Therapists serving clients in Westfield Center, OH

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.

Hi, my name is Melanie Shobe-Wierwille. I am a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor for the state of Ohio; and a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in the the state of North Carolina. I received my Bachelors Degree from The Ohio State University and my Masters Degree from the University of Dayton. I have held a counseling license since 2009. I am a client centered, strengths based, solution focused counselor who believes that the power to heal and achieve our goals lies within. I am here to support and guide you in making the changes you desire. “If we change nothing, nothing changes." Dr. Joyce Brothers (American Psychologist) I am also a married, mother to four children ages 9,11,17, and 20 and have three pets: two cats and a dog. My interests include trying new things, reading, and spending time with family. My current availability on BetterHelp is Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10-2, and my current mode of service is live chat (like texting) and audio (like a phone conversation, but via the computer). I do not provide video sessions at this time.

Hello! I am Melissa Romain, a licensed social worker with over 18 years of experience in the behavioral health field. I have worked in outpatient counseling and residential treatment settings and enjoy working with individuals who are looking to learn more about themselves and gain insight into their thoughts, feelings and behaviors. I have worked with individuals who have experienced depression, anxiety, trauma and abuse or neglect, substance use, parenting issues, and adjustment issues as well. I attended graduate school at the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio and currently teach as an adjunct instructor there as well. My approach to working with clients is strengths based and client centered. I am trained in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, psychodynamic theory, and Trauma Informed Care. I believe that we are all the developers of our own path and my job is to help individuals develop skills and insight into how to make the best decisions for themselves each day. Outside of being a therapist, I'm a dog mom to a 17 year old Pomeranian named Stanley and I enjoy yoga, kickboxing and weight lifting as my regular means of self care. I am currently only working limited weekend hours so please know that when looking to schedule. I look forward to working with you!

Hello! Thank you for considering me to help you along in your journey. I am a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor/Supervisor in Ohio and have experience in many different areas of counseling and mental well-being. I attended Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York for my bachelor's degree in psychology with a minor in sociology. While there, I had the opportunity to experience a lot of work in the field of psychology with work-study and community opportunities. I highly enjoyed serving my community then, and am excited to serve an even larger community here with my skills and experience. I attended The State University of New York at Oswego for my master's degree in mental health counseling. During this time, I was also able to serve a diverse community through internships. After receiving my master's degree in 2012, I worked in a private practice, where I gained even more experience and hours for licensure. I currently work for a community based mental health company in a local school in Ohio with elementary aged children. I have been working with adults again in private practice for the past 3 years and am enjoying it very much. My treatment approaches in therapy are eclectic and encompass a variety of techniques. I enjoy developing new skills and tools to use with my clients. My belief is that even if I have experienced the exact situation that you have experienced, we think and feel about those experiences in different ways. I strive to meet my clients where they are and work with them from there to develop the skills and coping methods that they need in order to feel the most well. Most of my clients describe me as laid back and very artistic. I view therapy as a science (that I have studied for over 15 years now) and an art form. I view the brain and our feelings as similar to a large closet. All of our life experiences get put into our closet-sometimes in a messy way and sometimes in a neat way. It is important how we keep our closets-many times we are so busy that we don't have time to process our feelings and things that happen to us, so we run to our closet and throw them in and slam the door as quickly as we can. After a while things start to spill out. My goal as your therapist is to help you arrange your closet in a way that is healthy for you-our experiences and feelings will always be there, but if we can fold them up neatly and put them away they are less likely to create chaos in our day to day lives. My job is to help you with the things that are more difficult to clean up by yourself. Just like folding those pesky fitted sheets can be a chore to do on your own, so can some of your life experiences and feelings. I am here to help you in this journey.

I am a Social Worker with over 25 years of experience. I have worked with people of all ages from many walks of life and would like to help you on your journey as well. My experience ranges from kids to adults with depression, anxiety, life adjustments, addiction and crisis intervention. My main focus now is working with women and adolescents. I will listen to your story and guide you to make your life more manageable. I am not here to tell you what to do but will give you skills and feedback to help you through this challenging time in your life.

I'm looking forward to getting to know you and to the work that we are going to complete together. I began doing clinical work while living in Los Angeles. I pursued degrees in Psychology and Social Work while working as a therapist with children. Since moving to San Diego, I have enjoyed work as a therapist for all ages and as a school social worker, while also nurturing my own growing family. The work that I do has emerged from the love that I have for children, as well as for those who were children once. We all need to know that we have someone on our side that we can count on, someone who cares, and someone who allows us to feel heard. I cherish every opportunity to be that someone in the life of another. I will always tailor the work that we do to your specific needs and goals. I believe in a strengths-based, solution-focused model, and that you are the expert in your therapy and your progress. I also utilize research-based practices to help incorporate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Mindfulness practices into the work that we will engage in.

Greetings; My name is Victoria M. Marion, MSSA, LISW-S. I am originally from Cleveland, Ohio where I received my bachelor's degree in social work at Ursuline College and then my master's degree in social work at Case Western Reserve. I also have a clinical license in Substance Use Disorder. I have over 20 years of experience with mental health and substance abuse. My invaluable mentors encouraged me to seek therapy so that I will be able to understand the feelings many clients feel when they are asked to share their life experiences with a stranger. I understand how much faith and courage it takes to seek help, which adds to my compassion and sincere willingness to help you. My experience has taught me to ask you what happened instead of what's wrong. My various therapy styles include: Cognitive Behavioral, Client Centered, Couples Therapy and Integrated Trauma Treatment. The past 10 years have afforded me the privilege of working with veterans who have suffered with chronic homelessness as a result of untreated substance use and/or mental health issues like PTSD. I understand how difficult it is to begin the process, so let me help you, support you, and get you back on the road of living and enjoying life.

As a independently licensed therapist, I have over 10 years experience working with individual's, couples and families, struggling with anxiety, depression, life events, addiction, and general life stressors. I would love to have the opportunity to assist you in your journey by offering you a safe and nonjudgmental environment. Therapeutic modalities include (CBT) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Narrative Therapy. My passion is walking along side clients to rewrite their story, from a strength based perspective moving forward to a positive outlook to their future. I offer not only a Masters Degree, but years of life experience. One of those experiences is as a firefighter/ paramedic, allowing to understand the issues that first responders face on a daily basis.

I am a licensed professional clinical counselor with about 5 years of experience from working at a community-based mental health agency in rural Appalachia seeing children, teens, and adults. I am trained in DBT (dialectical behavior therapy) and CBT (cognitive behavior therapy) with success in utilizing these approaches to help promote positive change with my clients. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

Having been licensed in Ohio to provide therapy for those who experience clinical symptoms of depression, anxiety, etc., I will work with you individually to find the causes of problems and we will set goals for their dissolution. With your need and desire for help, I hope to walk with you on the journey..