Parenting Therapists in Dayton, OH

Have you been feeling suck and don't know which way to turn? This may be due to hard life transitions, relationship difficulties, health insecurity, grief, or even major traumatic events. You do not have to figure it out on your own.

I'm happy you are here. I work with women and new parents who are struggling with the transition to pregnancy or parenting and want to feel more enjoyment and confidence in their new identity and relationships. I know it can be intimidating to consider therapy. You may be pregnant or newly postpartum, grappling with the physical, emotional, and environmental changes that come with such a transition. You may be a tired or stressed out parent, trying to “have it all” but always falling behind the endless to-dos. I understand the difficulties that come with expanding your family. We can work together to improve your wellbeing.

“You’ve always had the power my dear, you just had to learn to learn it for yourself”– The Wizard of Oz – Frank Baum". As a clinician, I believe that counseling is about providing youth, adults, and their families a safe, dedicated space to “Learn it for yourself”. A Licensed Independent Social Worker for 25 years, my passion for supporting youth and families through their personal journeys only continues to grow. Starting with the belief that the relationship is the basis of therapy, I will work with you, your child, and your family to develop strategies that allow you to overcome or manage your own unique situation.

Welcome! Imagine being able to talk with someone about your concerns, worries and needs openly and without judgement. I can be that person for you. I'm dedicated to providing a non-judgmental and safe space for you to address life stressors, such as, challenges with your body image, worry, feeling stuck in your relationship(s), feeling disconnected from others, experiencing stress and anxiety, feeling sad, struggling with parenting, past traumas, job stress and other issues of life. I believe that therapy is not a one-size-fits-all approach, and together, we will discover the best path that suits you.

Life transitions (like moving, changing careers, or becoming a parent) are never easy, however they happen. There are plenty of books, web sites, professional “experts,” and well-meaning know-it-all observers who are ready to tell you exactly what you need to do to be healthy and successful. Sometimes direct advice targeted at a specific solution can be helpful. Often, though, these “quick fixes” miss the mark and leave us feeling like we’ve failed. Our work together will be different as I strive to support you to discover more about yourself, better understand your own needs, and enhance your relationships with others.

Over the years I have worked with clients of all backgrounds and issues. I believe you are the most important person who walks into my office. I believe your experience in therapy should be helpful and that you feel you are treated with the dignity and respect you deserve. Our building a relationship is important in this process. You are the leader in managing your treatment and my job is to listen and follow your lead. For many families, adoption was an option to building that family. As a parent of nine adopted children who are now adults, I appreciate the special challenges we have faced.

You are uniquely shaped by your circumstances, aspirations, beliefs and emotions. My role is to understand your goals and support you as you strive to achieve them. My clients describe me as accepting and honest and they value the safe, judgment-free space I create for reflection. True healing and growth occur when we embrace honesty and acceptance of ourselves and others. Self-reflection and authentic communication can lead to a balanced life that harmonizes responsibility, fun, adventure and self-awareness. I'll provide the support and tools you need to overcome your challenges and improve your health, well-being and fulfillment.

I have over 30 years of counseling experience and have been in private practice in the Dayton area since 1990 providing caring, non-judgmental counseling for individuals, families and children. My background and training includes a variety of training: Gestalt, Cognitive Behavioral, Jungian Approaches and Sand Tray therapy.

Life has changed for an uncertain period of time. Finding a safe space to really be heard, so we can process, heal and grow is helpful during this difficult time. Feeling isolated, depressed, anxious or unable to face daily challenges is normal, but finding ways to handle the stress or difficult feelings when they become overwhelming can make life easier and bring about more success and happiness in your. Sometimes it's stress within a relationship (family, dating, marriage, parenting) that can really throw us off our game. Sometimes work is overwhelming. Sometimes everything seems to get us down.

If you are looking for a safe, compassionate, nonjudgemental person to talk to about the problems you are having, I can help. I have 20+ years of experience in the counseling field. I have worked in a variety of settings including a community mental health center, a private psychiatric office, a school setting, and an alcohol and drug treatment center. My goal is to help you achieve your goals, which might include helping you identify your strengths, improve your relationships, reduce negative symptoms, teach coping skills, enhance your self esteem, help you express your emotions, and provide support and guidance.

You are the expert in your own life and struggles. However, we all lose our way sometimes and can forget the unique strengths we all posses. Therapy can be a useful tool to help rediscover our strengths, regain balance in our lives, take control of the issues that are causing distress, and set new goals for the future. My approach is action-oriented; together we will re-orient you to your values and goals, while also seeking to understand and heal the past and what brought you to therapy. I also believe self-compassion is key; learning to forgive yourself, and accept yourself and where you are in the present moment.

The most important relationship you have is the one with yourself. We all have a story. Telling your story to an attuned listener can be transformational. Healing is a collaborative endeavor. As you share your experiences and I listen, you can become more connected to yourself. I work best with clients looking to address symptoms of trauma, depression, anxiety, stress management, relationship issues, and parenting problems. I believe digging deep into ourselves and learning how our early relationships in life impact our present coping strategies and feelings can help us move towards the future we want.

Relationships are complicated, parenting is hard and life is messy. Understanding these truths has given me the desire to help people who are struggling. No matter how overwhelming or insignificant you think the problem is, developing a counseling relationship can be beneficial. I will journey with you as you develop goals, coping strategies and communication skills. I honor that families are diverse in composition and adapt treatment to the individual needs of each client. I use a systemic approach and have a wide array of experience with grief counseling, anxiety, depression, women's issues, spiritual concerns, infidelity, life transitions, play therapy, infertility, elder concerns and self-esteem issues.

" I am a non-judgmental, open-minded therapist who believes that each client is an individual who deserves respect and unconditional regard for their life experiences. I engage in utilization of client centered therapy that allows the client to direct and feel more involved in the therapeutic process. This allows me to connect with the client and, together, develop a treatment plan that will help them to foster the skills that they feel they need to achieve the goals that they have set forth."

After years of providing a broad range of services, in the context of a traditional private practice office which I closed at the end of 2017, I began doing therapy online. I decided to do this to maintain a limited level of professional activity, available to select clients for whom the online service delivery platform would be appropriate. Services are available to children, youth, adults, and families, at the rate of $75 per 45-minute session and payable via PayPal.

At the Macks Psychology Group (MPG), we take pride in offering a wide range of psychological and speech-language testing and therapy services, and delivering outstanding care to meet the needs of the individuals and families with whom we work. Our providers are highly qualified, with backgrounds from hospitals, school districts, private practice, and community health. MPG works with nearly all ages from toddler through late adulthood. We look forward to working with you or your family.

We specialize in coming alongside families to offer help and understanding when caring for children who struggle in the areas of emotional and behavioral regulation. Children have challenges for a variety of reasons, and behaviors are just what we see on the outside that lets us know what is happening on the inside for them. At Anchor & Arrow Therapy, we are committed to looking at the whole child (brain AND body), within the context of the family, and digging deep to find the root causes for the often overwhelming and confusing behaviors children exhibit.

Limited daytime openings! I am a skilled clinician/supervisor with more than 20 years of ongoing training/therapeutic experience. I will provide you with a safe, supportive, and encouraging environment while utilizing an integrative approach to assist you in developing and building long-term skills for coping and problem-solving. My goal is to empower you to live a life you love. I believe digging deep into ourselves and learning how our early relationships in life impact our present coping strategies and feelings can help us move toward the future we want. I work with individuals and couples on a wide variety of issues.

Are you in a time of transition or hoping to end cycles that are harmful to you or your life? Navigating the postpartum period, relationship challenges, or trying to parent in a way that feels loving an gentle can feel overwhelming and lonely. Our identities and partnership shift often during change, and you may be experiencing anxiety, frustration with your partner or spouse, intrusive thoughts, depression, or just a sense of overwhelm with adjustment. Having someone to talk to and problem solve with can bring clarity and a sense of normalcy during a time filled with change.