Dr. Debbie Steele is Professor of Christian Counseling at Gateway Seminary. She has a long history of service within the Southern Baptist community as a missionary and Christian counselor. Most notably, she was employed by the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention as an overseas missionary, serving for 12 years in the former Yugoslavia during the civil war, which lasted from 1988-2000. Since 2004, she has operated a private practice as a licensed marriage and family therapist, providing Emotionally-Focused Therapy and Bible-based counseling to the local community.

She has taught previously as an assistant professor at California State University, Fresno and as adjunct faculty at Fresno Pacific University, Fresno City College, Tulane University, Southeastern Louisiana University and Elizabethton College. Dr. Steele has written numerous scholarly publications and presented at international, national and local professional conferences. Her current passion is working with Christian couples utilizing emotionally focused couples therapy.