Ruel Tyer, PhD., LPC

First and foremost, I’m married to a beautiful, God-fearing woman, with whom the Lord has greatly blessed me. God has used my wife to make me the man I am today and to continue to help me grow. My wife and I are what you may call foodies. We love cooking and experimenting with new dishes. A relaxing evening for us entails cooking a good meal together.

I was born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina. My parents have been married for 50 plus years, and I am the youngest of four boys as well as an identical twin. I was raised in a Christian household and attended church regularly growing up, but didn’t become a Christian until my mid-20s. I attended the University of South Carolina for my undergraduate degree in psychology (2001) and, after working for two years for the South Carolina Department of Mental Health, decided to pursue advanced degrees in counseling. I hold a master’s degree from Auburn University (2007) and a doctor’s degree from the University of Virginia (2010), both in counseling. I’m also a licensed professional counselor in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

What is my counseling philosophy?
My philosophy in counseling is to make myself irrelevant to those who seek my counseling services. I have a mantra of “my job is to work myself out of a job.” I am not seeking to make people dependent upon me but rather to learn to press into and utilize their support system around them. For some, that means learning to build a support system. I also seek to help people learn to draw from their faith as a strength to help them grow. I believe the success of counseling is built on what is transpiring between sessions, meaning what work are people doing between sessions. I partner with the people I work with to create interventions to implement outside of counseling sessions. This is done to help people gain the necessary tools to grow and heal. My hope for everyone I work with is to eventually become obsolete because individuals have become equipped with new tools and are supported by those around them. I see my role in people’s lives as a tiny blip on their timeline in life. I consider it a great honor to be granted the opportunity to help people move toward growth and healing.

Who do I work with?
My counseling is focused on working with men. In working with men, I have noticed, and the research supports it, that men severely underutilize counseling services. I desire to break the stigma many men have of counseling and offer them a safe environment to receive support. I have advance training in working with men and wrote a dissertation on men and mental health, and have provided varying types of services to men (e.g., outpatient men’s substance abuse group, men on parole, men of all ages ranging from adolescents to older adults).

Tim Pfeuffer, Resident in Counseling

Over the course of my 27-year marriage to my beloved wife, we have been blessed with four daughters. As devout Christians, we nurture our faith together daily.

For the past eight years, my wife and I have embarked on a missionary journey in Central America. We established and oversee Mercy Ministerio, a ministry dedicated to serving the communities of Cuilapa and its surrounding remote villages. Cuilapa serves as the geographical center of the Americas.

Upon our arrival in the region, we were struck by the scarcity of counselors. Our ministry provides support to those in need, prioritizing the well-being of youth, women, and children.

I completed a Master of Art degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University (2025). Currently, I am a Resident in Counseling, actively pursuing professional licensure for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Additionally, I hold a second master’s degree in Educational Leadership from the Pennsylvania State University (2006).

What is my counseling philosophy?

My counseling philosophy is rooted in the principles of trust and respect. I firmly believe that every individual possesses the inherent capacity for growth and resilience. My role is to establish a safe and non-judgmental environment that facilitates self-exploration, self-discovery, and the pursuit of transformative change. Together, we will collaboratively set goals and employ evidence-based strategies to assist individuals in aligning their lives with their core values.

Who do I work with?

My clientele encompasses a diverse range of individuals and couples, spanning the age spectrum from adolescence to adulthood. My areas of expertise include addiction counseling, athlete support, and pastoral and missionary care. Should any specific area of interest not be explicitly listed, please do not hesitate to contact me to inquire about my availability and suitability for your needs.