I have my own private practice in Dublin, Ohio.  My career in counseling began in the 1980s when I volunteered as a helpmate for a partial hospitalization program assisting with recreation therapy and art therapy.  Later, I graduated to a paid part-time recreation therapist position at a 30-day drug rehab for adolescents.

From those beginnings until now I have worked as a hospital psychiatric screener, an outpatient therapist at community mental health clinics and agencies, a social worker for Children and Families, and a Military and Family Life Counselor.

My favorite position is the one I have now, specializing in the treatment of adults and adolescents suffering adjustment disorders, depression, and anxiety.

I am a Licensed Social Worker currently working under the supervision of C. Brown, LISW-S of Wild Blooms Wellness. I have experience as a mental health therapist since 2009 when I received my Master's degree in Social Work. I primarily use EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) and other trauma modalities with adults to process traumatic events and assist with decreasing symptoms including depression and anxiety. 

Gayle Garcia is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) working at Affirmations Psychological Services. She is receiving clinical supervision from Heidi Carter, LPCC-S, LICDC. She earned her Master’s degree at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI. Being born and raised in Michigan she and her husband made the decision to move to Columbus, Ohio so she could pursue her doctoral degree in Counselor Education and Supervision at The Ohio State University, where she is currently working on her dissertation, hoping to complete it soon.

Gayle sees the work she does with clients as collaborative process and client centered. She works to build an authentic and safe space for her clients to heal and grow. She recognizes that change is hard and honors where her clients are at in the change process. She uses various modalities to help her clients succeed in reaching their mental and emotional wellness goals. Whatever intervention she decides to use it will be from a trauma informed, identity affirming, socially just perspective that honors the client’s story. Gayle has experience working with all ages and is willing to work with most presenting concerns, such as depression, anxiety, trauma, suicidal thoughts, self-harm, body image issues, and relationship issues. She has a passion for children and adolescents. For the past year she has been working at a hospital outpatient program for adolescents in crisis. Before that she worked with college-aged students who were in crisis and connected them with university and community resources. She has also worked in an elementary school as a mental health counselor.

Hi, I am a counselor in training at CCU. I look forward to starting clinical work this fall.

After almost 25 years of education (MSW & MBA) and experience, Linda has developed an approach to counseling that draws on an individual’s personal strengths. She works with adults at any age but specializes in older adults and caregivers.  She has helped clients with issues of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, grief, OCD, life transitions, developing coping skills and other concerns. She utilizes a number of techniques and therapies including patient centered, strength based, CBT, validation & reminiscence therapy, and mindfulness.  Linda has been certified as a PTSD therapist, an Aging Consultant and is trained in EMDR.  Her approach is open, accepting, honest and affirming.  Linda’s goal with each client is to find “fuel for their soul” in hopes to help them move forward. She enjoys hearing each person’s story and witnessing their personal journey towards healing.

The Center for Autism, Assertiveness & Social Skills

Founder

Specializing in Autism/Aspergers in Adults, Catholic counseling, Logo Therapy, & people who are overly intelligent.

Quanishia Gibson is a Graduate Student at Geneva College in the Marriage and Family Therapy Track and co-founder of Family Counseling & Mental Health nonprofit The Daughters Den. Gibson is committed to beginning internship in January 2024 at Victory Mental Health Services under the training of Velecia Luckette, LPCC-S.

I am deeply passionate about serving others who have been impacted by loss. It was not my academic or clinical training that drove me into this work, it was the painful loss of my son. Through my own healing journey, I developed a desire to help others move beyond the pain caused by loss.

I enjoy walking alongside others as they find healing through the Grief Recovery Method®. I am grateful for the opportunity to support people as a counselor who are grieving a variety of losses including death, divorce, break-up, infidelity, miscarriage, infertility, financial and job loss, addictions, moving, loss of health, physical injury, and loss of hopes, dreams, and expectations.

I also help people with anxiety, burnout, career counseling, depression, men's issues, relationship issues, phase of life problems, spiritual & religious problems, and substance use problems.  

I have been a COCA EC member and counselor for nearly four years now.  I am intrigued with the idea of helping build this membership by showing the tremendous value that membership brings. I have been running my private counseling practice at 1115 Bethel Rd. and have enjoyed building my practice by serving my client base with sound, research based therapy. I have been helping couples and individuals work on their communication skills and intimacy issues. I also have been specializing in angry men.  I help those suffering from anxiety, depression and just plain STRESS.  Please go to my website pharioncounseling.com and learn more about me.

My name is Nicolas Smith, and I currently am employed with Ohio Guidestone as a Behavioral Health Specialist and Counseling Intern. I work with children from ages 5 years old to 18 years old both in school and outside of school as needed. I also work with adult clients who are diagnosed with mental health and/or substance use disorders. 

I graduated with my Bachelors in Psychology and Criminology from Capital University in 2020. Currently, I am enrolled at Heidelberg University pursuing my Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and projected to finish in December 2023. 

I currently have my Counselor in Training license, with plans to take my LPC exam at the end of 2023. I also have my Chemical Dependency Counselor Assistant Preliminary license and will apply for my Chemical Dependency Counselor Assistant 2 license this summer.

C. Rosie Bauder, PhD, MPH, LPCC, NCC

Hello! I am Dr. Rosie Bauder, and I am the past president of the Central Ohio Counseling Association.

I am a Postdoctoral Scholar at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center with the STRIVE program. I earned my Ph.D. in Educational Studies with a specialization in Counselor Education in the spring of 2021, my BA in psychology from Boston University in 2015, a MA in Mental Health Counseling and Behavioral Medicine from Boston University’s School of Medicine in 2017, and an MPH in 2020 from The Ohio State University.

I am a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in the state of Ohio and a National Certified Counselor. I also work in private practice in the greater Columbus area at Keller Counseling and Associates. I work mostly with clients around suicide, self-injury, sexual trauma, and eating disorders.

I look forward to meeting you!

I received my bachelor’s degree in Human Ecology from The Ohio State University and my master’s degree in Education and Allied Professions from the University of Dayton. I am qualified as a Certified Trauma Resiliency Practitioner with the National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children. I am also a Board-Certified Telehealth Professional With the Telebehavioral Health Institute. I have over a decade of experience as a LPCC-S. I have supervised students at the University of Dayton through their counseling practicum and internships. I have also supervised LPC’s working towards their independent licensure and LPCC’s working to obtain their supervisory designation. I have over 16 years of experience working in both community mental health and private practice settings. I started my own solo practice, Safe Harbor Columbus, last year. I treat children, adolescents and adults struggling with anxiety, depression, and/or trauma. I will be presenting a training for the Central Ohio Counseling Association June 17, 2022.

I serve adult individuals experiencing mental health challenges or navigating major life changes, from all walks of life.  I am especially adept at serving high achievers and complex developmental trauma survivors.  My practice is centered around developing intentions, building mind-body awareness, and healing/growing intrapersonal and interpersonal connection.

Melissa Watson, LPCC-S is a clinician and Associate Clinical Director at Keller Counseling & Associates. Melissa earned her Masters Degree at The Ohio State University in the Counselor Education program and completed her Bachelor’s degree also at The Ohio State University in Human Development and Family Studies. Melissa is currently serving as Past President on the executive board for Central Ohio Counseling Association. Melissa is experienced working with adults, adolescents and children to treat depression, anxiety, trauma, stress management, life transitions, relationship/family concerns and parenting stress. Her approach is goal oriented, client centered with a focus on client’s strengths and wellness. Melissa uses techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), interpersonal therapy (IPT) and Motivational Interviewing (MI) to help develop a framework for positive and maintainable change. In her spare time, Melissa enjoys reading, playing sand volleyball, going to sporting events and spending time with family, friends and her dog, Darby.