MSW, LISW, EMDR Trained

“I am not afraid of storms for I am learning how to sail my ship” -Louisa Mal Alcott

Samantha believes that all individuals have the right to determine how to sail their ship and recognizes that everyone’s learning and sailing process is different. It is Samantha’s goal to help others along their healing journey so they can become the best version of themselves on their own terms. It is recognized that everyone’s journey looks different and Samantha believes that all persons deserve a safe and supportive space to heal and utilizes techniques such as Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, skills based from Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and much more to assist individuals within this journey.

Samantha holds her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Bowling Green State University and also earned her Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Michigan. Her passion is focused on individuals healing from past experiences and trauma and identifying whom they are as healthy individuals today. Samantha’s professional experience includes working with both adults and adolescents whom have been diagnosed with mental health and/or substance use disorders. This experience has allowed her to gain a strong desire to treat individuals that have been impacted by anxiety, depression, trauma, life changes, struggles with self-esteem and much more. This also includes her drive to help individuals identify emotions that they experience, to provide a safe space to explore those emotions and experiences, as well as to find safe and healthy methods of coping. It is Samantha’s goal to continue growing as a clinical therapist by expanding their education on a variety of clinical interventions that can assist others to discover the strength and healing within themselves.

419.359.5176 | samanthabrownlee@karunahousellc.com

M.A., LPC

“When the hour is not so young, when the fire has gone low, and I have run out of things to distract me from my wounded heart, perhaps there is healing in the warm quiet of allowing it all.” -Brian Adreas

Holly Cipriani is a licensed professional counselor who graduated from Bowling Green State University’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program. She is scheduled to begin training in EMDR therapy as well as training to become certified in working with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Additionally, Holly has experience working with children and adolescents.

Holly works with clients to identify where they may have fallen out of balance in their lives and takes a holistic approach to navigating back to their individual alignment. As a certified yoga instructor trained in trauma-informed yoga, Holly helps her clients better understand the mind-body connection and how one supports the other in the healing process. She utilizes mindfulness and grounding practices to help clients increase their self-awareness and self-compassion, encouraging space to allow for all feelings in the human experience without judgement. Holly looks forward to walking alongside you in your healing journey.

Holly is available to see clients age 6+.

419.345.2299 | hollycipriani@karunahousellc.com

M.A., LPC, EMDR Trained

“A story doesn’t live until it is imagined in someone’s mind…What does the story mean, then?…It means what you want it to mean…The purpose of a storyteller is not to tell you how to think, but to give you questions to think upon. Too often, we forget that.” -Brandon Sanderson, The Way of Kings

Your life is a story, with a rich history, captivating characters, an engaging plot line, and moments of joy and turmoil. When we experience the latter, most often we need someone to sit with us in the pain, empathize, remind us of our strengths, and visualize those moments of joy that are likely just around the corner.

Spencer is a licensed, professional counselor and earned his Master of Arts in Counselor Education from the University of Toledo. Historically a public-school choir teacher, Spencer noticed that his students often needed a listening ear, to know they were not alone, and someone to remind them of their worth. This led him to pursue a career in clinical mental health counseling, where he now works collaboratively with teenagers, college students, and adults to recognize the impact of their past experiences on the present and develop a more positive outlook for the future.

Spencer has experience working with anxiety, depression, PTSD, and OCD in both individual and group counseling formats. He began training with Karuna House to further his goals of working with teens who have experienced trauma. His approach involves cooperation with clients, wellness, mindfulness, and creative interventions to help clients meet their goals and make positive change.

419.318.8905 | spencerwilhelm@karunahousellc.com

M.A., LPC

“And just like the moon, you shall go through phases of light, of dark, and of everything in between. And though you may not always appear with the same brightness, you are always, always, whole.”

Pema Chödrön once said – “You are the sky, everything else -it’s just the weather” – and similarly, the journey of therapy is examining your worldview – your sky. Like the moon, you go through different phases in life, and like the stars, your constellations – you have a story. Looking up at the sky, like beginning therapy, can feel vast and overwhelming – like an inexperienced astrologer who can see the stars but can’t read the signs.

As your therapist, I will sit with you, with a telescope, and help you piece together each star that tells your story. I will see the light and darkness of each of your moon phases, and help you to see that through both, you are whole. We will weather the storms, learn to dance in the rain (or at least locate an umbrella), we will celebrate the sunshine, and layer up for our midwestern winters. Through all our vastness, complexities, stories, and changes – like the sky – you are constant. I would be privileged to be a part of your journey of healing, resilience, studying of stories, and crafting of new ones.

Juanita is a licensed professional counselor and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Disability Studies, and Master of Arts in Counselor Education with a concentration in clinical mental health counseling. She has experience working with teens in academic and community settings, individuals with disabilities in residential settings, patients in hospital settings, and adults in community mental health settings. Through these diverse settings, the themes of compassion, acceptance, and shame diminishing with the sharing of stories in safe spaces were illuminated. Juanita utilizes a person-centered approach that acknowledges the fallibility of the human condition and highlights the dialectic between people doing the best they can and having the capacity to do better. In other words – we can do hard things and grow – and we can begin this journey with patience, curiosity, and willingness to meet ourselves where we are and move forward one step at a time.

Juanita has experience working with anxiety, depression, OCD, and borderline personality disorder, and was formerly a clinician in a Comprehensive-Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) team. Juanita began training with Karuna House to continue helping individuals heal from trauma, and she is in the process of gaining EMDR training. Her approach involves collaboration, creativity, and utilization of clients’ strengths to heal trauma, build resilience, balance acceptance and change, and develop a strong sense of self/self-worth to aid clients in reaching their goals.

419.407.6531 | juanitaalvarado@karunahousellc.com

M.A., LPSC, CT (Counselor Trainee), EMDR Trained

“If you want to inspire, don’t worry about showing them your superpower. Show them theirs. “ -Alexander Den Hejjer

Ciera is a child-focused Mental Health Counseling intern with the University of Toledo. She is focusing her work on children ages 3-19. Prior to coming to Karuna House, Ciera spent two years as a Licensed Professional School Counselor for Toledo School for the Arts. Ciera’s undergraduate degree is from Bowling Green State University in Human Development and Family Studies, with one masters degree in School Counseling. While in pursuit of her academic and long term career goals, Ciera spent several years employed as a childcare professional. For the better half of 9 years, she taught preschool through elementary age children in a local childcare center.

Ciera’s desire for her clients is to give them hope and confidence for their future. Oftentimes, the first step in this process is helping children find the tools and vernacular to identify, navigate, and articulate their feelings. She wants them to see the promise in themselves today, utilize “the power of yet” mindset, and grace within ently, she utilizes Play Therapy methods in order to meet children where they are. She then helps families learn skills to address their concerns to improve everyone’s well-being.

Ciera is passionate as well as knowledgeable in racial and equity justice. She is also LGBTQ+ and gender affirming. She aims to create a comfortable, cozy office space for her clients to foster an environment of brave exploration, conversation, and breakthrough. Familial collaboration and background, as well as environmental context (especially in younger ages) will be encouraged to facilitate the best treatment of the whole child.

Ciera has currently begun Play Therapy training and is set to begin EMDR training in early 2023. Currently, she utilizes Play Therapy methods in order to meet children where they are. She then helps families learn skills to address their concerns to improve everyone’s well-being.

Joining Ciera is her therapy dog, Winston! Winston is a Cavalier King Charles, who loves short walks, pets, treats, and naps. He is certified through the Alliance for Therapy Dogs, a national therapy dog organization.

419.482.8359 | Cieraford@Karunahousellc.com

M.A. LPCC, EMDR Trained

“You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your own love and affection.” -Buddha

There is no greater feeling than being heard, validated and empowered. It is Kayla’s goal to help everyone feel like they are the leader of their own journey and that they are capable of growth and positive changes. Kayla utilizes an eclectic and collaborative approach to help fit her clients unique personalities and needs. Her motto being: be yourself, love yourself and heal, through the therapy journey.

Kayla is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor who works with teens and young adults of all backgrounds and identities. She holds a masters degree in mental health counseling from Bowling Green State University as well as a bachelors degree in Psychology and Sociology. Prior to joining Karuna House, Kayla worked in both community mental health and private practice settings, and has since found a love for working with teens and young adults. Kayla enjoys working with client who are dealing with life transitions, relationship conflict, depression, anxiety, and self esteem, and uses techniques taken from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Narrative therapy and Motivational Interviewing.

Therapy shouldn't be a chore, it should be a safe place for growth and change. Kayla’s approach is empowering, compassionate, empathetic, humorous and built on a want for everyone to be seen and heard. Kayla strives to be friendly, welcoming, accepting of all stories, identities and views, and a safe person to those who need it. Kayla loves learning and growing with clients and places rapport building as a top priority with each and every client. Kayla is LGBTQ friendly, nonjudgemental and works to meet each individual client where they are at. Kayla will begin EMDR training with Karuna House and hopes to never stop learning and growing alongside her clients.

419-318-9468 | KaylaHawk@karunahousellc.com

M.A., LPC. EMDR Trained

“And once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about.” – Haruki Murakami

Cole is a licensed professional counselor and has earned his Master’s Degree in Counseling from Spring Arbor University. His undergraduate degree is from Taylor University, where he majored in psychology. It was during his years at Taylor when he realized he had a calling to go into the realm of mental health.

Cole utilizes his empathy and unconditional positive regard to assist every client with overcoming the obstacles that stand in the way of their full potential. Cole works side by side with each client and employs techniques and methods that are personalized just for them. His main areas of focus are trauma, depression, and anxiety.

Cole has experience working with children and adolescents, and has co-led group counseling for adolescents. He began his training at the Karuna House Training Institute to specialize in attachment trauma and complex PTSD, and has an unrelenting passion for what he does. Cole firmly believes that every child and adolescent has it within them to become the best possible version of themselves. He believes that the process of self-actualization is crucial for adolescents; they are only a few steps away from their future endeavors.

419.309.1008 | Colegraham@karunahousellc.com

M.A., LPC. EMDR Trained

“Not allowing people to go through their pain, and protecting them from it may turn out to be a kind of over-protection, which in turn implies a certain lack of respect for the integrity and the intrinsic nature and the future development of the individual.”

JD is a licensed professional counselor and a graduate alumni of the University of Toledo. JD has received training in EMDR and is working on gaining EMDR certification. JD continues to grow in EMDR through weekly consultation(s) and supervisions, as well as learning from level III sensorimotor psychotherapy trained, Gretchen Vonseggern and Andrew Lesniewicz. JD brings an attachment perspective into his EMDR work, and hopes to gain certification in sensorimotor psychotherapy in the near future as well. JD is passionate about providing clinical mental health services to the northwest Ohio area communities and people.

In our busy lives, it can be hard to cultivate the sacred space needed for healing and confronting our pain. JD provides a counseling space of radical honesty, openness, and growth. In this space, clients are guided deeper into their experience to touch their own capacity, resources, and healing. JD’s two favorite qualities to embody in session are integrity and humanity.

JD believes in taking a holistic approach to counseling, which includes a present moment “how are we living” approach to life. JD explores how the past is affecting our current realities, and also how our current decisions are in alignment with our deepest hearts. JD helps folks heal from their pains and begin living in efficient ways.

JD’s desire to support each individual in living their experience fully comes from his existentialist perspective on therapy. Therapy with JD highlights choice, meaning, purpose, and confronting experience fearlessly. JD’s comfort with riding big emotions and life decisions comes from his experience of becoming a conscientious objector to war, being a Buddhist, martial artist, and high-performing athlete in high school. JD has a lot of experience with big life decisions, aligning with inner values/morals, living with integrity, and being effective in stressful situations.

JD hopes that all people come to know and understand their fundamental okayness. JD reflects this back to people in session by affirming, being empathic, and deeply listening. JD enjoys reflecting back on each individual’s wholesomeness and identifying each individual’s unique strengths and ways of being.

Under the supervision of Andrew Lesniewicz LPCC-S, Clinical Supervisor. Under the work supervision of Karuna House LLC.

419.913.6563 | jdreisinger@karunahousellc.com