Grief counselors and therapists in Westlake, OH

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.

Hello, I am Darlene Neal, a Licensed Independent Social Worker with 35 years of experience. My clinical work has been devoted to Depression, Anxiety, Grief and Life Transitions.

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.

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of Florida and Ohio with 14 years of direct counseling experience. Supporting and guiding clients through difficult traumas and life's challenges in a safe and nonjudgmental environment is what I strive for.

My goal is to assist children, adolescents, and adults to reach their highest potential and to help couples and families live more harmonious and joyful lives together.

My passion is to support, uplift and encourage those in my community. Let's work together to start living a better-quality life one session at a time.

Let’s be honest, life can be messy. Sometimes you know exactly what’s wrong, and sometimes you just know that something doesn’t feel right. Maybe you’re overwhelmed, stuck in your head, struggling with food or your body, going through a major life change, or simply trying to figure out what comes next.

I’m someone who believes therapy should feel like a place where you can actually be yourself. You don’t have to have the right words, have everything figured out, or pretend that things are better than they are. Bring the real stuff. The complicated stuff. Even the stuff you’re embarrassed to say out loud.

A particular passion of mine is helping people navigate the emotional side of bariatric surgery and changes in their relationship with food, their body, and themselves. Losing weight or changing your body doesn’t automatically change how you feel inside, and sometimes the emotional part of the journey gets overlooked. There can be a lot to unpack, and you deserve a place to do that without shame or judgment.

At the same time, you don’t have to be dealing with food or bariatric surgery to work with me. I enjoy working with people who are navigating anxiety, depression, relationships, identity, body image, life transitions, and those moments when you’re asking yourself, “Okay... what now?”

My goal isn’t to “fix” you. You’re not broken. My goal is to help you understand yourself a little better, feel a little more grounded, and figure out what moving forward can look like for you.

And if therapy has ever felt like something that wasn’t really “for you,” maybe we can do it a little differently.

Many people turn to psychotherapy or counseling for help with anxiety, depression, trauma, and painful relationship patterns, or simply because they feel something is missing from life. At times, we may lack the words to describe our struggles or suffering. By gaining insight into past relationships and experiences, many people begin to make progress toward overcoming these difficulties, becoming more effective in both their work and their personal lives. I am a licensed clinician with 20 years of experience helping individuals achieve a more fulfilling life.

Clients should know that I bring both professional expertise and genuine compassion to every session. I specialize in working with neurodiverse individuals, people managing anxiety or depression, and those navigating major life transitions. My approach is client-centered and collaborative, meaning I value your voice in the process and tailor our work together to your unique goals.

I believe in creating a safe, supportive space where you can be fully yourself without judgment. My role is to listen, guide, and equip you with tools that promote resilience, self-awareness, and growth. I also understand the importance of balancing mental health with real-life challenges like school, work, and relationships, and I integrate practical strategies to help you thrive in each area.

Most importantly, I want clients to know that they are not alone. Together, we will work at a pace that feels right for you, focusing on both healing and building the confidence to move forward.

I am an experienced therapist, licensed in Maryland, Ohio, Missouri, and Kansas. I will be your partner and tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. I have a master’s degree from the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University. I have been described as supportive, direct, caring, and compassionate, with a good sense of humor. I like to focus on identifying your strengths and helping you maximize them.

Reaching out for therapy can feel like a big step, especially if you’re used to managing everything on your own. I work with adults, including many caregivers who are balancing a lot and may feel overwhelmed, stretched thin, or unsure how to prioritize themselves while caring for others.

I’ve supported clients navigating anxiety, depression, burnout, life transitions, relationship challenges, grief, trauma, and parenting stress.

I also bring extensive experience working with children and adolescents (ages 4–21), which allows me to support parents with a deeper understanding of child and adolescent development. This helps caregivers better understand their child’s behavior and feel more confident in how they respond at home.

Hiya! Thank you so much for taking the time to patiently sift through many profiles to find me. Now that you're here, I will give you my best elevator speech. I specialize in anxiety, depression, and substance use - all the messy, complicated parts. Over 17 years, I’ve done everything from case management to clinical supervision at a community mental health agency and crisis intervention at a managed care company. As a biracial person (Filipina and Polish), I bring personal understanding to those navigating cultural identity, family expectations, and the feeling of not quite fitting in anywhere.

Emotional exhaustion can look like functioning.

You may be the person others depend on while quietly feeling overwhelmed, emotionally exhausted, or disconnected from yourself. At Milton’s Place Counseling, therapy offers a supportive space to slow down, process what you are carrying, and identify practical next steps. I work with clients navigating anxiety, depression, grief, stress, and major life transitions. You do not have to wait until you are in crisis to seek support.

If anxiety, depression, grief, or ongoing stress are making daily life feel harder, you don’t have to navigate it alone. I work with adolescents, adults, and families who feel overwhelmed, emotionally stuck, or unsure how to move forward. Many parents seek support when they notice changes in their teen’s mood, behavior, school functioning, or communication, while adults often come to therapy feeling exhausted, disconnected, or weighed down by life transitions and relationship stress.

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.