Leah Clary, LPC

Jessie Gordon, LCSW, earned her Master of Social Work from the NYU Silver School of Social Work in 2020. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with experience practicing in private practice and community mental health settings. Jessie brings a broad understanding of therapeutic needs and is committed to helping clients navigate a wide range of emotional and psychological challenges.

Jessie offers a compassionate, friendly, and nonjudgmental space where clients feel safe to explore their experiences. She meets clients where they are and tailors her approach using a variety of therapeutic modalities. Her style is collaborative and supportive, focusing on client goals while working at a comfortable pace.

In the first session, Jessie spends time getting to know the client’s history, reasons for seeking therapy, and their goals. Together, they develop a personalized treatment plan. She regularly checks in throughout the process to assess progress and make adjustments, always moving at a pace that supports lasting growth.

Dr. Cheryl Thomas' experience spans nearly two decades working with many who struggle to find their way through different life challenges. She will collaborate with you to identify and attain goals. Getting to know you is the first step and that is achieved through a variety of approaches that are grounded in family systems, cognitive behavioral therapy, and understanding any types of trauma that may have been experienced. Many have had trauma and what she has learned is that talking about the details of the trauma is not always helpful. It may be a component of healing, but there may be other ways to make progress. Dr. Thomas utilizes a combination of approaches to be helpful in working with clients. Some may include person-centered, solution focused, motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing. She has experience in different treatment settings in Ohio and enjoys working with those who have mental health and substance use disorders. Dr. Thomas works with ages 18 and up that include mental health issues like depression, anxiety, grief, stress management, trauma, communication, and relationship issues. She enjoys seeing a client shift perspectives and report feeling more at peace as they reach their goals. Dr. Thomas completed her doctorate degree in Counselor Education & Supervision in Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy in 2012.

Yahmemato Debleye, LPC, has extensive experience in intensive outpatient, residential, and inpatient settings. She has worked with individuals facing diverse therapeutic needs, including anxiety, depression, borderline personality disorder, and PTSD. Yahmemato earned her master’s degree from Thomas Jefferson University, which provides a strong foundation in trauma-focused counseling.

Yahmemato takes a person-centered approach, prioritizing a safe, welcoming environment where patients feel heard and understood. Through empathy and active listening, she ensures all patients feel respected throughout their therapeutic journey. She emphasizes collaborative goal-setting to identify and achieve tangible, meaningful outcomes that align with each individual’s needs.

In the initial session, Yahmemato focuses on building rapport and establishing open communication. She gains insight into a patient’s background, history, and current concerns, then collaborates with them to set realistic goals. Treatment plans are tailored and flexible, evolving to meet each patient’s unique needs while supporting long-term growth and well-being.

Kierra is a licensed mental health therapist and received her BS in Criminal Justice Leadership from Urbana University and M.Ed in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Dayton. Kierra has 20 years of experience working in the field of social services, and 7 years of experience as a licensed clinician.

Kierra has maintained positions in a wide array of environments including corrections, juvenile detention, CPS, psychiatric hospitals, schools, and in-home/community-based settings. Kierra has experience servicing adolescents, adults, and the elderly populations.

Kierra understands how intimidating therapy can be and commends you for taking the first step towards enhancing your life. Kierra asks that you are patient with yourself as you are embarking down a new path and reward yourself with gratitude as you reach new milestones in your life.

Kierra utilizes a holistic approach and provides talk therapy through the use of multiple treatment modalities including but not limited to, CBT, Solution Focused Therapy, Supportive therapy, and DBT techniques. Kierra is a Christian and may apply Christianity based principles to support your preferences and unique circumstances.

Your success in therapy is contingent upon your progress and commitment to attend and participate in sessions, as well as being open minded and willing to facilitate change from your past behaviors. In working together, Kierra will initiate the best treatment regimen designed for you and provide ongoing support for all your treatment needs.

Thank you for investing in your happiness, and Congratulations on taking the first steps to create a better you!!

‍

Meredith McMillan is a Licensed Mental Health Therapist with 9 years of experience working in mental health. She specializes in working with individuals who experienced trauma and toxic stress, as well as those with addiction issues, relationship challenges, and adjustment disorders. Ms. McMillan's therapy practice focuses on providing person-centered encouragement and support. She utilizes a trauma-focused cognitive behavioral approach to help you to develop your understanding of yourself and your challenges and enable you to utilize your strengths to facilitate your healing. She received a Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology from Palm Beach Atlantic University in Orlando, Florida, and established herself as a therapist working in community mental health in the Lakeland, Florida area. She spent several years working at Tri-County Human Services providing co-occurring outpatient substance abuse therapy. Later, she shifted to providing services to children through Tri-County's B-Net program and Children's Home Society. She went on to become the Clinical Supervisor at the Children's Home Society providing care to children and adolescents impacted by trauma and the child welfare system. Before joining Talkiatry, she also served as the clinical supervisor and therapist at The Mary Welsh Foundation, providing care to individuals of all ages and specializing in trauma and family issues. Ms. McMillan has worked with individuals dealing with a variety of mental health issues throughout her years of experience as a therapist. She has worked with people of all ages and has experience working with families and couples. She has had additional training to serve individuals dealing with addictions and with processing trauma. She has had extensive experience working with individuals dealing with mood disorders and anxiety, as well as relationship and parenting issues.

Iesha Whitaker is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker that graduated in 2012 from Hunter College School of Social Work. She has been practicing since that time. Ms. Whitaker has worked with many populations including, Women, Men, adults aged 18 and up, homeless population, parents with children in foster care and parents in need support and learning communication skills with teens. Ms. Whitaker has knowledge of working with clients recently discharged from a psychiatric hospital setting as well as the.  hospital discharge planning process, and emergency room care. Her primary areas of focus are helping clients that suffer with Depression, Anxiety, ADHD, Stress, Trauma, Relationship issues, PTSD, Life transitions as well as Emotional Dysregulation. Ms. Whitaker enjoys working closely with clients that struggle with healthy lifestyles, poor decision making, suffering with substance use disorder and people dealing with chronic homelessness, Domestic violence and challenges of daily living. Ms. Whitaker uses treatment modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Mindfulness, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Supportive Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Trauma focused Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and many other modalities. Ms. Whitaker has a passion for helping the are less fortunate and have challenges with routine daily activities, basic life needs such as food, housing, education, work stress and chronic medical conditions. Ms. Whitaker is very warm and open, very personable and allows her clients to work at their own pace. Ms. Whitaker enjoys helping clients to gain healthy insight to their conditions and allows clients to create the future they want for themselves.

Working with Ms. Whitaker will be an open, collaborative experience. Ms. Whitaker will help the client create the best version of themselves, while teaching the client to identify concrete obtainable goals.

Ms. Whitaker typical therapeutic process is a somewhat structured and flexible framework that provides empathy, rapport building and using evidence-based practices to provide mental health treatment. She uses a collaborative therapeutic relationship that warmly welcomes the client into therapy, discuss limits of confidentiality as it pertains to self harm or harm to others. She discuss the length of sessions and the frequency of meetings, invite questions from client and describe their role in the treatment process. Provides a safe space where a client can express themselves in an environment open to all cultures, gender identities while helping clients explore their strengths. Clinical assessments by use of standardized tools PHQ-9, GAD-7, and client interview and report. Clinician continues to monitor and track safety and implement Evidence based Interventions such as CBT, DBT, Solution Focused Therapy, Mindfulness, Psychodynamic and Supportive Therapy to provide care. Over time Clinician continues to revisit progress, highlight growth and obtained goals, moving toward termination when appropriate, also providing aftercare and referrals.