Grief counselors and therapists in Westlake, OH

Welcome. I’m a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) with a Master of Social Work and a degree in psychology from The Ohio State University. With over five years of experience in mental and behavioral health—including four years of providing therapy—I offer a safe, inclusive space for healing and growth. Whether you’re navigating anxiety, depression, self-harm, suicidal ideation, or identity-related challenges, I’m here to help you feel seen, supported, and empowered in your journey.

I'm Kassandra, a Licensed Independent Social Worker trained at Case Western Reserve

University. My clinical foundation was built doing crisis intervention and specialized

trauma work with survivors of sexual assault, child abuse, and sex trafficking before

I became independently licensed. That experience isn't a line on a resume. It's the reason

I can sit with the hardest things clients bring in without needing them to minimize,

manage, or explain themselves first. I work with adolescents, adults, and older adults

individually and with couples. I'm explicitly LGBTQIA+-affirming and have experience

with transgender and identity-related concerns. I offer telehealth across Ohio and accept

insurance through Headway.

I have been in practice for 25 years as a professional counselor. You are the reason why I continue in the work of a therapist. It is your continuing growth and improvement that is my goal in helping you. You are the expert on your particular situation and it is my job to help you in moving from where you are right now, to where you would like to be as quickly as possible.

I’m a warm and charismatic PMHNP who takes a holistic and participatory approach to care. I specialize in treating depression and anxiety, helping clients feel empowered and supported throughout their healing journey.

My ideal client is someone who is open to the life-changing, transformative solutions that modern psychiatry and mental health can offer. My practice is virtual by design, meeting clients on their terms, during non-traditional hours when they have time to focus on themselves and their needs.

I believe therapy is a space to find inner peace through courage, curiosity, and compassion. The journey toward peace begins with the willingness to be vulnerable—an act that can feel both brave and frightening. Opening up to another person and turning inward to meet ourselves can stir fear and uncertainty, but it becomes gentler in a space free of judgment and shame. My goal is to create that space, where you can explore at your own pace and begin to reconnect with the parts of yourself that need care and understanding.

With 12+ years of experience supporting those impacted by trauma and other challenges , I use a body-centered, relational approach. I help clients slow down, tune into their bodies, and notice how the past shapes their present. Through curiosity, mindfulness, and compassion, I guide healing and deeper connection with self and others.

I enjoy working with people who are interested in returning to the truth of who they are. I value people. Intuition is often within my work with people. I am honored to walk with people in their orientation to healing and health in the ways important to them. Harmony in mind, body, and spirit.

A holistic trauma informed approach with a culturally grounded orientation to care is my offering. I love to incorporate breath work and somatic work in with talk therapy all while centering values.

I respect the courage of getting to this point. It’s reasonable that we all would benefit from support so I am happy to walk you home to you, the truth of you that deserves liberation, healing and health because your life has value and I’m so glad you’re here. You deserve it all.

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, 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.

Counseling for me is about companionship! Companions are with you through the good and the not-so-good. The most important thing in counseling is creating a relationship where people can feel and think how they want to about their experience within the relationship because whether we are stepping in the right or wrong direction we are ever growing and changing. Everyone perceives life through a different lens. Biological, physiological, and environmental variables influence those perspectives in different domains of people’s lives. All ages with: Anxiety, Depression, Addictions, Schizo and Mood Spectrum, Paraphallic, and Trauma.

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."

I have been in the medical field for over 20 years and have a rather diverse background. The last 6 years I have been in the role of PMHNP. Prior to that an RN in hospice, preceding that was critical care. Prior to becoming a nurse, I worked as an STNA.