route to respite
who we are
founders story
Route to Respite offers a safe, authentic space for temporary rest and relief through mentoring, counseling, and community gathering. Led by Leah and Steve Cofield, the organization is dedicated to providing restoration for those facing life's challenges.
Steve, from Buffalo, NY, earned an Associates in Communications from Erie Community College. Growing up in a large family, he learned to be adaptable and easygoing. Leah, also from Buffalo, holds a Master's in Clinical Mental Health from Liberty University. Her passion for helping others stems from personal pain, motivating her to ensure no one walks through hardship alone.
With over 15 years of experience in community outreach, Leah and Steve have served at-risk youth and low-income families both locally and internationally. After living in Africa, they settled in the Lehigh Valley in 2017, where Leah saw a barn in Schnecksville as a symbol of hope and restoration.
As a family, Leah and Steve are committed to helping others heal, aiming to provide a place for rest and recovery from trauma. They believe in meeting people where they are and helping them walk toward wholeness. In their downtime, they enjoy kitchen dance parties, competitive board games, and indulging in sweet treats.
our team
Mental Health Therapy
Leah Cofield
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), National Certified Counselor (NCC), Master of Arts (MA), Certified Breathwork Facilitator
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With a trauma-informed and multicultural approach, Leah offers compassionate, affirming mental health therapy that helps clients feel seen, heard, and supported. While she specializes in trauma and grief, her work also includes supporting teens and young adults navigating anxiety, depression, self-harm, identity challenges, and major life transitions.
Recognized by Lehigh Valley Magazine for her holistic and person-centered approach, Leah believes healing occurs when clients are empowered to move at their own pace. She blends evidence-based practices such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with somatic techniques and breathwork, supporting the mind-body connection and offering tools that extend beyond traditional talk therapy.
Above all, Leah is committed to walking alongside her clients with empathy, curiosity, and collaboration—helping them build coping skills, deepen self-understanding, and move toward lasting healing.
Leah is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University. She was honored with the Servant Hearts Award, recognizing her academic excellence, leadership, and meaningful service to her community.
Lifestyle, Longevity & Leadership
Dr. Crystal Agyei
Lifestyle Medicine Physician, Life & Leadership Coach
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Dr. Crystal Agyei is a doctor and coach who helps people get their health, energy, and focus back without the overwhelm.
After years working in pediatric intensive care, she saw firsthand what happens when people’s lives run on survival mode. That experience shaped her belief that burnout isn’t just about doing too much—it’s about being pulled in too many directions that don’t align with who you are.
Now as a Lifestyle Medicine Doctor and Certified Life & Leadership Coach, Dr. Crystal combines science, practical tools, and faith-informed guidance to help people recalibrate their health and priorities.
At Route to Respite, she offers a 90-minute Lifestyle Medicine Consultation—a one-time session that helps you identify what’s wearing you down, discover what will help you feel better, and build a simple, evidence-based roadmap you can start right away. You will leave with clarity, renewed motivation, and a plan that fits your real life.
She’s also a homeschool mom, a big reader, and believes that rest isn’t something you earn—it’s something you need.
board memebers
Leah Cofield
Co-Founder, President
(Licensed Professional Counselor)
Steve Cofield
Co-Founder, Vice President
(Nestle)
Tonya Roshi
Secretary
(Bethlehem Christian School Teacher)
Ziera Wolf
Board Member
(Altitude Marketing Team Manager)
student advisory board
Aja Saez Isaiah Cofield Jayden Jackson
mission statement
our mission
We exist to bring restoration in a safe, authentic place by offering temporary rest and relief from something troubling through mentoring, counseling and a place to gather.
our vision
Our vision is for every individual to discover their inner strength and embrace their journey toward healing and wholeness.
core values
At Route to Respite, we don’t just slap a Bible verse over our pain, we intentionally use the tools God has given us and actively apply them to the healing process. We believe transformation requires action, not passivity. Everything we do flows from our identity in Christ, because when we know who we are in Him, we can show up fully for others. Our weaknesses are made strong through His strength, and we hold space for the truth that suffering and grief are real - yet so is redemption.
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Authentic Connection: We believe true healing begins in genuine relationships so we can be honest and real about where we are in our suffering and pain. In a world of pseudo-connection, we create spaces of belonging where people can come as they are— to offer a refuge where they can rest, be real, and know they don’t have to perform to be accepted.Our goal isn’t to reach people, but to welcome them through honesty, empathy, and compassion, so they feel safe enough to heal.
2. Intentionality: We don’t believe things happen by accident. There is not only purpose in the healing but also in the pain and suffering. Therefore, we need to be intentional with what we do with our time and tools as we move forward.
3. Transparency: Willingness to be vulnerable and honest even with our shortcomings. It supports our ability to ask for help, identify what we need, keep accountability and strengthen our integrity.
4. Responsibility: We believe each person carries the choice and privilege of stewarding their own growth by showing up for yourself. We won’t tell you what to do. Healing is a personal journey.
5. Whole health: We believe true healing happens when every part of a person is cared for; mind, body, and spirit. We are committed to uniting the different facets of wellness needed for lasting restoration. We approach each person through a whole-person and multicultural lens, honoring their story, background, and unique needs.