Grief counselors and therapists in Lakewood, OH

Welcome! If you’re feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or disconnected, you don’t have to go through it alone. I offer a warm, supportive space where you can slow down, make sense of your experiences, and begin to feel more in control.

I specialize in helping individuals work through all forms of anxiety ( special focus in GAD, Depersonalization/Derealization DP/DR, phobias and panic disorder). Other specialties include Depression, PTSD, and trauma, as well as complex interpersonal issues such as navigating difficult family dynamics, healing from narcissistic abuse, or rebuilding after domestic violence.

I have 18 years experience working with teens, adults and later in life populations.

I have an LISW-S and a degree in Special Education. I have worked for 27 years with various populations in hospitals, outpatient, and school settings. I am trained in many different approaches and use them to assist my clients in achieving goals and improving their life situation. I have special training and experience in the treatment of childhood disorders.

You might feel alone in this struggle but you don’t have to be. My work, which has been shaped by my own experiences of suffering and clinical training, is more than a career, it is a calling. I help people move from surviving to living with intention, calm, and confidence.

I have an undergraduate degree in psychology, and a master’s in clinical social work. I specialize in treating OCD and other anxiety disorders with Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy. I use this therapy because I’ve seen it help people begin living the lives that they want to live without fear being the driving force.

I also have a background in working with parents who are experiencing challenging situations. Whenever I work with children, I work with the caregivers as well in order to improve family unity and create lasting change.

I am very trauma-aware in that I recognize the role that past experiences have had in shaping who we are today. My philosophy is that these experiences don’t have to hold us back, but that healing is a journey to be embraced.

Hello! Thank you for being here. Reaching out for therapy is incredibly brave but can also be a bit overwhelming. I’m hoping I can help you see your strength and worth while we navigate all the things life throws our way.

I’m Kathy and I have been a social worker for 23 years now. I have been a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker for the last 16 years of that time. For the majority of my profession, I have been working in the hospital setting, helping patients find solutions to a wide range of needs. I have seen patients struggle in many different ways in life and helping them has also helped me grow as a social worker.

I am passionate about helping people realize they are capable of more than they think. Everyone deserves to see their worth and I would love to work with you to help you see yours.

As a counselor, former counselor educator, and advocate, I bring decades of experience working with individuals, couples, families, and communities. I specialize in helping clients navigate anxiety, depression, grief and loss, relationship concerns, life transitions, employment concerns, disability issues, self-esteem challenges, trauma, and issues related to identity, culture, and faith. I am particularly passionate about supporting African American individuals and families while creating an affirming environment for people from all backgrounds.

You might look fine on the outside, keeping up with work, showing up for others, managing everything, while internally feeling exhausted, anxious, or like you've lost the thread of who you actually are. If that resonates, you're in the right place. I work with adults who are stuck in patterns they can't seem to shift: overthinking, people-pleasing, chronic stress, burnout.

I am a trans, non-binary, AuDHD, polyamorous, queer, kinky, and leftist therapist. Meeting clients' cultural and intellectual needs in session is extremely important to me, so the practice of cultural and intellectual humility helps me bridge the divide between myself and my clients. Clients are the experts of their own lives, I am simply here to help.

To ensure absolute confidence in our partnership, you should know that I operate less like a traditional therapist and more like a psychological strategist. Built specifically for high-achievers accustomed to heavy loads, my approach does not rely on passive listening. Instead, I am highly active, engaged, and direct. I match your cognitive speed, treating your emotional well-being with the same urgency and strategic precision you apply to your most critical professional ventures.

Within our sessions, the usual hierarchies are stripped away to provide a rare ecosystem of utmost discretion and radical candor. Because I am entirely focused on the human being operating the machine, I will gently but firmly challenge your blind spots and call out self-sabotaging logic. You will never hear me hide behind clinical jargon; instead, I translate complex behavioral science into plain, actionable frameworks designed for a logical, analytical mind.

Ultimately, I view myself as a specialized asset in your corner, operating on the principle that insight without execution is just an expensive conversation. Our work prioritizes data and action, ensuring every concept is pressure-tested in the real world—whether in your boardroom, your marriage, or your internal life. My sole objective is to help you optimize your inner world so your outer success is sustainable, fulfilling, and integrated with the people you love.

You deserve care that honors all of who you are. I'm Denise, an LPCC in Ohio with 30 years of experience supporting adults through trauma, grief, ADHD, chronic illness, and more. I'm affirming and welcoming to LGBTQIA+, transgender, and neurodiverse clients. I'd love to connect.

My background is in special education, which is why neurodiversity like Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, dyslexia, and learning differences are areas where I have real depth, not just familiarity. I've spent years understanding how neurodivergent brains work - and how the mental health system often misses them. I also work with clients who've been hurt by their church, their pastor, or their faith community - what many people now call "church hurt." This is a profoundly underserved area of care, and my training at Trinity Seminary means I'm not approaching it from the outside. I understand the language, the culture, and the specific kind of grief that comes with spiritual betrayal. I treasure my global experience and look forward to working with multi-cultural people, including immigrants and refugees.

What was your path to becoming a mental health provider?

I always had a desire to understand people and didn't realize there was a profession centered around my curiosity until college. I was also very intrigued with trying to understand my emotions growing up and because I struggled, I developed a desire to help others through their life challenges. I started providing support services to families and volunteers through a mentoring agency, which later led to interning at a psychiatric outpatient facility, to working with foster children providing therapy and to also growing my private practice here with Alma working with adults and children.

What should someone know about working with you?

I believe I am relatable and open to the sharing of myself with the understanding and expectation that you will be entrusting your vulnerabilities with me in session. I will challenge your thoughts, your patterns and your assumptions, and I give homework routinely as an extension of our time together to keep you active and engaged until we meet again.

How do you continue learning and building new skills?

I am committed to being a life-long learner. I take courses and trainings annually, listen to and learn from seasoned clinicians and try to stay afloat of new groundbreaking research related to treatments and techniques surrounding mental health.

"Success for me, is helping others create the wellness they desire."