Therapists in New Weston, OH

I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with nearly 30 years of experience. I am located in Florida where I began my career in counseling in 1994 as a residential therapist in a psychiatric hospital, followed by the roles of an outpatient therapist, clinical supervisor and program director at a substance abuse treatment agency. In 2001, I relocated to Ohio, where I worked for the next 13 years as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor - Supervisor, program manager and program administrator for a mental and behavioral health nonprofit organization. In 2014, I relocated back to Florida where I began my online practice. If you have any reservations about online counseling, I encourage you to give it a try. It is a highly effective and convenient therapeutic modality that can be accessed from the the comfort and safety of your own home or wherever you are at any given time. I can attest to this with utmost confidence based on my clients' positive feedback after providing services here for over 8 years. My clinical philosophy is one of a humanistic nature, with emphasis on the therapeutic relationship as the most essential building block of the counseling process. My therapeutic style is warm, interactive, attentive and compassionate. I believe that genuineness, unconditional positive regard and empathy are critical to the helping process. As needed, I am also direct and structured in my approach and tend to assign therapeutic homework or tasks to enhance the progression and continuity of the process in between live sessions or message exchanges. I have the ability to tailor and pace treatment to your individual and unique needs, and I am sensitive to evolving the process at your pace and convenience while still promoting and prompting advancement toward your goals. Furthermore, I take a holistic approach to health and wellness, with emphasis on achieving balance in major life domains. I believe that when needs, desires or aspirations are unfulfilled in one significant realm, the others are affected as well and this creates imbalance in one's life, leading to stress, anxiety, inconsistency, overwhelmed feelings, lack of self-care, somatic symptoms, etc. Lastly, in terms of professional characteristics and standards of care, I operate with the highest degree. I was esteemed throughout my career for my level of professionalism, ethical conduct, organization, efficiency and grace. My educational background includes: a bachelor's degree in psychology from University of Miami, FL; a master's degree in mental health counseling from Nova Southeastern University of Fort Lauderdale, FL; and additional post-graduate coursework in career counseling, and the diagnosis, evaluation and treatment of mental disorders at University of Dayton in Bexley, OH. I enjoy the ongoing pursuit of continued education, training and professional development through seminars in specialized areas, reading and self-study. I highly value knowledge, information and effective application of therapeutic theories, models, strategies, and techniques that may benefit the people I serve. My clinical experience includes working with various diverse populations and treatment modalities, and the full spectrum of issues and disorders ranging from the most simple to the most complex co-occurring conditions. I specialize in treating depression/anxiety/stress, substance abuse/addiction, emotional/physical/sexual abuse, trauma and grief/loss. I also have extensive experience with counseling issues in the following areas: LGBT, Relationship issues, Family conflicts, Intimacy-related issues, Parenting issues, Anger management, Self esteem, Career difficulties, Compassion fatigue & Addictions in general. Depression, anxiety and stress are some of the most common challenges faced by people who seek counseling. In this realm, I have worked with children, adolescents and adults in residential/hospital, outpatient and community-based settings. I have provided individual, group and family services, and have facilitated psycho-educational counseling groups and workshops on coping skills, stress management/reduction, emotion regulation, self-esteem and assertive communication skills. My approach though eclectic, tends to be rooted in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which per evidence-based research, is very effective in treating these issues. This active intervention is problem-focused and goal-directed in examining the relationships between thoughts, feelings and behaviors; and modifying unhelpful or negative patterns of thinking that lead to self-defeating beliefs and actions, to improve coping and overall wellness. I also take a mindfulness-based approach to CBT (MBCBT) by encouraging the use of mindfulness practice and self-compassion. These tools help to address and validate one's personal experience with distress, pain and suffering; and diminish associated negative symptoms by focusing attention on the present moment. Learning how to self-soothe and regulate emotions through effective relaxation, calming and grounding strategies are significant components of my clinical approach to addressing depression, anxiety and stress. For over two decades, I have treated teens and adults who struggle with substance abuse and dependency issues. In 1998, I was humbly honored to receive Florida Alcohol & Drug Abuse Association's Professional of the Year award. I have provided these services in various settings and levels of care from the least to the most restrictive. As an outpatient alcohol and drug counselor, I worked with self-referred individuals as well as those who had been mandated to receive evaluation and/or treatment as a condition of probation, parole, work, school or a family/community member. I provided these services in individual, group and family forums. As a clinical supervisor and administrator, I had the opportunity to develop and oversee programming and staff in the specialized area of addictions. In a training capacity, I facilitated seminars to educate clinical staff in the areas of assessing, diagnosing and treating alcohol and drug problems. I am very passionate about working with people who struggle with addictions in general, one day at a time, toward a healthy recovery and lifestyle. Maintaining a strong emphasis on healthy coping skills, positive support systems and relapse prevention planning are key to my treatment approach in this area. In the delicate area of treating the effects of abuse and trauma, I have worked with child and adult survivors of emotional/physical/sexual abuse and violence. I have extensive experience working with acute and post traumatic stress disorder and have developed and facilitated group curricula that focus on reducing isolation, guilt/shame and self-blame; building self-esteem, positive support systems and coping skills; and increasing a sense of mastery and personal empowerment. I am also well versed at teaching survivors how to implement effective relaxation, grounding and anchoring techniques to help diminish anxiety and maintain a balanced state of arousal and focus in the present moment. Encouraging self-forgiveness is also very important to me in helping survivors let go of illegitimate shame or guilt derived from any unwanted responses to, or effects from the abuse. Throughout the healing journey, I am sensitive to guiding the process at a pace that feels most comfortable and safe to each person, and promoting respite from focusing on difficult material if/when it becomes too emotionally burdensome. To help prevent any inadvertent re-traumatization from occurring during the counseling process, I am especially conscientious and attentive to providing trauma-informed care. Throughout my career, I have helped children, teens and families work through grief/loss challenges. In my professional opinion, there is no one particular formula for grieving. Though there are common elements or phases of grief, everyone grieves differently. It is a very personal experience and individual response to coping with significant loss of any kind - death, separation/divorce, relocation, retirement, job loss/change, etc. Grief occurs in stages, which may come like waves in the ocean, ascending and receding at any given time and in no particular order. I am skilled at helping people understand this phenomenon and learn how to navigate these treacherous waters. I have expertise in providing compassionate support and effective strategies to aid individuals through this vulnerable and difficult time toward a place of healing and acceptance. Working with LGBTQIA+ counseling issues is a point of passion for me. I respect, admire, embrace and promote diversity, individuality and authenticity in my personal and professional life. I am LGBTQIA+ informed/educated and have experience with bullying, coming out, internalized homophobia, gender identity affirmation and transgender support. Mental health problems are difficult enough in their own respect, let alone compounded by LGBTQ issues. I have worked with a broad spectrum of concerns in this realm ranging from depression, anxiety, shame, guilt, secrecy and confusion associated with sexual orientation/attraction and gender identity to homo/bi/transphobia and HOCD (homophobic obsessive compulsive disorder). Furthermore, LGBTQIA+ couples and families have unique issues when it comes to navigating the legal, emotional and financial aspects of raising and/or restructuring a non-traditional family. On behalf of this community, I firmly believe that more support, education and advocacy are greatly needed. With all the significant strides that have been made toward raised awareness and acceptance in our society, there is so much more that we can do to achieve full empowerment and equality for all. I want to be a part of this valuable movement and growth journey by helping one individual at a time. I genuinely admire your initiative and courage to reach out for support, and look forward to working together toward your goals. With patience and commitment and dedication to this process, this is the first step toward a happier and healthier or more evolved you.

Congratulations on taking the first step! Sometimes just getting in the door can be the hardest part. In reality, you have already been through the hardest part, you lived through the pains of your life. With help in counseling, all that remains is removing the clutter that was left behind and entering into wholeness and freedom. I see counseling as an exciting time of self discovery, freedom, and personal growth. Coming to counseling is a sign of hope. Working together in the therapeutic alliance, this hope will increase as you find your core self and take hold of the life you were meant to live, full of freedom and passion for what you want out of life. While there may be difficult areas of life to confront in counseling, freedom will come as these areas are brought into the light and processed with gentle care in the therapeutic alliance. I see the therapeutic alliance as extremely important. My task as the counselor is to work myself out of a job. I do this by empowering you with tools that spring board you into deeper paths of self discovery that you can do on your own at any hour of the day or night. My legal name is Sabrina Hanson, but I go by Veronica. I received a Bachelor Degree's in Science in Social Work at Florida State University in 2002 and a Master's Degree in Art in Mental Health Counseling at Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio in 2016. I am licensed in Texas and Ohio. In Texas, I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor. In Ohio, I am a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and a Licensed Independent Chemical Dependency Counselor. I am specialized in addiction and trauma. I have received training in the following areas: EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Instinctual Trauma Response Model, Internal Family Systems Therapy, Nutrition and Mental Health, Telehealth, and Addiction Counseling. These areas of expertise will be explained in greater depth as time goes on so it is okay if you don't know exactly what they are. For now, simply know that I have lots of training to help care for you in the areas of trauma, anxiety, and addiction. While I am an eclectic counselor, the primary treatment approach I will be using is Internal Family Systems Therapy. This treatment approach will help you to learn how to access your core self and look at your emotions and thoughts in ways that will empower you to become the person you always wanted to be. It is an evidence based treatment approach that has been statistically helpful for countless people with varying types of emotional struggles. It is my mission as a counselor to work toward helping the whole person, mind, body, and soul. This is the reason I have been trained in so many different areas. I am continuously striving to be equipped with more tools that can help in the process of achieving greater freedom and wholeness. With each new modality that I learn, I have sought to receive counseling myself in these areas so that I can better explain these approaches to clients. The most important thing I would say to you as the client is that feedback is important. While I may have excellent training and a heart of gold to help you, you know yourself better than I do. I need you to help me help you. As you tell me through feedback what is helpful and not I can then personally tailor the treatment approach to meet your needs. I have many tools in my tool bag. Together we will find the tools that your particular person benefits from the most. This is the therapeutic alliance. Together we will go into the dark areas of your life that you want healed from and come to greater healing and wholeness. The journey will be taken together. You are not alone in this journey. My goal isn't to get you to a place of healing alone, it is to get you to a place where you thrive. I am excited to go on this journey with you and to get to know you better. For now, I encourage you to take a breathe, rest in the knowledge that the hardest work is already behind you, and know that you are capable of freedom and fulfillment in life.

"There can be no transforming of darkness into light ... without emotion." -Jung Emotional Intelligence (EI) is the core of my training. It embraces the belief systems of the past that affect your present. It's a state-of-mind that defines thinking that affects emotional awareness. To become aware is not to change, but to understand and accept. Carrying guilt or shame of the past, triggers the conflict of now. I don't offer advice - I offer choices - a chance to choose your own method of healing that fits you - not something others feel 'should' be. Come. Sit. Talk. Let's wander your path together. I am specialized/certified in trauma, addictions, and adolescent disorders (Behavioral and ADHD). I use an integrated approach incorporating rational emotive behavioral therapy, reality theory, psychodynamic, and person centered. I offer members of KY, SC, FL, AZ, DC, and OH communities a Conservative choice for a new clinical perspective. With over 21 years of experience, change is merely a button away.

As your therapist, it’s my job to meet you where you’re at. What are you hoping to get out of therapy? As your therapist we will work together towards your goals. Whether you’ve been in therapy for years or this is your first session, we will work together to figure out what will be most beneficial. Therapy sessions can look a variety of ways. Maybe it’s processing a recent trauma, other times identifying and breaking unhealthy patterns. Our sessions will be a safe space where we can learn more coping skills, build a better relationship with yourself and your body, figure out effective tactics for managing stress and anxiety, and explore your identity. I often incorporate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) in my work with clients. I work with many clients are coping with histories of complex trauma, Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Depression, Anxiety, and Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Let me begin by congratulating you on making the choice to start counseling. It can be a difficult, yet rewarding, first step to take. Life might be overwhelming right now but it does not have to be forever. We can work together to identify ways to improve it. My goal as your therapist is to create a safe, comfortable, and supportive space for you to be yourself. I am a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in Ohio with 4 years of professional work experience. I have experience working individually with college students and adults through a wide variety of mental health concerns (e.g. anxiety, depression, motivation, career difficulties, life transitions, confidence, self-esteem, relationship issues, grief, etc.). I am experienced with using evidence-based approaches, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT). However, as your therapist, I prioritize tailoring my approach to what works best for you.

Supporting people is my gift and passion! Sometimes life can be overwhelming and difficult to process and we need support to slow down and sort out our thoughts in order to move in the right direction. I am licensed in Ohio with 25 years of professional clinical experience. I have supported clients with multiple concerns; like mental health issues, relationship concerns, coping with grief and loss, parenting skills, & career difficulties. I believe that you are the expert of your situation and that you have what you need to improve your functioning. My job is to reveal those strengths that will assist you in overcoming difficult situations. Making the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started!

I am a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW-S) in Ohio with 8 years of experience providing therapy and counseling services to adults, parents, children and adolescents. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, parenting issues, motivation, self esteem, and confidence, & depression. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started!

I am licensed in Ohio with 4 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, motivation, self esteem, and confidence, & depression. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialoge and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

I am licensed in Ohio with 22 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, motivation, self esteem, and confidence, depression, & coping with life changes. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started!

"Ode to Peace and Joy"... Sometimes life just stinks, and then it hurts, and we feel stuck…I am a fully licensed, seasoned professional with a flexibly-cohesive holistic approach, not subscribing to a “one-size-fits-all” perspective, for those patients with whom I am privileged to work. Consider then joining hands for a season: Learn how to pinpoint your own belief system and unique strengths, while crystalizing your valued "short list" of priorities, and forge a unique sojourn designed to capture a life truly worthy of your precious time, effort, and resources. Time is a wonderful gift; what we do with that time can make all the difference. Be here now... I love discovering with you not only your dreams and strengths, but any stumbling block that keeps getting in the way, and more importantly, how to surmount every one of them along the way, learning to savor each step as an opportunity . We will learn to identify your areas of vulnerability and develop ongoing ways to supplant gaps in any needed skill sets or where in life you may lack needed support in creating a more fulfilling, transformative life. Transformative...I do consider it an honor to sojourn along with you and discover what works best for your life. I believe this life of ours is a fascinating gift that can be an adventure, and I continue to consider it a joy to work with each one who enters into the realm of my influence. While I believe we are fundamentally relational by design and thereby interconnected in powerful ways, we nevertheless remain wonderfully unique, each one having inherent dignity deserving of respect, and each one retaining the right to precious self-determination in how life is lived. I believe that together, by making our own lives better, we can leave our place in the world a bit better than we found it. I look forward to the potential opportunity of exploring that journey with you.