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Kaila Busken serves as an outpatient therapist at the Lindner Center of HOPE. Prior to earning her master’s degree in social work from the University of Cincinnati, Kaila studied visual communication and photojournalism at Ohio University.

Prior to joining Lindner Center of HOPE, Kaila worked with foster youth and young adults during her graduate training. She also worked at an agency serving young children and their families, gaining experience in working with diverse groups of individuals and their needs. After graduating from University of Cincinnati, Kaila worked as a therapist in a day treatment program serving adolescents.

Kaila is currently working on becoming certified in Developmental and Relational Trauma Therapy and has a passion for helping others in owning their stories of hardship. She also has experience in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy (RO- DBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI). As a new mother, Kaila is also passionate about maternal mental health. She is excited about helping new mothers in their new role as they learn to embrace the messiness and joy of motherhood. Kaila often integrates self-compassion, mindfulness, and body-based interventions into her work.

Areas of interest:

• Adult Therapy
• Young Adult Therapy
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Trauma
• Postpartum mood disorders
• Matrescence and the transition to new motherhood

Degree(s):

• 2011-2015  B.S.            Visual Communication, Ohio University, Athens, OH
• 2017-2019  MSW          Social Work, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH

Licensure and Certification:

• 2019 Social Work License, Ohio Social Work, Counselor, and Marriage and Family Therapy Board
• 2022 LISW

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Chae serves as an individual and group Outpatient Telehealth Therapist at the Lindner Center of HOPE. She treats late teens and adults of all ages, genders, and sexual orientations. Her therapeutic approach is person-centered, genuine, and engaging. She enjoys creating a safe, nonjudgmental, virtual therapy space to meet her clients wherever they are in their mental health journey and to support them as they work through issues and stressors that are interfering with participating in life to its fullest.

Prior to earning a master’s degree in social work from The University of Cincinnati, Chae earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from Miami University and worked as a mental health case manager. She continued to work in the mental health field in various roles as she completed her master’s program, gaining invaluable experience. She has worked in a variety of clinical settings and in all levels of care (inpatient, residential, PHP, IOP, and outpatient) in Southwest Ohio and Las Vegas, Nevada.

She has expertise in addictions and trauma. She incorporates EMDR, CBT, DBT, and ACT into her mindful, body-centric and holistic therapeutic approach. As a lifetime learner, her areas of interest are expansive and ever-growing. They include, but are not limited to, serving the LGBTQ+ community, adult ADHD, chronic and invisible medical conditions, perimenopause, relationship issues (boundaries and communication), body image, and religious trauma.

Licensure:

• 2012 Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW), Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, & MFT Board
  • 2016 Training Supervision Designation (LISW-S)
• 2016 Licensed Independent Chemical Dependency Counselor (LICDC), Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board

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Alesha is an outpatient telehealth therapist treating adolescents and adults. She specializes in the treatment of trauma, anxiety, depression, and grief/loss. In addition, Alesha has a passion for working with women who are experiencing challenges with postpartum depression and PMDD.

Alesha Ingram is LISW-S and graduated from the University of Tennessee with a MSSW degree. She has eighteen years of experience from working in hospitals, schools, telehealth, and outpatient-based settings. Prior to coming to the Lindner Center of HOPE, Alesha served for six years at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital in their school-based department and in their Psychiatric Intake Response Center. Before working at Cincinnati Children’s, Alesha worked as a behavioral health consultant for a group of primary care physicians.

 

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Amber serves as a Telehealth Outpatient Therapist at the Lindner Center of HOPE.  She earned her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Dayton in 2017. Prior to that, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Oakland University in 2014. 

Amber has 6 years of clinical experience serving the needs of children, adolescents, young adults, and families in both Ohio and Pennsylvania.  She has worked in a variety of settings that include school, outpatient, youth partial hospitalization, and juvenile detention.  She also has experience providing counseling from a Christian perspective. Amber has a heart for serving children and adolescent populations navigating symptoms of anxiety, adjustment, depression, trauma, and anger.  

Amber uses a variety of treatment approaches including CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Focused CBT, and Motivational Interviewing.  She incorporates play and art-based activities into her work with the younger populations.  Amber likes to focus on the individual needs of each client and believes that everyone should have a safe space to process through life stressors and challenges.  She is passionate about coming alongside her clients in their pain and strives to provide an environment to which her clients feel empowered while working towards the therapeutic goals that they set for themselves.

Areas of Specialty and Interest:

 Pediatric/Adolescent Psychotherapy

 Anxiety Disorders

 Christian Counseling

 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

 Motivational Interviewing

 Group Psychotherapy

 Family Counseling

 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

 Depression

 Life Transitions/Adjustment Disorders

 

Degrees:

• 2014: B.A. Psychology, Oakland University, Rochester, MI
• 2017: M.S.E Clinical Mental Health Counseling, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH
• 2022: School Counseling Licensure Only Track, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH

 Internship/Practicum:

• Counseling Practicum and Internship (2016-2017) South Community Inc, Dayton, OH.

 Licensure and Certifications:

• 2022 Licensed Professional Counselor (PA)
• 2022 Educational Specialist I Elementary & Secondary School Counselor PK-12 (PA)
• 2022 5-Year Professional Pupil Services License-OH School Counselor
• 2019 Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (OH)
• 2017 Licensed Professional Counselor (OH)

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Jessica Birkhimer is a Licensed Professional Counselor and serves as a Residential Counselor at the Lindner Center of HOPE. She attends to the Sibcy House and Williams House residential programs.

Prior to her current role as a counselor, Jessica served as a Mental Health Specialist at the Lindner Center of HOPE on the inpatient and residential units. This is where she acquired further experience and deepened her passion for helping others. While completing her graduate practicum and internship fieldwork, Jessica acted as an individual and group therapist in an outpatient practice. Jessica earned her Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Xavier University and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Cincinnati.

Jessica has completed comprehensive graduate training in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with an emphasis on theories and techniques, assessment and diagnosis, psychopathology, human development, cultural competency, ethics and professional standards, individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, and research and evaluation. She has been trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy (RO DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). As a Residential Counselor, Jessica’s primary roles are serving as a group therapist as well as a RO DBT coach. Additionally, she completes Structured Clinical Interviews for DSM Disorders (SCID) with the purpose of diagnosing mental health disorders. Jessica also performs career and life skills development, DBT skills coaching, ACT skills coaching, and trauma-informed coaching within the residential facilities.

Areas of Specialty and Interest:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
• Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy (RO DBT)

Degree(s):

• 2015-2019 B.A. Psychology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
• 2021-2023 M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH

Practicum/Internship:

• 2022 Practicum, NorthKey Community Care, Covington, KY
• 2022-2023 Internship, NorthKey Community Care, Covington, KY

Licensure and Certification:

• 2023 Licensed Professional Counselor, CSWMFT Board, Ohio, #2305459
  • Directly supervised by Adan Liendo, MS, LPCC-S
    • CSWMFT Board, Ohio, #2102425-SUPV

Presentations:

• Concurrent Treatment of Schizophrenia and Mood Disorders

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Samuel Hodge serves as a residential counselor at the Lindner Center of HOPE. He attends to Sibcy House and Williams House residential programs.

Samuel earned his M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Ashland University and B.A. in Psychology from The Ohio State University. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Ohio under the supervision of Dr. Chris Tuell LPCC-S.

He has graduate training in crisis counseling, lifestyle and career development, group dynamics, substance use disorder counseling, mood and anxiety disorder counseling, personality disorder counseling, spiritual themes in counseling, sexuality and gender issues in counseling.

Prior to joining the Lindner Center of HOPE, he worked in an outpatient practice completing his graduate internship as a Counselor Trainee in the State of Ohio. Samuel also previously worked as an office administrator and intake coordinator for multiple outpatient practices.

Samuel specializes in group therapy, couples and family therapy, substance use disorder therapy, and career development, and life skills development. He also performs DBT skills coaching, ACT skills coaching, RO-DBT skills coaching, and trauma-informed coaching within the residential facilities.

Degree(s):

• 2015-2018 B.A. Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
• 2020-2023 M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Ashland University, Ashland, OH

Internship and Residencies:

• 2022 Counselor Trainee, Rivertown Wellness, Cincinnati, OH

Licensure and Certification:

• 2023 Licensed Professional Counselor, Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board, License Number C.2305097

Presentations:

• Aldstadt, V., Danos, K., Hartmann, W., Hodge, S., Shanaberger, J. (January 30, 2023) The Clinical Benefits of an Extended Stabilization Evaluation: Identify the elements of an extended stabilization evaluation. Outline the clinical benefits of an extended stabilization evaluation in residential treatment. Identify patients who will benefit from an extended stabilization evaluation in residential care. Lindner Center of HOPE: The Sub-Acute Chronic Patient…Now What?. Cincinnati, OH (virtual).

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Shelby serves as a behavioral health care coordinator at the Lindner Center of HOPE. She attends to adult patients on Sibcy House and William’s House in relation to identifying comprehensive resources that will continue to aid in treatment while admitted and after discharge. She actively connects patients to healthy outlets that will promote physical and mental wellness.

She has earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a bachelor’s Degree in Sociology – Criminology at Ohio University. Prior to beginning her work at the Lindner Center of HOPE, Shelby was an investigative caseworker for Hamilton County Jobs and Family Services where she worked primarily with children and their families to address mental health and other co-occurring concerns such as substance use and child abuse. Her background in casework and mental health services, with ongoing professional activity in this branch of science, keeps her informed about best practices and emerging treatment opportunities.

Prior to entering her role as a Behavioral Health Care Coordinator, Shelby had the experience of working alongside her patients as a Mental Health Specialist on Sibcy House. During that time, Shelby learned to focus on a patient’s strengths to optimize their engagement in treatment. With experience as a mental health professional, Shelby assisted with the development of the Behavioral Health Care Coordinator role. She has experience responding to crisis, de-escalating patients who are distressed, and facilitating communication with families to ensure patient needs are being met.

Shelby has experience working alongside patients with Borderline Personality Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Schizophrenia, Anxiety, Depression, and substance use disorders.

Presentation Topics:

• Concurrent Treatment of Schizophrenia and Mood Disorders

Degree(s):

• 2016-2020 B.A. Psychology, Ohio University, Athens, OH
• 2016-2020 B.A. Sociology - Criminology, Ohio University, Athens, OH

Specialized Training:

• Overall Care Coordination Techniques
• Crisis Prevention Institute

CPR – Resuscitation Quality Improvement Program

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Jessica Shanaberger serves as expressive therapist at the Lindner Center of HOPE. She works with both Williams and Sibcy patients, providing daily art therapy and other experiential groups that encourage participants to practice and implement skills learned in their DBT, ACT and CBT curriculum.

Prior to joining the Lindner Center of HOPE, Jessica worked as a primary therapist for patient ages raging from early childhood through adolescents in outpatient and school settings. She also has experience in developing and facilitating a variety of art therapy groups for patients across the lifespan. Jessica is passionate about developing art therapy groups that are appropriately adapted to fit the needs of the population, environment, and individuals who are participating. She has facilitated art therapy groups in outpatient settings, schools, residential treatment, acute treatment, and correctional facilities.

Jessica completed her graduate studies at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, where she earned the degree of Master of Arts in Art Therapy. Prior to pursuing her graduate studies, she obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Wright State University.

Degree(s):

• 2006-2010 B.F.A. Bachelor of Fine Arts, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio
• 2011-2015 MA-AT Master of Arts in Art Therapy, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, Terre Haute, IN