Our therapists provide couples & marriage counseling in Toledo, OH

I am a licensed independent social worker (LISW) with over 29 years of experience helping adults and adolescents navigate grief, trauma, mood disorders, relationship challenges, and ADHD. I have worked across diverse settings, including hospital-based psychiatry, counseling centers, grief programs, nonprofit leadership, foster care and adoption agencies, and homeless shelters. These experiences have shaped my compassionate, relational, and holistic approach to care.

I earned my master’s degree in social work from New York University. My clinical approach is collaborative, strengths-based, and evidence-informed, integrating methods such as EMDR, relational dialogue, and trauma-informed care. I also provide practical strategies to support individuals and couples managing ADHD, grief, and trauma-related challenges.

Healing happens most powerfully within authentic relationships. I offer a supportive space where you can feel fully seen, heard, and respected as we work together to understand challenges, reconnect with strengths, and move toward resilience and growth. You do not have to face life’s struggles alone, and I would be honored to support you on your journey.

I am a licensed independent social worker (LISW) with 18 years of experience supporting adolescents, adults, and older adults through life’s challenges. I work with individuals navigating life transitions, trauma, grief, relationship difficulties, and physical or mental health concerns. My goal is to create a supportive space where clients feel understood while working toward improved well-being and quality of life.

I earned my master's degree in social work from Cleveland State University. My approach is holistic and client-centered, recognizing the strong connection between mental and physical health. I focus on helping clients build practical skills, strengthen self-awareness, and develop tools that support personal growth and lasting change.

Starting therapy or beginning again with a new therapist can feel overwhelming. I strive to meet you exactly where you are, offering empathy, understanding, and a judgment-free environment where you can speak openly. We will identify your goals and work toward restoring balance, rebuilding what feels lost, and helping you move forward with confidence.

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.