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.

Healing Without Limits Counseling and Consulting, LLC (HWLCC) is a counseling and consulting firm focused on aiding in healing the community through mental health treatment, enhancing the mental health system, and changing society's perspective on mental health. HWLCC envisions a world where no one has to suffer in silence from mental illness due to stigma or have to wait until they’re in crisis to receive attention/support. 

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.