
Kara Anderson
I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with nearly 30 years of experience. I am located in Florida where I began my career in counseling in 1994 as a residential therapist in a psychiatric hospital, followed by the roles of an outpatient therapist, clinical supervisor and program director at a substance abuse treatment agency. In 2001, I relocated to Ohio, where I worked for the next 13 years as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor - Supervisor, program manager and program administrator for a mental and behavioral health nonprofit organization. In 2014, I relocated back to Florida where I began my online practice. If you have any reservations about online counseling, I encourage you to give it a try. It is a highly effective and convenient therapeutic modality that can be accessed from the the comfort and safety of your own home or wherever you are at any given time. I can attest to this with utmost confidence based on my clients' positive feedback after providing services here for over 8 years. My clinical philosophy is one of a humanistic nature, with emphasis on the therapeutic relationship as the most essential building block of the counseling process. My therapeutic style is warm, interactive, attentive and compassionate. I believe that genuineness, unconditional positive regard and empathy are critical to the helping process. As needed, I am also direct and structured in my approach and tend to assign therapeutic homework or tasks to enhance the progression and continuity of the process in between live sessions or message exchanges. I have the ability to tailor and pace treatment to your individual and unique needs, and I am sensitive to evolving the process at your pace and convenience while still promoting and prompting advancement toward your goals. Furthermore, I take a holistic approach to health and wellness, with emphasis on achieving balance in major life domains. I believe that when needs, desires or aspirations are unfulfilled in one significant realm, the others are affected as well and this creates imbalance in one's life, leading to stress, anxiety, inconsistency, overwhelmed feelings, lack of self-care, somatic symptoms, etc. Lastly, in terms of professional characteristics and standards of care, I operate with the highest degree. I was esteemed throughout my career for my level of professionalism, ethical conduct, organization, efficiency and grace. My educational background includes: a bachelor's degree in psychology from University of Miami, FL; a master's degree in mental health counseling from Nova Southeastern University of Fort Lauderdale, FL; and additional post-graduate coursework in career counseling, and the diagnosis, evaluation and treatment of mental disorders at University of Dayton in Bexley, OH. I enjoy the ongoing pursuit of continued education, training and professional development through seminars in specialized areas, reading and self-study. I highly value knowledge, information and effective application of therapeutic theories, models, strategies, and techniques that may benefit the people I serve. My clinical experience includes working with various diverse populations and treatment modalities, and the full spectrum of issues and disorders ranging from the most simple to the most complex co-occurring conditions. I specialize in treating depression/anxiety/stress, substance abuse/addiction, emotional/physical/sexual abuse, trauma and grief/loss. I also have extensive experience with counseling issues in the following areas: LGBT, Relationship issues, Family conflicts, Intimacy-related issues, Parenting issues, Anger management, Self esteem, Career difficulties, Compassion fatigue & Addictions in general. Depression, anxiety and stress are some of the most common challenges faced by people who seek counseling. In this realm, I have worked with children, adolescents and adults in residential/hospital, outpatient and community-based settings. I have provided individual, group and family services, and have facilitated psycho-educational counseling groups and workshops on coping skills, stress management/reduction, emotion regulation, self-esteem and assertive communication skills. My approach though eclectic, tends to be rooted in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which per evidence-based research, is very effective in treating these issues. This active intervention is problem-focused and goal-directed in examining the relationships between thoughts, feelings and behaviors; and modifying unhelpful or negative patterns of thinking that lead to self-defeating beliefs and actions, to improve coping and overall wellness. I also take a mindfulness-based approach to CBT (MBCBT) by encouraging the use of mindfulness practice and self-compassion. These tools help to address and validate one's personal experience with distress, pain and suffering; and diminish associated negative symptoms by focusing attention on the present moment. Learning how to self-soothe and regulate emotions through effective relaxation, calming and grounding strategies are significant components of my clinical approach to addressing depression, anxiety and stress. For over two decades, I have treated teens and adults who struggle with substance abuse and dependency issues. In 1998, I was humbly honored to receive Florida Alcohol & Drug Abuse Association's Professional of the Year award. I have provided these services in various settings and levels of care from the least to the most restrictive. As an outpatient alcohol and drug counselor, I worked with self-referred individuals as well as those who had been mandated to receive evaluation and/or treatment as a condition of probation, parole, work, school or a family/community member. I provided these services in individual, group and family forums. As a clinical supervisor and administrator, I had the opportunity to develop and oversee programming and staff in the specialized area of addictions. In a training capacity, I facilitated seminars to educate clinical staff in the areas of assessing, diagnosing and treating alcohol and drug problems. I am very passionate about working with people who struggle with addictions in general, one day at a time, toward a healthy recovery and lifestyle. Maintaining a strong emphasis on healthy coping skills, positive support systems and relapse prevention planning are key to my treatment approach in this area. In the delicate area of treating the effects of abuse and trauma, I have worked with child and adult survivors of emotional/physical/sexual abuse and violence. I have extensive experience working with acute and post traumatic stress disorder and have developed and facilitated group curricula that focus on reducing isolation, guilt/shame and self-blame; building self-esteem, positive support systems and coping skills; and increasing a sense of mastery and personal empowerment. I am also well versed at teaching survivors how to implement effective relaxation, grounding and anchoring techniques to help diminish anxiety and maintain a balanced state of arousal and focus in the present moment. Encouraging self-forgiveness is also very important to me in helping survivors let go of illegitimate shame or guilt derived from any unwanted responses to, or effects from the abuse. Throughout the healing journey, I am sensitive to guiding the process at a pace that feels most comfortable and safe to each person, and promoting respite from focusing on difficult material if/when it becomes too emotionally burdensome. To help prevent any inadvertent re-traumatization from occurring during the counseling process, I am especially conscientious and attentive to providing trauma-informed care. Throughout my career, I have helped children, teens and families work through grief/loss challenges. In my professional opinion, there is no one particular formula for grieving. Though there are common elements or phases of grief, everyone grieves differently. It is a very personal experience and individual response to coping with significant loss of any kind - death, separation/divorce, relocation, retirement, job loss/change, etc. Grief occurs in stages, which may come like waves in the ocean, ascending and receding at any given time and in no particular order. I am skilled at helping people understand this phenomenon and learn how to navigate these treacherous waters. I have expertise in providing compassionate support and effective strategies to aid individuals through this vulnerable and difficult time toward a place of healing and acceptance. Working with LGBTQIA+ counseling issues is a point of passion for me. I respect, admire, embrace and promote diversity, individuality and authenticity in my personal and professional life. I am LGBTQIA+ informed/educated and have experience with bullying, coming out, internalized homophobia, gender identity affirmation and transgender support. Mental health problems are difficult enough in their own respect, let alone compounded by LGBTQ issues. I have worked with a broad spectrum of concerns in this realm ranging from depression, anxiety, shame, guilt, secrecy and confusion associated with sexual orientation/attraction and gender identity to homo/bi/transphobia and HOCD (homophobic obsessive compulsive disorder). Furthermore, LGBTQIA+ couples and families have unique issues when it comes to navigating the legal, emotional and financial aspects of raising and/or restructuring a non-traditional family. On behalf of this community, I firmly believe that more support, education and advocacy are greatly needed. With all the significant strides that have been made toward raised awareness and acceptance in our society, there is so much more that we can do to achieve full empowerment and equality for all. I want to be a part of this valuable movement and growth journey by helping one individual at a time. I genuinely admire your initiative and courage to reach out for support, and look forward to working together toward your goals. With patience and commitment and dedication to this process, this is the first step toward a happier and healthier or more evolved you.

Shannan Katz
I help you weather the storms of change in times of difficulty, stress, and loneliness. I am a listening ear and a sounding board for your thoughts and ideas. As a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, I will work with you to gain insight into your thoughts and feelings and help you to make progress toward your goals. You can feel free to be yourself and share what is on your mind and in your heart. I have experience working with clients struggling with a wide variety of mental health concerns, including relationship problems and difficult life transitions. Clients who simply wish to improve their communication skills and mental wellness are welcome as well. I have a post-graduate certificate in sex therapy and I welcome clients from the LGBTQIA community, as well as any clients who wish to discuss their sexuality in counseling. I use a heart-centered approach in therapy and aim to provide a kind and supportive environment free from judgment and censorship. If you prefer a more direct approach, I am glad to give structured feedback as well. I will work with you to make the changes you want a reality. Please note that I am NOT a crisis counselor and the modality I use is not a good fit for clients struggling with self-harm or suicidal urges or behavior. I usually have an initial session by video and then most follow-up sessions are by phone. Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions.

Kevin Peterca
Warm Greetings~ I wish you the best in making your selection for a counselor to address the challenges you're currently facing. I'm a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) in Ohio. I've provided short-term, goal directed counseling to individuals and couples for over thirty years and feel extremely fortunate to assist and support my clients. I specialize in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - CBT (for more information see the Mayo Clinic's description: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/cognitive-behavioral-therapy/about/pac-20384610 ). However, I adjust my approach to fit the needs of my unique client. I work collaboratively with my clients and invite their input and preferences as we work together to achieve specific goals. I've assisted clients with stress, relationship/family, work/career, depression and anxiety issues. I've been honored to receive top-rated client satisfaction results and workplace awards where I've been described as "genuine, empathetic, supportive, encouraging and light-hearted". Take care~

Jody Davis
Hello, my name is Jody and I am an OUT TRANSGENDER FEMALE living in Columbus, Ohio. I am here to help you with your mental health concerns, Especially if you are struggling with SEXUALITY or GENDER. I'm an LISW-S here in Ohio. I came out publicly as a Transgender female in 2014 (whew!), and have experience with the emotional, physical, social & spiritual aspects of gender transition. My primary focus on Better Help is to work with TRANSGENDER/GENDER QUEER PEOPLE Ages 18+ who are LOOKING FOR LETTERS RELATED TO GENDER TRANSITION. I can ALSO Work with PARTNERS OF TRANS PEOPLE. That is what I have time for and Better Help is one way to give back to the LGBTQIA community that I am a part of. Thank you!

Justin Hernandez
I am a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor. I have been in the field for 16 years. I currently work as the clinical director of an agency that focuses on preventing children from being removed from their home and placed in county custody for events related to abuse and neglect. In the past, I have worked as a hospital crisis counselor, I have worked at private practices, and I have worked as the clinical director of a school for emotionally disturbed children. I work with children, adults, couples, and families. I am a fully licensed therapist with a supervisory credential. This means that I have been supervising therapists for almost a decade. Currently, I help therapist utilize effective strategies and interventions to help them prevent disruptions in the homes they serve and I assist therapists in helping parents and children more effectively communicate to each other. My clinical style is direct and empathetic. I use a number of different clinical strategies and interventions to help my clients achieve their goals. I also have an extensive background in working with trauma. This includes working with individuals who have experience emotion abuse, physical abuse, and neglect. Throughout my career, I have utilized cognitive behavioral therapy and solution focused therapy to help individual clients with their various issues and struggles. I believe you are the expert of your life and your family and that my role is to support you and offer guidance. I believe that being allowed to participate in your life is a privilege.

Lauren Turner
I am a Licensed Independent Social Worker in Ohio with 4+ years of experience working as a therapist. I have worked with clients with a wide range of concerns including addictions, depression, anxiety, relationship issues, parenting problems, career challenges, OCD, ADHD. I also helped many people who have experienced physical trauma and/or emotional abuse. My therapy style interactive, validating, and welcoming. I believe in treating anyone with kindness, respect, sensitivity, compassion, and I don't believe in stigmatizing labels. My approach combines cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing. I tend to be non-directive in my approach and solution focused. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. I understand that it takes a lot of courage and strength to make the first steps towards change. If you are ready to take that step, I am here to support and empower you. I look forward to working with you!

Denetta Harris
I am an African American Social Worker who has been licensed in the state of Ohio, and has 12 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, trauma and abuse, and coping with grief and loss. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I am willing to work together as a team to help with your clinical issues. Considering mental health counseling is a major step and I'm honored to assist you with your issues.

April Barker-Casey
I am licensed in the state of Ohio with over 25 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping people manage symptoms related to stress, anxiety, trauma, and abuse. I believe that you are the expert of your life and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming challenges. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. It is my pleasure to support you in that process.

Allison Vandrak
I am licensed in Ohio with 4 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, motivation, self esteem, and confidence, & depression. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialoge and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

John DeCarlis
I am an experienced therapist, licensed as a clinical social worker in Maryland, Missouri, and Kansas. My therapy style is direct, approachable and interactive. I am privileged to work with those who have taken the first steps toward change, and I don't believe in stigmatizing labels. My approach combines strengths-based, acceptance and commitment, cognitive behavioral, and solution-focused therapies with a strong focus on skill-building. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique needs. I practice a type of therapy that aims to help clients accept what is out of their control, and commit instead to actions that enrich their lives. Our goal is to help you create a rich and meaningful life. I have specialized experience in several areas including depression, anxiety, stress, grief and loss, relationship, trauma, and career/workplace issues. As a retired Army officer and former therapist to post-deployment military, I am honored to work with fellow veterans. Most importantly, however, I know that whatever the intervention, the real change comes from you, the strengths that you may not be currently aware of, and our partnership. I have a master’s degree from the University of Maryland School of Social Work. I have been a licensed clinical social worker for over 22 years. I engage with clients with admiration and respect in their journey to a better quality of life. I look forward to hearing your story and concerns and working with you to develop new skills and find solutions.
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Types of therapists available to clients in Jeffersonville
Understanding the type of therapy you'd like to search for is crucial before finding a therapist or psychologist. Be sure to narrow your search for therapists in Jeffersonville that can offer psychodynamic therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), talk therapy, group therapy, marriage and family therapy for individuals or couples, or couples therapy depending on your needs.
Licensed therapists & mental health professionals available through BetterHelp's online platform
Mental health therapists in Jeffersonville available through BetterHelp are accredited to help individuals and couples. Jeffersonville therapists' credentials can include licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT), licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), and clinician or doctor of psychology (PsyD). Regardless of their licensure, Jeffersonville therapists are trained in any type of therapy in the Jeffersonville region and in the state of Ohio.
How a therapist can help you destress, manage your emotions, and guide you towards the life you want
Therapists in Jeffersonville can help clients in improving healthy relationships, communication skills, working through life transitions, couples challenges, managing a mood disorder, improving coping skills, self help tips, offer life coaching, family life, or change in negative thinking patterns. A therapist in Jeffersonville may also provide a safe place and validation for clients experiencing emotional pain, or that simply want a psychological assessment.