Therapists in Lucas County, OH

Hello there! My name is Walaa Kanan, and I am a Licensed Social Worker with a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Toledo (MSW, LSW). My therapy style is empathetic, validating, and encouraging. I use a variety of treatment modalities because I believe that therapy styles are not a one size fits all fix. I believe you are the only expert on your life. I am here to work with you to help you grow into the best version of yourself. As your therapist, my goal is to be here every step of the way as you set goals and work towards achieving them. I truly believe that with the right tools and support, no goal is unreachable.

“Healing may not be so much about getting better, as about letting go of everything that isn’t you- all of the expectations, all of the beliefs- and becoming who you are.” -Rachel Naomi Remen. While life is often full of beauty, it also comes with uncertainties, challenges and at times, suffering. Aisha believes therapy is an empowering tool for anyone who may be struggling to navigate through life’s challenges, adjusting to present adversity or processing unhealed trauma. Regardless of the struggle you may be facing, Aisha seeks to promote a non-judgemental and relatable approach to assisting others in establishing autonomy.

Are you struggling with a moment or even perhaps a lifetime of brokenness? These moments in time aren't easy to cope with on your own. It is my passion to help you work through these situations in a non-judgmental empathetic environment. It is important to me that we work together as a team to reach your own personal emotional goals.

Making the decision to seek counseling can be difficult for many people. Allow me to help you make the process less painful. Together we can explore the issues in your life and work on finding solutions that can make a difference for you as you move forward. We all have experienced pain as well as joy in our lives. You and I will work on alleviating your struggles while learning ways to manage future struggles as not to allow them to overwhelm you. Often times getting to know yourself can be a large part of the process. Learning why we think the way we do or act a certain way can help us learn to cope more effectively.

I have years of experience working with youth, adolescents and their families dealing with a range of issues from juvenile delinquency, substance abuse and trauma. I have developed professionalism and discipline form my time in the U.S. Army, and have extensive experience in education and coaching. I have spent years helping youth academically, athletically and socially. I have worked with the offender populations and have demonstrated a safe and caring space for this marginalized group. In addition, I have worked with victims of abuse, and have created a safe, caring empathetic place for them to process their concerns. My experience has allowed me to develop the unique ability to bridge the gap between, offender/victim, teacher/student, caregiver/child, felon/community and individual/system. If you are in need of culturally competent, evidenced based treatment, with a focus on solutions, and a balanced approach of love and logic, faith and fact then look no further.

I am often a good fit for clients who want to integrate a spiritual perspective into counseling. By "spiritual" I mean living authentically, finding deep purpose, forgiving oneself and others, seeing the sacred in the ordinary, and having a daily spiritual practice that keeps growth going long after therapy concludes. With individuals and couples I am known for using creative images, humor, and timeless wisdom to support your growth. Each course of therapy is as unique as the individual or couple seeking help. I'll get to know you and together we'll create an an alliance that supports your goals for personal and spiritual growth.

With over 17 years working in mental health, I hope to present my clients with a wide range of experience and insight into their presenting problems. Using a foundation of cognitive-behavioral theory, interpersonal therapy and other personalized treatment approaches, clients can find a source of support and respectful reflection to solve and manage behavioral and emotional issues. I have experience working with a wide range of concerns; depression, anxiety, OCD, ADHD, eating disorders, anger management, trauma, childhood trauma and abuse and many more.

As the result of my work with a wide array of individuals with a variety of presenting mental health needs, I believe true healing must be viewed from an all-encompassing therapeutic approach that considers the whole person. This includes aspects such as their identity/sense of self, upbringing, traumas, interpersonal relationships, personality, as well as their presenting environmental circumstances. Therapeutic goals include helping suffering persons to find meaning/purpose in their lives, develop more effective ways of communicating/connecting with others, and to critically evaluate their beliefs, values, and choices.

So many of us suffer from a variety of issues, including depression, anxiety, grief, PTSD, mood swings, suicidal thoughts and more. I want people want to feel better and to ENJOY their lives. Symptoms that accompany these issues will stop us from experiencing that joy. I want to help you overcome the challenges in your life, so you can get back to LIVING your life. You deserve to have meaningful relationships, create memories, and feel at peace with yourself.

Since attending therapy is an implicit admission of imperfections for most people, my approach to counseling is person-centered and collaborative. Once the therapeutic alliance has been established, this approach allows clients to express their emotional reactions, develop more productive ways of dealing with feelings, and increase their levels of understanding and awareness. My counseling philosophy is to provide support, education, feedback and treatment that inspires clients to successfully take appropriate actions that will assist with solving their problems. Therapist qualities that I utilize include, but are not limited to, mutual respect, authenticity, genuineness, integrity, and the ability to empathize.

My focus as a therapist is to assist you in personal healing and discovering your wholeness. Therapy is a process that allows us to reflect, discover, and grow. Often feelings of depression and anxiety, self-esteem and relationship issues, addiction and trauma can block us from feeling "ok", and fully integrated into the life we want. My training in EMDR, TF-CBT, blended with a utilization of mindfulness principles and "parts work" serve to assist my clients in healing and growth.

We are not always kind to ourselves. We can get stuck in our thoughts, repeating past mistakes or challenges over and over, until we feel the same as we did in that difficult moment. Our problems can seem overwhelming and the solutions unclear. Even just thinking about our troubles can sometimes put us right back in the midst of anxiety, sadness, anger, and pain. With all this weighing on us, every day can become a struggle, and even getting out of bed can seem an insurmountable task.

For many of us, it is difficult to reach out for help. Feeling overwhelmed or trapped? Struggling with personal or family conflict? Or simply feeling like you’ve lost your way? Give me a call today, and let’s begin your journey to healing. I will provide a warm and therapeutic environment that will allow you to regain balance and develop a healthy sense of self and purpose.

We use a holistic, integrative approach to mental health focusing on the mind, body, and spirit. We work with clients ages 3-100 using an integrative approach recognizing that many aspects effect mental health including our past experiences, upbringing, genetics, traumas, attachments, health, spiritual experiences, and more. We look towards the root cause of mental health symptoms and treat the whole person. We are an open-minded practice that welcomes all genders, religions, orientations, races, and cultures.

I specialize in helping children/adolescents identify and express their needs in healthy and manageable ways. When school, peer, or home interactions become challenging, it's sometimes hard for children/adolescents to feel seen and heard. I am here to help your child identify their strengths, create consistent positive coping strategies, and become their own best advocates in every environment. I have convenient after-school/evening appointment availability!

I provide psychotherapy/counseling and clinical interventions for individuals, couples, adults, adolescents children, families and groups. With more than 35 years of experience in providing assessment, and interventions for mental (behavioral) health and substance use related issues. I have also invested many years developing, applying, and perfecting psychotherapy techniques including but not limited to Existential Psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), Play therapy, and a family systems Therapy.