Counselors and Therapists in Columbus, OH (Polaris)

Tom Spangler, MSW, LSW

** In-Person AND ONLINE appointment Available**

“Don't be pushed around by the fears in your mind. Be led by the dreams in your heart.” ― Roy T. Bennett

In 2016 I graduated from Kent State University earning my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology.  I completed my Masters in Social Work at The Ohio State University. During my Master’s program I served adolescents and their families at the National Youth Advocate Program. Prior to going into private practice, I worked for OSU’s neuropsychology clinic and, for the last 2.5 years, at OptimumTMS, a clinic providing TMS therapy for patients with issues of depression and anxiety among other challenges.  In these roles I have learned more about resources available in addition to talk therapy and medications. My years of experience include working with individuals who have Dementia, Depression, ADHD, Anxiety, and OCD.

My preferred pronouns are He/Him.

I chose this career because I wanted a way to help others and to change the stigma around mental health. I enjoy forming relationships with clients and getting to know more about them as people beyond their problems. I am motivated and passionate to empower my clients to live their life as the best version of themselves. I believe in meeting the clients where they are and serving as an ally in life, creating a calm and nonjudgmental space during sessions. In terms of techniques, I tend to use a mix of

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT),
• Strengths-Based Therapy,
• Motivational Interviewing,
• Mindfulness Practices and
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT).

I work with people aged 11 and up, and I have experience working with individuals who identify with one or more of the therapies focuses listed below:

• Depression
• School related challenges
• Emerging Adult issues
• Anxiety
• Parent/child conflict
• LGBTQIA+
• Adolescent Stressors
• Trauma
• Self-harm
• Grief and loss
• Anger issues
• Mindfulness

During my downtime I enjoy staying active and being out in nature with my family and loved ones. I also enjoy being goofy and making the people I love laugh. I enjoy swimming, running, and nerding out with my partner.

Supervised by David Bowers, PhD, IMFT-S  Lic# F.2000127-SUPV

Kerri Pearch, APRN-PMHNP

Kerri Pearch is a Board Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMH-BC) with over 25 years nursing experience, including with Cleveland Clinic. She also holds certifications as a nurse practitioner in both family and emergency medicine.  She has served as an adjunct professor at Aultman College of Nursing and Health Sciences and as a preceptor for Chamberlain University’s nurse practitioner program.

Kerri’s medical training has equipped her to provide excellent care and support to patients with chronic mental illnesses, cognitive impairment, and functional loss due to mental health issues. She can assess and prescribe medication to treat psychiatric disorders.

A genuine listener, her passion is helping people improve their quality of life through unpacking the past and working towards a better future through medication and therapy. “I enjoy working with all patients struggling with mental health and work to create a bond between myself and all my patients,” she says.

Kerri’s personal philosophy of care is:  Improving mental health improves all other facets of our lives and should be a major focus in healthcare. Kerri says,” I aim to provide a listening ear and a caring spirit to those in need. Using this compassion, along with quality, evidence- based mental healthcare, my goal is to help patients along their personal journey.   In her spare time, Kerri enjoys visiting her grown children and traveling with her husband and Cooper, their cavalier spaniel.

Areas of Expertise include but are not limited to:

• ADD/ADHD
• Anxiety Disorder(s)
• Bipolar/ Mood Disorder(s)
• Depression Disorder(s)
• Grief and Loss
• Insomnia
• Personality Disorder
• Psychotic Disorders including Delusional Disorder, Schizophrenia Disorder, and Schizoaffective Disorders
• PTSD
• Stress Management
• Smoking Cessation
• Trauma Responsive Treatment

Populations Served:

• Adolescents 13-17
• Adults 18-64
• Geriatric 65+

Darby Ivan, LSW

“The task ahead of you is never greater than the strength within you.” – Viktor Frankl

My preferred pronouns are she/her.

Welcome! I am a passionate therapist dedicated to building strong bonds with my clients based on trust, communication, and collaboration. My goal is to help clients embrace their authentic selves by confronting negative self-talk and channeling their inherent strengths. I find joy in helping clients find practical solutions for life's challenges, witnessing their personal growth, and supporting their journey of self-discovery.

Motivated by a desire to help others, I earned both my bachelor's and master's degrees in social work from The Ohio State University. Throughout my years of clinical training, I gained invaluable experience in various settings, including a long-term residential treatment center where I worked with adults struggling with substance abuse. Additionally, I had the opportunity to contribute to a non-profit organization dedicated to combating food insecurity in low-income neighborhoods. 

In my practice, I utilize a combination of Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Informed Care, Mindfulness Practices, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) to work with adults and adolescents on a wide range of life’s challenges, including:

• Substance Abuse
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Postpartum Depression and Anxiety (PPD/PPA)
• Women’s issues
• Eating Disorders
• Life transitions
• Loss/Grief
• Trauma and PTSD
• Family dynamics
• Relationship Issues 
• Stress Management

I firmly believe that mental, emotional, and physical health are interconnected, and genuine healing involves nurturing the whole person. I strive to empower clients to make positive changes that foster balance and guide individuals towards a state of wellness that encompasses their mind, body, and spirit.

As a wife and mother of two, I've learned many important lessons about embracing imperfections, prioritizing self-care, and discovering the power of resilience. In my spare time, I enjoy spending quality time with my family, relaxing on my hammock, and gardening.

Supervised by David Bowers, IMFT PhD Lis #F.2000127

John Coaxum, M. Div., LPC

** In-Person AND ONLINE appointment Available**

In addition to his Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of the Cumberlands, John earned a Bachelor of Arts in from Oakwood University and a Masters of Divinity from Andrews Theological Seminary. As an ordained pastor he began providing pastoral counseling  to parishioners over a decade ago. Since gaining training and licensure as a Clinical Counselor, he has expanded his work to provide care to a wide variety of clients.

“While many of my clients have preferred working with me because of their desire to have Biblical principles included; I also enjoy working with clients who prefer a secular approach to therapy” he says.  “I have been with many individuals and families in their best and worst moments. Years of helping others through crisis has helped me to professionally and empathetically engage with clients facing a wide variety of challenges and from diverse backgrounds.”

In sessions John works to create a safe space where clients can be themselves and process concerns as they move towards growth and healing.

John works with clients aged 21 and older on issues including:

• Men’s issues
• Stress
• Depression
• Life challenges
• Anxiety
• Grief and Loss
• Marriage counseling
• Pre-marital counseling

His preferred techniques and approaches include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and motivational interviewing. John is also a Certified Prepare-Enrich pre-marital and marital facilitator.

In his free time John enjoys spending time with wife and daughter, being out in nature, wood working, cutting hair, sports, movies, video games, reading, and writing.

Britni Karst, LMFT

I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become. " Carl Jung

I grew up in Ohio, the youngest of three, and graduated from The Ohio State university with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and Social issues.  I later moved to California where I completed my Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy at the Fuller Graduate School of Psychology. I have experience working with adolescents, emerging adults, couples and families with a wide variety of life challenges.  During my studies I gained international experience working with sex trafficking survivors in India and exploring family systems in Central America.

Before becoming a therapist, I worked as an actor, and a proud member of the Screen Actor’s Guild.  My experiences in the arts had led to a passion for working with artists and creative individuals of various sorts in my work as a clinician.

My work with pre-teens thru adults includes exploring issues around:

• Relational challenges
• Couples’ issues
• Parent/child relationships
• Attachment issues
• Trauma, complex PTSD
• Women issues
• Social Anxiety
• Depression
• Bi-polar
• Identity issues
• Transitional phases of life
• Anxiety

I believe in the power of relationships for healing and growth. Inside each of us is a self that is surprisingly resilient, powerful and able to lead to healing.  I find that storytelling of one’s life: pains struggles, dreams, successes and desires is one of the most powerful agents of change.  That work requires a safe, accepting and understanding to facilitate healing and growth. That’s exactly the sort of space I work to create in the therapy room with my clients.

I include a mix of therapeutic philosophies and techniques, depending on my client’s needs and interests. Those include: Psychodynamic. Internal Family Systems, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and mindfulness.

In my spare time I enjoy baking, travel the arts and my bulldogs (the animal not the team!)

Supervised by David Bowers, IMFT PhD Lis #F.2000127

Lori Jarosz, LSW

Offering Online Appointments Only

“The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction not a destination.”—Carl Rogers

I knew from a very young age that helping people was part of who I am. I love walking with people as they explore themselves and gain insight, discover their strengths, and work toward healing. Many of my own life experiences—both happy and painful ones-- have shaped me and given me opportunities to grow and become who I am. I try to build on those experiences as I walk with my clients in their life journeys.

I completed my Masters in Social work at Cleveland State University and have since gained valuable experience in working with those who face substance use problems and addictions as well as survivors of trauma.

I work with clients aged 18 and older on issues including:

• Substance Use Disorders,
• Addictions,
• Trauma,
• Grief,
• Depression,
• Anxiety,
• Spirituality,
• PTSD,
• Women’s issues,
• Relationships

I tend to use a variety of approaches, depending on each client’s needs and interests.  Those include:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
• Solution Focused Therapy
• EMDR

I believe that people are geared toward happiness, peace, and fulfillment. I find my work fulfilling because I love to be present with my clients as they travel the journey of becoming who they have searched for all their lives. Walking with them inspires my growth as a counselor.

In my “off time”, I enjoy music, dance, and raising my family with my husband.

Habiba Barre, MFT

“At any given moment, you have the power to say: This is not how the story is going to end.” - Christine Mason Miller

I earned both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the Ohio State University and began my clinician experience working with adolescents in Nationwide Children’s Hospital inpatient setting in 2017.  At OSU’s Couples and Family Therapy clinic I served as a therapist to individuals as well as couples and families across a spectrum of ages and experiences. I have also worked with families, children and adolescents through NCH’s primary care programs and Child Development Center.

In my practice I am passionate about working with a diverse range of clients to gain an understanding of their personal stories and ultimately to help them gain tools for authoring the best version of their next chapter. I love helping people shift perspective and explore alternative ways to solve recurring issues. I have a strong interest in working with clients from ethnically diverse backgrounds. Specifically, children, adolescents, and young adults from immigrant backgrounds.

I believe that people are a beautiful culmination of all their experiences, enjoyable as well as painful ones. Sometimes these experiences help us grow and other times they hurt and lead us to feelings and actions that we are not proud of and regret. I know that each client I encounter possesses a unique and compelling story filled with nuances of both joy and pain. My mission is to help people see the beauty and value in their story while helping craft a future aligned with the person they aim to be.

I genuinely believe that as people, we are capable of more than we think that we are. I know that my job as a therapist is to help my clients become more aware of unsuspected strengths and abilities they already possess while achieving new ones.

Issues and challenges that I work with clients to address include:

• behavior management therapy for young children
• anxiety,
• depression
• School issues
• Adolescent challenges with family, school, and friends
• Parents and children facing medical issues
• Young adult identity issues
• Life transition challenges of young adults
• Women’s issues
• Self esteem

Theories and techniques I employ include:

• family systems therapy,
• cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT),
• dialectical behavior therapy (DBT),
• acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
• narrative therapy

I take a very collaborative and personable approach with my clients. I believe that a positive therapeutic relationship plays a big role in the success of treatment, so I try to create a judgment-free room filled with compassion, empathy, humor, and understanding. I love getting to know my clients beyond their presenting problems, so I use a strengths-based approach.  Because I know so many of us have quite painful experiences in our pasts, I use trauma-informed practices and strive to consistently recognize and identify that trauma comes in various forms and can present differently for everybody. I meet people where they are at and work with them to see their greatest potential.

In my free time I love traveling, reading, and spending time with my friends and family.

Supervised by David Bowers, PhD, IMFT-S Lis#F.2000127

Charlotte Buelow, LSW

”Let go of who you think you’re supposed to be; embrace who you are.” – Brene Brown

Beginning therapy can feel like a big and scary step filled with a lot of unknowns, I want to provide my clients a safe and non-judgmental place to work through whatever they need.  I want my clients to feel comfortable and to take the time they need to build a therapeutic relationship together before feeling like they need to dive in.  Each person has different experiences, different priorities, and different reasons to seek therapy which makes therapy look different for each client.  I view therapy as a team approach between the client and the therapist and my job is to guide my clients in untangling their thoughts so we can work together and problem solve.

I am passionate about helping clients find joy in their lives and I work with all my clients to help them achieve their goals and reach their potential.  I work with adults and adolescents on a variety of life challenges including:

• Trauma
• Adolescent/parent relationships
• Grief
• Anxiety
• Life changes
• Depression
• Relational issues

I integrate a variety of therapeutic modalities and techniques in my work ranging from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to motivational interviewing, with a focus on client strengths.

I earned my bachelor’s degree at Northern Kentucky University and have master’s degrees from Capital University and Louisiana State University.  My professional experience includes crisis counseling, mental health day treatment, and community mental health agencies.

In my free time I enjoy spending time with friends and family, writing, and traveling.

Supervised by Abby Brewster, LISW-S Lis #I.2102588-SUPV

Kayce McCurdy, LSW

Kayce McCurdy,MSW (he/him) is a licensed social worker with a master’s in social work from The Ohio State University and a Bachelor’s in English Literature from Ohio University.

Kayce enjoys working with clients (age 16 and up) from a myriad of backgrounds and perspectives.

As someone with an ADHD diagnosis, Kayce knows what it’s like to be neurodivergent in today’s world. He has found that his diagnosis is not a problem that needs solving, just a different set of strengths. Kayce is passionate about helping others discover their own unexpected strengths.

Kayce believes in meeting people where they are and aims to help clients find creative solutions to life’s challenges that feel authentic to them. Kayce works to create a strong therapeutic bond with each client and believes in transparency throughout the therapy process. Kayce understands that circumstances can’t always be changed, but the ways we react to them can. He enjoys working with clients on a number of issues including:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• LGBTQ issues
• Gender Transitions
• Self-esteem
• Communication

Kayce employs an integrative and client-centered approach, mainly drawing from emotion-focused therapy, strengths-based therapy, and Motivational Interviewing, depending on what is most suited to the client. Kayce believes mindfulness can be a powerful tool against a world of anxiety and stress and finds it can be a good fit for many clients.

Kayce believes every person deserves the space and safety to be exactly who they are. He practices cultural humility and continues to learn more about our world every day.

Kayce loves woodworking and collecting vintage hand tools. He also is a big nerd for Sci-fi and fantasy (think Stargate, X-files, Lord of the Rings, etc.) Kayce also enjoys hiking and camping with his wife and dog.

Supervised by Alex Banta,MSW Lic#I.1901417-SUPV

Mariya Al-Ghawi, MFT

I am passionate about holding space for each person I work with to experience an opportunity to share their story and be heard. In hand with that, acknowledging and spending time considering the emotions we have as we go through different experiences can help us to understand them. I am also passionate about acknowledging individuality and diversity. I strive to give voice to diverse and minority populations in order to help understand  lives in the contexts of our various environments. I value considering the ways in which the impacts of minority status may have on the development of one’s life and relationships.

I earned both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at The Ohio State University where I completed my clinical placement at the Ohio State University Couple and Family Therapy Clinic.  I also worked with adolescents and their families at Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH) Behavioral Health in the Mood and Anxiety Program. 

I enjoy working with a wide variety of individuals, couples and families, with a special interest in working with interracial/ethnic minority couples.

Some issues I enjoy helping clients address include:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Relationship challenges for couples
• Conflict among and between family members
• Cross-cultural challenges
• Identity
• Grief

In my work I pull from both Emotion Focused Therapy and Solution Focused Therapy, highlighting client strengths to identify key tools to utilize in recovering and moving forward.  I also find mindfulness to be helpful for many clients with whom I work. 

 I grew up  here in Columbus and am the 4^th generation of Ohio State graduates.—We have a long history of Buckeye pride!

I love animals and have grown up with pets throughout my lifetime. As someone who identifies of ethnic minority status, I am drawn to working with and meeting others of diverse backgrounds and one of the things I appreciate about living in Columbus! In spare time, I enjoy reading, spending time outdoors, and exercising.

Supervised by David Bowers,PhD,IMFT lic#F.2000127

Abby Brewster, LISW-S

“Sometimes the bravest and most important thing you can do is just show up.”- Brené Brown

Passion and Philosophy

I believe that everyone’s story matters, and I want to give individuals a safe and non-judgmental space to share and explore their stories. Everyone deserves to be heard, be loved, and be safe. I also believe that everyone has a future to look forward to and I am passionate about helping people reach the goals they have for their lives.

I am passionate about creating a safe space for people to find healing and to get to know themselves on a deeper level, so they can become the healthiest version of themselves. I also value social justice and strive to promote justice in my personal and professional life.

Experience and Strategies

I’m an Ohio Licensed Independent Social Worker. I earned both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Social Work. I received my Bachelor’s from Taylor University and then went on to pursue my Master’s from Ohio State University.

I have provided clinical counseling, advocacy, and case management services, with a specialization in trauma. I also have experience working with individuals and families, providing parenting strategies and support, as well as exploring healthy relationship skills.

I utilize Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (for children and adolescents), and EMDR. I focus on the existing strengths of my clients and encourage the use of those strengths to work toward identified goals. Empathy, compassion, integrity, and service drive my interactions with clients.

I work with children, adolescents and adults on a variety of issues and life challenges including:

• PTSD and other trauma related difficulties
• Anxiety,
• Adjustment Disorders,
• Depression,
• Grief and Loss.

I enjoy working with individuals to promote healthy relationships with themselves and those around them.

In my free time I enjoy cooking, being outside, and spending time with my loved ones and sweet puppy.

Amanda Miller, MS, MFT

“Being human is a beautiful messy business and we are beautiful, messy beings.”-- Karen Young

I believe that being human is a beautifully imperfect experience.  Each of us live lives that are filled with excitement, joy, love,  sadness, anger, fear and loss. Sometimes it feels like you have it all together, and other times everything feels out of control and painful – perhaps even too much to bear.

Your inner world, your relationships with those you love, your work and school lives, even all of society can feel so heavy. The pain can sometimes be manageable and other times feel overwhelming and isolating.  The many roles all of us play as a partner, a family member, and a friend can present challenges.

Reaching out to someone to talk to is not easy. And it is scary – especially where it hurts the most and in places you have not felt safe in.  Because of that, I work to create a safe, accepting, and nonjudgmental space for you to be seen and heard.  Meeting you exactly where you are and walking alongside you on your journey is an honor.  I value and respect all cultures, beliefs, races, ethnicities, genders, sexualities, ages, and abilities.

My academic background includes a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of California Santa Cruz as well as a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy.

I work with teens, adults, couples, and families on a wide variety of life challenges including:

• Relational challenges
• Couples’ issues
• Parent/child relationships
• Attachment issues
• Trauma, complex PTSD
• Women issues
• Identity issues
• Transitional phases of life
• ADHD
• Anxiety

Each person is uniquely beautiful, so I don’t use a “one size fits all” style in counseling. I invite you to show up as you are. I believe that my expertise is in working with my clients to create an authentic, warm, and compassionate space for healing and hope. In that space, as we work you will become more able to discover the wisdom you already have within. I am here to listen, guide, and empower you to share your story and find your way.

Supervised by David Bowers, IMFT PhD Lis #F.2000127

Alyna Lewis, LPC

“The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I change”—Carl Rogers

I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a focus on Positive Psychology from The Ohio State University and my Master’s degree from Heidelberg University. My work in community mental health afforded me the opportunity to work with a wide variety of ages, populations, diagnosis and client needs. I believe that my responsibility as a clinician is to truly meet a client where they are and sit with that client; our job is not to shed light on the client but to walk beside the client on their own personal journey toward light and healing.

I am passionate about helping clients find and make meaning in their lives.  I enjoy working with adolescents and adults, from age 13 and up. The challenges I work with clients on include:

• Trauma recovery
• Anxiety
• Domestic abuse survivors
• Sexual assault survivors
• Depression
• Adolescent stressors/ family & school relationship issues

I typically use a Cognitive Behavioral (CBT) approach in working with clients, informed by an awareness of each person’s existential individuality and the value of looking inside ourselves to find our unique value and meaning.  

I know that sometimes making that first appointment and walking into a session can be extremely difficult and I am honored that clients choose to sure part of their journey with me as their therapist.  

As a single parent, most of my “off” time is devoted to my young son, but I also enjoy the out of doors, thought out the year, whether kayaking and hiking or snowboarding and cross-country skiing. While I tend to be an “all sorts” animal lover, dogs have a special place in my heart.

Supervised by Alex Banta, LISW-S Lis# I.1901417-SUPV

Haley Kiser, PhD, MFT

“Without change, there would be no butterflies”

I believe that each of us is the expert of their own life. As a therapist my job is not to tell you what you ought to do, but to work with you so that by working together, we can collaborate and find the most effective ways for you to achieve your goals. I also believe that often our experiences growing up  create blueprints  that shape our morals, ideas, and beliefs about all things in ways that aren’t always most helpful; however through intentional exploration and work we can change those blueprints.

 I am passionate about helping my clients navigate life and the curveballs it can throw by helping strengthen connections and relationships among friends, partners and families. I believe each person deserves to be heard and validated in their experiences and emotions and I work diligently to help them sort through and make meaning out of these circumstances.

 I completed my Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling from The University of Akron and then completed my PhD from The Ohio State University. My clinical experiences include community mental health agencies and medical settings. I have previously taught undergraduate students at OSU and currently serve as an adjunct faculty member in the Marriage and Family therapy program at National University.

My work with children, adolescents and adults includes:

• Anxiety,
• Depression,
• Adolescent Stressors,
• Couple Therapy,
• Family Therapy,
• Life Transitions,
• Parent/Child relational issues,
• Medical Family Therapy/families experiencing various diagnoses,
• Infertility

I take a systemic and intergenerational approach when working with my client(s). Even when working with individuals, I think about other systems (i.e., people, places) that play roles in the situation as well. I utilize a combination of multiple evidenced-based techniques including:

• solution-focused therapy,
• motivational interviewing,
• cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT),
• dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).

I strive to be empathetic, transparent and collaborative with my clients while providing a safe space to explore and work on their identified goals.

In my free time I enjoy hanging out with my husband, our daughter, and our fur babies (2 corgis, 1 cat, and 2 sugar gliders). I also enjoy baking and attending Cincinnati Reds games.

Supervised by David Bowers, PhD,IMFT Lic # F.2000127

Terri Blake, Ed.S., LPC

“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” – Maya Angelou

Education

My educational journey started with studying Psychology for a Bachelor of Science degree at Stillman College located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. I earned an Education Specialist Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Loyola University Chicago in 2019. I am currently a 3^rd year doctoral student in the School Psychology program at The Ohio State University. My professional and clinical training experiences have included behavioral hospitals, community mental health agencies, private practice, and schools. 

Passions and Philosophy

As a little girl, my mother referred to me as her “sunflower child” who loved to smile and help others. At a young age, she shared that one day I would help individuals who needed nurturing the most. It is amazing how others (my mother) can identify our gifts before we are aware of them. 

It is true. I have a passion for helping individuals navigate their healing journey by providing a safe space filled with compassion, non-judgment, and authenticity. I believe in saying “YES” to therapy and “YES to yourself.” I believe that all individuals have the necessary tools in their toolbox to heal, but simply need help navigating the journey.

Strategies and Approach 

I am honored when clients choose me to help them navigate their healing journey. My approach is a holistic, strength-based, and trauma-informed approach. Additionally, I believe that clients are the experts of their lives, and my role is to provide guidance. My goal is to use therapy as a tool to empower, problem-solve, and reclaim self-love to begin thriving in life. 

I specialize in working with children, adolescents, and adults (aged 3 and up) in the following areas:

• Spirituality
• Self-Esteem
• College Transitions
• Racial Trauma
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Trauma
• Emotional Regulation
• Communication and Family Conflict
• Women's Issues

I am a jovial, encouraging, and openminded person who loves to laugh. I believe in the power of the therapeutic relationship; therefore, I take pride in being my authentic self. In my free time, I love to run outdoors, swim, watch re-runs of 90’s classic Black sitcoms, listen to music, and spend quality time with friends and my partner.

Supervised by David Bowers, IMFT PhD Lis #F.2000127

Alex Banta, LISW-S, Clinical Manager

** ONLINE Appointments available **

"The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change."

​-Carl Rodgers

Passion

I am passionate about working alongside people on their journeys to becoming versions of themselves they want and choose to be.

I work with clients to identify strengths they already possess, but might not even notice, and then apply those strengths and abilities to work towards their goals and desired changes. I believe a supportive, nonjudgmental space is key to unlocking potential. I use evidence-based interventions from a strengths-based perspective to ensure best outcomes for clients. I believe everyone deserves the space, energy and time to become the person they want to be.

Experience and Approach to Therapy

I am a Licensed Independent Social Worker and Clinical Manager received both my Bachelors and Masters degrees from Indiana University.

I have experience working with adolescents and adults, as individual, families and couples tackling a number of issues. I also have several years’ experience working on an acute in-patient unit at a pediatric facility working with families through crisis, grief, anxiety and depression.  I use an eclectic theoretical approach, including: Motivational Interviewing, solution-focused brief therapy, mindfulness techniques, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and family systems therapy.

I specialize in working with adolescents and adults (aged 12 and up) in the following areas:

• Depression,
• Anxiety,
• Parent/child conflict
• Co-Parenting
• Teen identity challenges,
• Trauma,
• Self-harm,
• Grief and loss,
• Anger issues,
• Mindfulness,

When not working, I enjoy spending time with my fluffy, adorable, mischievous Puppy!

David Bowers, Ph.D, IMFT-S

** ONLINE Appointments available **

As Practice Owner of Columbus, OH (Polaris) Thriveworks, I am excited to work with this team of clinicians and hope that you’ll reach out to me with any questions or concerns you might have. As a Marriage and Family therapist, I am attuned to clients’ interconnected webs of relationships even when working one-on-one. My experience and training with families and couples enables me to walk with clients through (re)discovering their connectedness with those they love.

I’m most passionate about exploring clients’ stories, and listening for places where personal narratives might differ from others’. This often provides spaces for clients to explore new or neglected understandings of themselves and their relationships leading to preferred, more fulfilling future stories.

My academic affiliations include having taught courses in family stress, parenting and developmental psychology at OSU and Ohio Dominican University, in addition to research work with both OSU and Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

I enjoy working with clients across cultural, sexual and gender identity spectrums, including, but not limited to, folks who identify as heterosexual, bisexual, gay, lesbian or queer as well as clients who hold trans- or cis-gender among their identities. I work with clients in monogamous, polyamorous and various forms of negotiated open romantic relationships.​

I work with clients who face a variety of challenges including recovery from substance use disorders, anxiety and depression, as well as relational challenges facing parents and adolescents.

My 20 years of work experience before becoming a therapist equips me with lived understanding of today’s hectic business and corporate life challenges, whether those involve meeting budgets and timelines or working through the sacrifices that happen when dealing with work/life demands.

I realize that sometimes just making a first appointment is a bold step and all of us at Thriveworks Columbus Polaris office are dedicated to holding a space that honors each step clients take in their journeys with us.