Clinician Bios

Dr. Jen Yensel has a PhD. in Counselor Education and Supervision from Kent State University and is independently licensed as a Professional Clinical Counselor with Supervisory status in the State of Ohio. In addition to her PhD, Jen has a Master’s Degree in Community Counseling from Kent State University. Jen has experience working in inpatient, outpatient, and school settings. She has had the opportunity to work with a myriad of clients who dealt with a wide range of mental health issues. Jen has also worked at a local hospital where she developed a substance abuse intensive outpatient program for adolescents, utilizing evidence based treatment and motivational interviewing.

Her areas of expertise include career counseling, ADD/ADHD, adjustment, depression, anxiety, mindfulness, self-esteem, motivational interviewing and trauma. Jen has demonstrated an ability to work with younger clients who have trouble connecting and relating to adults. Some of her abilities include being able to help both teens and parents with behavioral concerns, oppositional defiant disorder, substance use, identity and peer issues. Jen has additional training in in marriage and family therapy and enjoys helping couples who desire to improve their communication with each other as well as couples who are seeking premarital and marital enrichment.

Jen teaches at Youngstown State University as an adjunct professor in the Counseling, School Psychology & Educational Leadership program. She applies much of the information she teaches, particularly in her Introduction to Mental Health & Wellness course, into practice with clients. Additionally, Jen acts as the Clinical Director at The Cole Center and runs groups and workshops at Akron Artworks as she enjoys practicing art and mental health. In her free time, Jen enjoys spending time with her family, dogs, and going on adventures with friends and family.

Lacie Brubaker M.A. Ed., LPCC

Lacie Brubaker holds a M.A.E.d in Clincial Mental Health Counseling from Malone University and is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in the state of Ohio. Lacie has experience working with individuals ranging in age 3 to adult in both home-based and office settings. Lacie desires each indivual she meets to know that “there is a plan and purpose for your life”. Lacie values the therapuetic relationship and strives to set a safe, non-judgemental environment filled with compassion and humor.

As a mom herself, Lacie has a passion for children and enhancing the parent-child relationship through play and behavior management techniques. Lacie’s clinical interests include early childhood, anxiety, depression, adjustment issues, stress, grief/loss, self-esteem, and trauma.

In her free time Lacie enjoys spending time with her family and friends, being outdoors, traveling, and participating in group fitness classes.

Beth Franczak received her Masters of Science in Education from the University of Akron. She is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with a supervisory designation (LPCC-S). Beth has been practicing in the community and private practice setting for over 10 years.

Beth uses an eclectic approach to counseling. She believes that the therapeutic relationship is the most important aspect of counseling. She strives to help clients feel as though they are hanging out and chatting in a living room or coffee shop, not in a stuffy clinical setting. She incorporates aspects of CBT, DBT, Sand Tray Therapy, and client centered therapy into her work. Her therapy is trauma informed and she has training in trauma focused behavioral therapy and sand tray therapy.

Beth works with adolescents (12 and up) as well as adults. She specializes in treating depression anxiety, adjustment issues, ADHD and trauma. She has a special interest in adoption and enjoys working with all members of the adoption community.

In her free time, Beth enjoys going on adventures with her daughter, reading, doing projects around the house, and watching documentaries to learn cool stuff.

Julia received her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Kent State University. She has experience working in crisis, inpatient, intensive outpatient, and community outpatient settings. She strives to create a safe, supportive, and humanizing experience for her clients throughout the therapeutic process. She has received specialized training in EMDR therapy through The Institute for Creative Mindfulness. She specializes in treating depression, anxiety, trauma, adjustment issues, emotion dysregulation, and identity development.

Megan received her Masters of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Cleveland State University. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Ohio and has experience working in inpatient, outpatient, in-home and crisis settings. Megan takes a trauma-informed and person-centered approach to therapy, seeing clients as experts in their own story.

Megan utilizes an eclectic approach, incorporating a mix of CBT, DBT, Person-Centered Therapy, and Emotion-Focused Therapy. Megan is a proud ally of the LGBT+ community and has special interests in meditation, trauma, and depersonalization-derealization.

In her off time, Megan enjoys spending time with her husband and family, playing video games, and exploring our national parks.

Caroline Molnar received her Master’s of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Cleveland State University. Prior to her Master’s, she received her undergraduate degree from Ohio State University after studying sociology, psychology, and human development & family sciences. She is licensed as a Professional Counselor in the state of Ohio.

Caroline has had the privilege of working with adolescents (12-18), individual adults and couples. She has experience working as a counselor in academic settings as well as private practice. When working with adolescents, Caroline has encouraged family members to be present in order to best help her clients. Having completed the Level 1 training in the Gottman Method Couples Therapy, she feels very comfortable working with couples and finds joy in helping them strengthen their relationship.

Caroline uses an eclectic approach to counseling, but primarily focuses on CBT, motivational interviewing, person centered, and solution focused approaches. She strives to tailor the counseling experience to fit her clients’ needs. Caroline specializes in treating adjustment issues, anxiety, relationship issues, and helping clients navigate role changes.

In her spare time, Caroline enjoys spending time with her husband and dog (Minnie), learning new recipes, traveling, and practicing pilates.

Amanda Nolan is a LSW, holding a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University Of New England, Maine. She works with adults, children, and families with a wide range of concerns. Amanda has many years of experience with dual diagnosis, ADHD, anxiety, depression, and trauma.

Amanda truly believes that whether therapy is your first step toward change or one of the last options you’ve considered, getting the support you need takes courage and strength. Finding a good fit is an important step.

“My approach to therapy is tailored to your needs. I’ll provide a safe, non-judgmental, and honest atmosphere for expressing your concerns. I’ll honor your lived experiences, values, and cultures while exploring your strengths and struggles. We’ll collaborate to uncover your personal meaning, hopes for the future, and the tools to outfit you for transformation into what you dream, hope, and desire for your life. While therapy can sometimes be a difficult and serious process, there are ways to incorporate creativity and humor, and we will definitely celebrate your successes. ”

Amanda moved to Ohio two years ago with her family. She has four sons and a husband at home. They have three dogs, two cats, and a Guinea pig who are also a part of their family. In their free time, Amanda’s family loves traveling, exploring, hiking, camping, and fishing. They spend most of their time outdoors, and find peace in nature.

Leah Norris M.S., LPCC

Leah received her Master’s in Community Counseling from the University of South Alabama. Leah worked in a community outpatient counseling center for children and adolescents for 4 years before moving to Ohio from Alabama in 2018. After the move, Leah worked to transition her licensure to the state of Ohio.

Leah attended Kent State University for some additional courses in order to build a strong foundation for continuing to work as a counselor in a new state. Leah has been working as a therapist for children, adolescents, and adults for 7 years in clinical outpatient settings.

Leah specializes in working with ADHD and teaching skills for executive functioning, as well as anxiety, depression, and parent-child relationship skills. Leah believes that counseling creates a safe and authentic environment in which individuals can identify barriers interfering with their journey to become the best version of themselves. Through processing thoughts and feelings in a non-judgmental setting, Leah believes individuals can learn skills for coping with stress and identifying how to communicate needs appropriately with others.

Leah utilizes an eclectic and person-centered approach to counseling in order to meet the individual where they are at each week, while also providing the guidance and support needed to take skills from the counseling office and utilize these in real life settings. Leah spent a few years learning and teaching yoga while living in Alabama, and she believes awareness of the mind and body are so important to continue in personal growth.

In her free time, Leah enjoys exploring state parks, yoga, rock climbing with friends and spending time with her dog, Daisy.

Gina Parasson received her Master of Science in Education Degree in
Social Agency Counseling from the University of Dayton. She is an independently Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in the state of Ohio with over 20 years of experience working in both inpatient and outpatient settings as well as private practice.

Gina has clinical training in Behavioral Medicine from Harvard Medical School’s Mind/Body Medical Institute. She is also a Certified Personal Trainer holding specialty certifications in Older Adult Fitness and Lifestyle and Weight Management
with a focus on wellness, holistic healing and the mind/body connection.

Gina utilizes Mindfulness Meditation/Movement Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Reality Therapy to treat people with a variety of chronic health concerns, stress, adjustment issues, depression, anxiety and grief/loss. She has a special interest in Women’s Issues with a focus on infertility, pregnancy loss, post-partum depression and menopause.

Gina’s interest in infertility arises from her personal experience making her empathetic and knowledgeable about this issue. When she is not working, Gina enjoys the outdoors, traveling, fitness activities, music, volunteering and spending time with her family and friends.

Dr. Amber Ray has a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision- Marriage and Family Therapy from The University of Akron, where she also received her Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. She is licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist and Professional Counselor in the state of Ohio.

Amber has experience working in home and office-based outpatient settings, along with child and adolescent crisis intervention in the community. She specializes in couples counseling with additional training in sexuality, including issues in sexual functioning, communication, emotional connection, restoring trust and intimacy after recovery from problematic sexual behavior, and diverse sexual relationships (poly, kink, etc).

In addition, Amber provides individual counseling with adults and children, along with family therapy. As an LGBTQ+ ally, she is passionate about conducting research and working with sexual and gender minority populations. Amber approaches therapy from an Emotionally Focused and Systemic lens, where a safe space is created to look at mental health and relationship concerns in context rather than being seen as something that “needs fixed” within an individual.

Sarah Reichert received her Masters of Arts in Counseling & Art Therapy from Ursuline College. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and in the process of becoming a Registered Art Therapist (ATR). Sarah has spent the last 3 years working in a community mental health setting with children, adolescents, and their families. There, Sarah worked as a child and adolescent counselor doing individual sessions and was a co-facilitator for the adolescent DBT group and Expressive Therapies Group for adult day treatment.

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She has worked with clients experiencing life transitions, anxiety, depression, trauma, stress, adjustment issues, and other concerns. Sarah is an LGBTQ+ ally. She strives to provide a safe and inviting therapeutic environment to encourage clients to make positive changes.

Sarah believes we are always learning. She uses an eclectic process which involves various evidence-based treatment modalities, including Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Person-Centered Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. She is passionate about using the creative process in the form of art therapy. This process sometimes looks like making sense of past experiences to gain a deeper understanding of those events. Other times, Art therapy is a means of expressing oneself or even exploring the self.Typical materials used include colored pencils, crayons, watercolors, oil pastels, magazines, and air dry clay, but the possibilities are endless. Art therapy is truly about the art making process, not the product.

Sarah’s goal is for each client to feel seen and heard while being their authentic selves, in a judgement-free space. With Sarah, there will be humor, support, and warmth. She is a lover of quotes, metaphors, and pros/cons lists. She believes therapy is a space for learning and growth, whether that be gaining skills that will make positive changes in her clients’ lives, or a change in perspective to see things differently. In her free time, Sarah enjoys traveling, exploring national parks, being creative, and spending quality time with family and friends.

Shirley has a PhD. in Counselor Education and Supervision from Kent State University. In addition to her PhD., she has a Master’s Degree in School Counseling and has worked as an elementary school counselor for 9 years.

Working as a school counselor, Shirley has become comfortable supporting children and families through a wide range of experiences. While obtaining her Professional Counselor license, she appreciated the change of pace as she worked with clients of all ages. Shirley has experience providing individual, couples, family, and group counseling, as well animal-assisted therapy. Shirley especially enjoys tailoring therapy to support her clients’ specific interests and goals. In her free time, Shirley loves to spend time with her family, friends, and dog, particularly while participating in outdoor activities and traveling with them.

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The Cole Center

Supporting Families in Their Success

Clinician Bios

Lacie Brubaker M.A. Ed., LPCC

Leah Norris M.S., LPCC

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