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.
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.
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.
