Trauma and PTSD therapists & psychiatrists in Toledo, OH

Greetings! I returned to school after having children to earn my Masters as a Licensed Clinical Counselor in order to help people navigate through difficult situations in their lives. My main passion focuses on treating trauma, anxiety, depression, and women's issues, often utilizing EMDR and person-centered approach. I am also partnered with Journey Clinical to utilize Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) to assist with treatment-resistant anxiety and depression.

I am a dual-certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner with a clinical background that spans psychiatry, addiction medicine, primary care, detoxification and recovery services, chronic pain management, and complex medical care. That range of experience has shaped the way I practice today: mental health concerns are rarely viewed in isolation, because emotional well-being, physical health, sleep, stress, relationships, medications, past experiences, and everyday life often influence one another.

I provide individualized psychiatric care for adults experiencing ADHD, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, trauma-related concerns, substance use disorders, sleep difficulties, mood changes, and other behavioral health concerns. Care may include comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, medication management, psychotherapy, or a combination of approaches based on your symptoms, history, preferences, and treatment goals.

My background includes years of caring for patients with overlapping psychiatric, medical, and substance-related conditions in outpatient, telehealth, detox, and residential treatment settings. I have experience managing psychotropic medications, providing medication-assisted treatment for substance use disorders, evaluating safety and psychiatric risk, supporting patients through withdrawal and recovery, and collaborating with therapists, physicians, case managers, and other members of the treatment team when coordinated care is needed.

Before focusing more extensively on behavioral health, I spent years in chronic pain care, where I evaluated complex medical histories, reviewed diagnostic testing, managed chronic conditions, and worked closely with specialists and primary care teams. That experience continues to inform my psychiatric practice.

I specialize in wellness approaches using vitamins and minerals and traditional Western medicine options. I'm goal-oriented and want clients who like to develop a relationship with their provider. I like to make appointments about your goals and desires. I will meet everyone on their path, and we will work toward whatever makes you feel comfortable. I offer flexible scheduling with day, evening, and weekend appointments. My clients report that they love the flexibility and their growth.

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."

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.