Our Team

Jackie Perry, Ph.D., LCMHCS, ACS

Founder & Director

Jackie started The SoulWell Center out of a desire to integrate her experience as a counselor, speaker, and counselor educator in a way that could equip everyday people to love others well. A gifted communicator, Jackie is passionate about making theological, biological, and neurological concepts accessible. She draws from experiences as a graduate professor of clinical mental health counseling and more than 30 years of providing therapeutic services for adolescents, emergent adults, and families and clinical supervision for counselors in her role as Director of SoulWell. Jackie married her college sweetheart, John, and together they have three amazing adult children. They love the outdoors and consider a family hike that ends in a view of the North Carolina mountains a perfect day.

Jen Auel, MA, LCMHCA

Board Member

Jen believes that God created us to be connected to one another. She has a passion for supporting people in hard places, especially teenagers and young adults. For nearly a decade, Jen has worked as a counselor, specializing in adoption and foster care, grief, and life transitions.  She leverages training in Trust Based Relational Intervention in her work and is currently working toward a grief certification. Jen strives to see others and hold their stories with them, and she’s excited that The SoulWell Center will be a place to do just that. In her free time, Jen enjoys hiking, swimming, playing cards, solving puzzles, and doing life with her husband and two kids. 

Andy Stenberg

Board Member

Andy understands the importance of providing a safe space for people to be heard without judgment. He is passionate about shepherding young men and spends much of his time with Mentoring Matters, a program he cofounded to rewrite the fatherless story. Andy has extensive experience as an ice hockey player, cyclist, and triathlete. Now, he leans on his athletic background to help people get to the roots of their chronic health conditions and flourish. Before selling his company and becoming a certified health and nutrition coach, Andy worked for years in the medical equipment business. He’s seen the fruit of listener training himself and can’t wait to see The SoulWell Center’s impact on others.

Emily O’Kane

Board Member

Emily has long been passionate about the power of storytelling. As a writer and brand strategist, she knows that creating space for people to be heard and understood can make all the difference. Emily studied journalism at UNC-Chapel Hill and earned her MBA from the University of Southern California. She also has the privilege of being Jackie’s daughter. She believes that business can be a force for good in communities and is excited to be a part of the transformative work of SoulWell. A North Carolina native, Emily and her husband reside in Hendersonville with their daughter and rambunctious doodle. They enjoy hiking, traveling, and enjoying time with friends and family.

Fred Baker

Board Member

Fred’s greatest joy is seeing people transformed by the gospel. He has been in pastoral ministry for more than 25 years. After earning his M.A. in Biblical Counseling from Dallas Theological Seminary, he held pastoral positions in Texas and Tennessee. Now, as Lead Pastor of Fellowship Asheville, Fred oversees developing the church's culture, supporting the staff, communicating the church’s vision, and preaching and communicating God’s truths. Fred and his wife Stacey have two young adult boys. They love movies (especially a good period piece drama), road trips, and really good food shared with great people in amazing places all over the globe.