Trauma and PTSD Therapists in Mentor, OH

Having difficulty managing negative thoughts, feelings. and behaviors? Is this impacting your daily functioning and your relationship with yourself and others? Are you wanting to feel your best and ultimately live your best life?

While people come to therapy for different reasons, almost all are in pain. When people are willing to cultivate a better understanding of themselves, it’s easier for them to achieve their goals in therapy and reduce that pain. I’ve been offering counseling since 1997 and have found over the years that people can obtain more peace in their lives and that peace comes from a greater awareness and understanding of themselves. My role in therapy is to guide you through the process and maintain unconditional positive regard for you while we work together.

I help adolescents (15+), young adults, and adults work through trauma , anxiety, and depression to build healthier relationships. I will help guide you towards actions and decision-making that align with whom you aspire to be while bolstering your skills and resiliency.

My name is Samantha Emch and I treat adolescents and adults with experiences of trauma , depression, anxiety, stress, and PTSD . I am a person who loves working with clients on growing. Building resilience takes work and growth isn’t easy. It can be uncomfortable at times but I can support your process with compassion, understanding and empathy. I love connecting with my clients and helping them achieve their personal mental health goals. I also love teaching clients skills they can use and benefit from outside the therapy room.

Do you find yourself dissatisfied and unfulfilled? Are you struggling to get through your day, too focused on the pain or stress to find the joy in life? Sometimes it feels like there's no point, like these are the cards we have been dealt and there's nothing we can do to change it. But I am here to tell you that you have the power. We as humans are resilient beings, capable of growth and transformation. While sometimes we cannot change our circumstances, we all have the tools and abilities to develop new perspectives, habits and thought patterns that can help us lead happy and meaningful lives.

Let's making lasting change together. You are here looking for a therapist for a reason, and I want to help you navigate whatever that reason may be. I can help you work through something that may be keeping you "stuck" including trauma experiences and negative emotions and moods. The key component to achieving any therapy goal is viewing a client holistically through a person-centered approach, which basically means that you are the center of the work! You are the expert in you, and we will use all you skills you have developed along with your life successes to help us as we create a unique treatment plan to address your goals.

Do you feel like your are constantly struggling? Do you feel like you have waited way too long to reach out for help? It’s never too late. I believe everyone has the right to be happy and I work hard to achieve that with all of my clients. Depression hurts! Anxiety sucks! Stress can get the best of you and past traumas can debilitate you. Maybe you have picked up some negative coping skills you are not proud of. Or maybe you are doing absolutely nothing because it hurts so bad. Getting the motivation to do this is hard. But since you are here reading this I know you have it in you and together we can make it through.

[Unfortunately, I am not taking new clients at this time] I believe human connection, understanding and empathy are the best enablers of healing. Building trust and a strong bond are crucial to the healing relationship, and I strive to provide a judgement-free place when we meet. I hold space for my clients so they feel safe experiencing difficult emotions, and always meet them where they are in the moment. I work with teens and adults who are experiencing a range of symptoms, including depression, anxiety, PTSD / trauma , OCD, personality disorders, bipolar and more.

I work with both adolescents and adults using a compassionate and caring approach that includes skills based training for practical outcomes based on their values and goals. Using a collaborative approach, we will work to solve problems using skills and move through challenges in the most effective way possible. I use both person-centered and motivational interviewing styles with an emphasis in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy to assist patients in staying present in the moment while preparing to move forward. I accept patients where they are now and work with them to learn about their diagnosis and move ahead in their lives.

I aim to provide a safe, healing, therapeutic space for all clients. I believe in self-care and developing skills or strategies to help individuals tackle any stressor they may be facing. I have experience working with children and adolescents as well as adults. My time as a clinician has allowed me to develop a passion for providing trauma informed services to clients through extensive training on sexual assault and intimate partner violence. I work from a therapeutic style that assists me in meeting the individual needs of clients I encounter. I also enjoy practicing EMDR therapy.

What if all of those negative thoughts just didn’t bother you anymore? What if you could find a healthy way to not only process them, but let them go? Does it ever feel like you have a dark cloud hanging over yourself. Constant negative thoughts running through your mind. Maybe memories of trauma or negative experiences that creep up constantly. They may have happened years ago, but to you, it feels like yesterday. Life can be difficult enough without also having to fight negative thoughts and feelings in your own mind. It’s exhausting. And worst of all, it can stop you for accomplishing your goals and living your best life.

There are times where our struggles and emotions can make us feel out of control and become difficult to manage on our own. We have so many experiences throughout our life that, at times, can be difficult to heal from. Navigating adulthood can be overwhelming and can often leave us feeling lost and uncertain. Our bodies and minds go through many seasons of life - accepting ourselves throughout that journey can be hard. I hope to help create a safe, nonjudgmental space to allow you to manage your emotions, develop a sense of purpose, and build upon your internal resiliency.

Are you feeling imbalance in your life due to stress, anxiety, depression, or trauma ? I am focused on assisting you in achieving your best self and regaining your balance. I practice client centered therapy which creates a welcoming environment that is safe for you to explore your thoughts and feelings. I utilize a strengths-based, collaborative approach to support you in overcoming life's challenges that prevent you from reaching your goals. I have extensive training and experience working with survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, trauma , and PTSD .

I believe we have the innate ability to heal ourselves, whether the issue is fear, anxiety, relationship difficulties, communication problems, chronic illness, or even a major life transition. Whether it is emotional / psychological / relationship, I view these as a call for change, growth and development. My approach with my clients is through a partnership and collaboration that fosters a healing journey, new skills, and a plan for wellness and self development. As a life coach, my specialty areas are: individuals experiencing major life transitions, promoting health and wellness, and recovery from childhood trauma .

You know you want to make changes, yet you’re not sure how. You’re grappling with pain and suffering, indecision and uncertainty. In our work together we will identify what works well for you and uncover leftover habits that were once very functional, even lifesaving, but no longer serve you and are keeping you stuck. We’ll find new ways of being and doing so you can be free of old habits and patterns, so you can step into the rest of your life being the person you were born to be.