dr. Saunders has a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology, and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.). He completed his internship training at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in the Department of Psychiatry.

Dr. Saunders worked in the corporate world as a marketing manager for a number of years before going into private practice in Psychology. He provides individual, marital and family therapy with clients ranging from early adolescence to adulthood. His therapy background covers a broad spectrum of mental illness with special interests in anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorders, depression, and impulse control disorders.

Additionally, Dr. Saunders enjoys working with the social, emotional and spiritual problems that individuals and couples experience in everyday life. To address these problems, he provides training in areas such as anger management, problem solving, conflict resolution, communication, and parenting.

Dr. Saunders and his wife have 4 grown children and 2 grandchildren, and they are members of a local church. He is an elder in his church denomination, an avid sports fan, a dog lover and an enthusiastic supporter of whatever activities his kids and grandkids are involved in.

Ben Smith is a Certified Addictions Counselor at Wellspring Christian Clinic, working exclusively with clients and families facing substance use issues. With close to 50 years of clinical experience and specialized training in addiction, he helps individuals and the people around them understand dependency and build a path toward recovery.

Before joining Wellspring, Ben served as Director of the Chemical Dependency inpatient program at Hill Crest Hospital. He came to the clinic when it needed a Certified Addictions Counselor, and because he admired the staff already there. Across three careers in professional counseling, youth ministry, and teaching, he has worked with people at very different stages of life.

Outside of his counseling work, Ben is committed to nutrition and exercise, follows Auburn football closely, and volunteers with Young Life. He will tell you he is not as easy going as he appears. His family shows up for each other whenever the need arises, and that same steadiness shapes how he works with the families in his care.

Bobi Ezell, LPC, is a Licensed Professional Counselor at Wellspring Christian Clinic, specializing in counseling for adolescents and young adults. She uses an eclectic mix of CBT, DBT, and Internal Family Systems (IFS) to help clients manage anxiety, depression, and trauma-related issues while building self-awareness and healthy coping skills.

With a background in music and law, Bobi transitioned to counseling after feeling a calling to help others. She holds a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Colorado Christian University and previously worked in inpatient and residential settings before joining Wellspring in 2022.

Outside of work, Bobi enjoys hiking, exploring new places, and connecting with nature. She is passionate about building healthy relationships, starting with self-awareness and community, and helping others find strength in their healing journey.

Brandon Snipes is an Associate Licensed Counselor at Wellspring Christian Clinic, where he draws on his diverse background to support clients through life’s challenges. With a B.A. in Biblical and Theological Studies and a Master’s in Counseling from the University of Montevallo, Brandon combines his passion for personal growth with a deep understanding of faith to help clients navigate depression, anxiety, relationships, and life transitions.

Before counseling, Brandon worked as a teacher, fitness trainer, and musician, experiences that have shaped his creative, empathetic approach to therapy. He has worked with a wide range of clients, including inner-city children, families, and adults, and enjoys using innovative methods to help people reach their full potential while deepening their relationship with God.

Outside of his counseling work, Brandon is a recording artist, painter, and a former college tennis player with a black belt in taekwondo. He is passionate about helping others grow in their self-awareness and faith. Brandon is happily married with children and is actively involved in his local church community.

Bryce Landwehr is a Licensed Professional Counselor at Wellspring Christian Clinic, focused on treating severe depression and anxiety. He has extensive experience with bipolar disorder and psychotic disorders, and a former season as a youth pastor gives him a natural connection with adolescents.

Before joining Wellspring, Bryce spent four years as a therapist in the psychiatric department at Brookwood Baptist Hospital. He came to the clinic wanting an environment where he is encouraged to practice mental health through a strong Christian lens. He uses humor to keep the room relaxed without losing the depth that hard situations require.

Bryce is most passionate about helping people find hope when they least expect it, and offering guidance through their darkest seasons. He is drawn to the outdoors and also keeps up with movies and video games, which helps him stay in touch with younger clients. He has been married to his wife for 15 years, they have three children, and the family is heavily involved in their church.

Hal Thurstin, Ph.D., provides psychotherapy and psychological evaluations at Wellspring Christian Clinic. He works from a range of strategies for behavioral difficulties, including cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy and experiential techniques and brings strong personality assessment skills to his evaluations.

Hal spent 35 years as a faculty member in the Department of Psychiatry in the School of Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. After retiring from that position, he looked for a setting where he could continue providing psychological services, which brought him to Wellspring.

Hal was born in Missouri, moved to Utah as an infant, and grew up in South Carolina before coming to Alabama for graduate school. He met his wife, Connie, in Tuscaloosa, and they have been married since 1982. They have an adult daughter who works as an analyst at Regions Bank, along with two dogs, a Welsh terrier and a miniature schnauzer. He once ran a marathon in three hours and thirty minutes and never ran another.

Jason Peevy is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) at Wellspring Christian Clinic, specializing in individual, couples, and family therapy. With a Master’s in Counseling from the University of Alabama-Birmingham, Jason has over 15 years of experience helping clients navigate anxiety, depression, addiction, trauma, and family dynamics. His approach combines Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with a strong emphasis on faith-based principles.

Before joining Wellspring, Jason ran his own private practice and has extensive experience working with adolescents, couples, and families. He believes in the importance of understanding one’s role in life and how transitions—such as parenthood or career shifts—can impact mental health. Jason uses his gifts to help clients become aware of these challenges and find healing through a deeper understanding of themselves.

Outside of his work, Jason is passionate about his family, sports, and his faith. He has been married to his wife, Melinda, for over 20 years, and they have two sons, Luke and Andrew. The Peevys are an active family at Covenant Presbyterian Church, where Jason serves as an Elder, and they all enjoy being involved in their community and the sport of basketball.

Kate is a Licensed Professional Counselor at Wellspring, where she has served for over 20 years. She holds a Master of Arts in Counseling from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a B.A. in Human Development and Family Studies from Samford University. 

Kate works with both individuals and couples on a wide range of issues. Her particular areas of interest include anxiety, codependency, women's issues, parenting, relationship counseling, family of origin issues, shame, perfectionism, and life transitions. 

Before joining Wellspring, Kate worked at Lifeline Children's Services, where she provided counseling to birth mothers and residents of their girl's home. She desires to bring compassion and commitment to creating a safe, healing space for those navigating difficult seasons of life. She believes in the power of God, His Word and prayer to bring redemption, transformation, hope, and healing to our hearts and relationships. 



Outside of her professional work, Kate enjoys spending time with her husband, Jonathan, and their two children. She is most content enjoying nature, especially on a trail in the mountains.

Leah Waller is a child and family therapist at Wellspring Christian Clinic, with more than 25 years in private practice. She was trained by pioneers in the family therapy field, including Jay Haley and Salvador Minuchin, and brings an unusual ability to read what children are feeling and needing so that treatment fits each child specifically.

Leah joined Wellspring after Hope Counseling closed its doors and she needed a home for her practice. Her work centers on children and the families around them, and she sees herself as an agent of change in seasons when a family feels stuck. She has a particular patience for joining children in play and meeting them where they already are.

Leah is most passionate about helping children see themselves the way God sees them and recognize the gifts they carry. She has a special place in her heart for children and describes herself as a child at heart. She has four grown children of her own and spends her free time visiting and being with them.

Maddie Fort is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist at Wellspring Christian Clinic, working with individuals and couples across adulthood. She earned a bachelor's degree in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Alabama and completed the university's Marriage and Family Therapy graduate program, training in systems theory, attachment-based work, trauma-informed care, cognitive behavioral interventions, and couples modalities.

Before joining Wellspring, Maddie worked with individuals, couples, and families in private practice in Tuscaloosa and Birmingham. With individuals, she focuses on life transitions, identity development, family-of-origin patterns, grief, anxiety, and boundaries, with particular care for women entering a new season of career, marriage, or motherhood. With couples, she works on communication repair, conflict patterns, rebuilding trust after betrayal, affair recovery, and premarital counseling.

Maddie describes herself as a people person and balances warmth with direction, adjusting her approach to what each client needs. She grew up on a farm in rural Indiana and was the first in her family to attend college. She married her college sweetheart, stays active, and loves to travel with him.

Mae is an Associate Licensed Counselor at Wellspring Christian Clinic. She earned a Bachelor’s in Psychology and a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Auburn University and is a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC). Mae specializes in trauma, anxiety, depression, and relationship struggles, using Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and EMDR.

Before joining Wellspring, Mae and her husband served in ministry in Nashville, TN. She began at Wellspring as an Administrative Assistant at 16 and now works with teenage girls and adult women, supporting them as they heal and find strength in their faith and personal growth.

Mae is passionate about helping others, focusing on motherhood, trauma recovery, and codependency. She enjoys spending time with her family, walking, reading, and enjoying coffee. Mae is supervised by Kelley Jones, M.S., LPC-S, at Wellspring.

Megyn Gooch is a Licensed Professional Counselor at Wellspring Christian Clinic, specializing in trauma, mood disorders, chronic stress, and complex family dynamics. She is certified in EMDR, holds a certification in the Gottman Method and Gottman Level One training, and is an IASIS-certified practitioner, bringing evidence-based trauma treatment, relational repair, and neuro-informed approaches into her work.

Before joining Wellspring, Megyn worked at another private practice in the Birmingham area, mostly with couples. She came to Wellspring wanting to be part of a group of providers who practice from integrity and humility rather than marketing, and she had long respected the character of the clinic's founder. She entered counseling in her early 40s, and her own experience of grief, trauma, and long-term relational challenges shapes how she sits with clients in hard places.

Megyn grew up in a small town in Mississippi and now lives in Fultondale with her husband, Adam. She has two sons, Michael and Drew, and is close with her extended and step-family. She values authenticity, connection, and beauty found in art, music, nature, and shared meals.

Dr. Romeo Penn is a Licensed Clinical Pastoral Counselor at Wellspring Christian Clinic, where he also works as a Functional Nutrition Counselor and sports psychology coach. He earned a Master's degree and a Ph.D. from Colorado Theological Seminary and brings insight into covenant relationships, intrapersonal work, and interpersonal dynamics.

Romeo joined Wellspring in 2020 after years in fitness training, basketball training, and mentoring ministry. A former international professional basketball player, he returned to school at 38 to pursue counseling. He works from an understanding of anatomy, physiology, and psychology together, all from a Christ centered perspective.



Romeo is passionate about loving people well and about learning to be comfortable in uncomfortable situations. He is a follower of Jesus, adopted, and musically inclined, which few people know about him. He has been married for 25 years and counting, and he and his wife have two daughters. The family values sit down meals together and travels together whenever they can.

Ryane Rice is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist at Wellspring Christian Clinic, specializing in working with adolescents, young adults, and women. She holds a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy from Abilene Christian University and a Bachelor’s in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Alabama. Ryane has a passion for helping clients navigate issues such as anxiety, depression, identity development, and life transitions.

Before joining Wellspring, Ryane served as the High School Youth Director at Trinity United Methodist Church and worked as an LMFTA at United Counseling, a non-profit counseling clinic. Her experience with youth has equipped her with the ability to connect deeply with adolescents and young adults, helping them work through their challenges and transitions.

Outside of her professional life, Ryane is passionate about loving others and helping them experience God’s love and grace. She enjoys spending time with her husband, Blake, and their three boys, Gates, Everett, and Salter. Ryane is also creative and loves painting, finding peace and joy in expressing herself through art.

Stephanie Corcoran provides psychological assessment for children and adolescents at Wellspring Christian Clinic. She helps families understand how their child learns by looking at both challenges and strengths. She then turns complex results into clear, practical next steps for home and school.

Before joining Wellspring, Stephanie worked as a special education teacher and school psychologist, then taught at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and directed its School Psychology Program. She came to the clinic to work directly with families in a place where her faith and professional calling fit together, believing every child is uniquely created and deserves to be understood.

Stephanie and her husband, Ryan, have two children, Quinn and Finley. The family loves trips to Disney World and the beach and are members of Briarwood Presbyterian Church. Outside the clinic, she is an avid tennis player, practices hot yoga and follows Alabama football.

Tina Sumpter is a Licensed Professional Counselor at Wellspring Christian Clinic, specializing in anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship issues. With a Master’s in Professional Counseling from Liberty University, she uses biblically integrated and attachment-based approaches to support adult women, couples, and male clients through their unique struggles.

Prior to joining Wellspring, Tina worked as a Christian counselor at Samford University and other local practices while homeschooling her four children. Her compassionate, empathetic approach helps clients break free from shame and discover their identity in Christ, often integrating various therapeutic frameworks.

Outside of counseling, Tina enjoys teaching Bible studies, serving in prison ministry, and exploring the outdoors through kayaking and hiking. She is passionate about helping others live with humility and confidence in their worth and value.

Our office emotional support animal. 🐾