LGBT therapists in Cincinnati, OH

20+ years helping youth, adults and families work through grief and trauma, restore relationships, and build healthier thought and behavior patterns. Specializing in helping clients in transition or facing a dilemma.

Licensed Counselor & Certified Coach with lived experience as Ohio Hall of Fame DI basketball player & coach, espn color analyst, C-level corporate executive, non-profit leader, cancer survivor, later in life adoptive parent, and member of multi-racial family.

Hi! My name is Wendy Pugh. I graduated with a master's in social work from The Ohio State University, and I am a licensed clinical social worker. I enjoy working with people of all ages and from all walks of life. I specialize in treating LGBTQIA issues, depression, anxiety, trauma, and relationship issues.

I have been practicing as a therapist for 13 years, and have had a wide range of experience within that time. I have worked with at-risk youth in shelters, supported young adults and teens with mental health treatment after hospitalization, to now providing individual therapy in an outpatient setting. I earned my Master's in Social Work in 2014, and have been practicing with my LISW. I have mostly worked with mood disorders, like anxiety and depression, or with trauma (PTSD). As a lesbian with ADHD myself, I also specialize in neurodivergency and LGBT+ issues.

I help adolescents, adults, couples, and families move beyond patterns that keep them stuck. Using EMDR, CBT, and DBT, I focus on building insight, strengthening coping skills, and creating lasting change. I approach therapy with a clear understanding of how past experiences can shape current patterns, while helping clients build practical tools to improve daily functioning. My background in crisis work allows me to provide steady, effective support even in high-stress situations.

I am a licensed mental health counselor with a passion for helping couples, families, and individuals, especially teens and women, navigate emotional pain, trauma, and identity challenges with clarity and compassion. My work is rooted in a trauma-informed and holistic approach, recognizing the deep connection between the mind, body, and spirit in the healing process.

I hold a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling and have experience working with adolescents and adults in both individual and group settings. I specialize in supporting clients struggling with emotional dysregulation, anxiety, depression, trauma, and relational difficulties. I also integrate evidence-based approaches such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), trauma-focused interventions, and practical coping strategies to help clients build emotional awareness, stability, and resilience.

In addition to clinical work, I am deeply passionate about helping individuals rediscover their sense of identity, purpose, and inner strength. I strive to create a safe, supportive space where clients feel seen, heard, and empowered to grow at their own pace.

I have a bachelor's of Arts Degree, double majoring in Social Services and Religious Studies, a Master of Arts Degree in Psychology and the degree of Master of Social Work, from Cleveland State University.

I believe in a holistic approach to mental health. This means that all aspects of a person are included and considered in our work together. I assist those I work with in a variety of areas including, but not limited to:

Anxiety

Stress management

Depression

Grief and loss

Life transitions (including becoming an empty nester, divorce, retirement, aging with meaning)

Management of health issues (particularly pain and chronic health challenges)

Trauma (including religious trauma, sexual abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder)