Premarital counseling in Columbus, OH

I am a licensed independent social worker (LISW) with 20 years of experience in the mental health field. I specialize in supporting children, adults, and families navigating trauma, substance use concerns, anger management, violence, and homelessness. My work focuses on serving women and people of color while creating a safe, supportive space where clients can process challenges, build resilience, and work toward meaningful and lasting change.

I earned my master’s degree in social work from The Ohio State University. I am trained in cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. My professional background includes working in a variety of settings and providing both short-term and long-term therapeutic support.

My goal is to provide compassionate, high-quality mental health care while helping reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness. I will work collaboratively with you to identify your strengths, develop effective coping strategies, and create a treatment plan that supports your healing, growth, and overall well-being.

I am a licensed independent social worker (LISW) with 5 years of experience supporting teens and adults navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, substance use concerns, and major life transitions. I work with individuals who may feel overwhelmed, stuck, or uncertain about their next steps and are seeking practical tools, emotional support, and greater self-awareness. My goal is to create a safe, compassionate, and nonjudgmental space where clients feel heard while working toward meaningful and lasting change.

I earned my master's degree in social work from Indiana Wesleyan University. My approach is collaborative, supportive, and goal-oriented. I utilize evidence-based approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and strength-based techniques to help clients build coping skills, regulate emotions, and develop healthier patterns.

I believe every person has the capacity for growth and healing when given the right support. In our work together, you can expect a respectful environment where you feel supported and encouraged as you work toward greater balance, resilience, and personal growth.

Lauren A. Carsten is an independently licensed clinical mental health counselor (PCC) and earned her MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from John Carroll University. Prior to moving back to her native Ohio, she completed BAs in both psychology and behavioral science (an interdisciplinary degree encompassing human behavior through sociology, anthropology and psychology) from San Jose State University in California. She holds competencies treatment of mental health issues such as anxiety, depression and grief, and has experience and training using trauma-informed practices. She also has extensive experience working with multicultural populations as well as the LGBTQQIAA population and has given trainings in these areas with a focus on sensitivity and accommodations to treatment approaches. She has also completed the certificate program for Substance Abuse Counseling from the University of Cincinnati and is able to integrate that training into current treatment when needed. She is adept at the treatment of individual clients, couples, as well as families and groups, and welcomes clients to incorporate other people into their sessions if needed and appropriate. Her style is generally relaxed and casual and ascribes to the Gestalt model of client interactions but does pull from several different approaches to find the more efficacious approach for each client individually.

Donisha Austin is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) who has over 3 years of experience working with children, teens, adults, and seniors. She specializes in treating anxiety, depression, trauma, behavioral issues, family and relationship conflict, and chronic stress.

Donisha received her Bachelor's degree from Ohio State University in Human Development and Family Studies. She received her Master's degree in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Cincinnati. Her professional and life experience have equipped her with the appropriate tools to support and guide others through various challenges and transitions. Donisha utilizes many treatment approaches including but not limited to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT ), humanistic approaches, existential therapy (ET), person-centered therapy (PCT), multicultural therapy, solutions-focused therapy (SFT), and much more.

Choosing therapy can be challenging, but Donisha believes there is power in stepping into your challenge zone. Trusting a stranger with your most vulnerable pieces can be scary. There is power in being emotional or squishy as Donisha likes to call it. Donisha provides a calm and safe space where she encourages you to be courageous. Schedule an appointment with her today!

Jen started out working with adjudicated youth in a day program, and then spent ten years working with both youth and adults in an outpatient mental health agency. During those ten years, Jen worked with people of many different ages, races, social groups, and gender identities. This experience was invaluable as she learned that everyone is different, has different needs, and has more potential than they may realize.

In addition to years of volunteering in her community since she was a teenager, Jen has a Bachelor of Psychology and a Master of Marriage and Family Counseling, both from Wright State University. Jen interned, worked, taught, and later managed at an agency that provided therapy, day programs, group therapy, case management, and substance use treatment for people of all ages.

Jen brings her years of experience and her education to the session to partner with her clients. While she is the professional in the session, she sees her client as the expert in their own life. Jen and her client work together to explore and identify the problem, what they want to do about it, and how to work toward that outcome. Some people come to therapy struggling with shame or embarrassment, and need to connect with their therapist before they can open up about the really hard stuff. Jen encourages her clients to set the pace, and empowers them to speak up if they need something different. Schedule your intake appointment to start your partnership.