Julia is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and Supervisor, a Licensed School Counselor and a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor serving children, adolescents, adults, and families. She earned her Master’s of Arts in School Counseling at Kent State University and her Clinical Counseling Degree at the University of Akron.

Julia has been working with adults, children and adolescents in a professional capacity for over 20 years.

Julia has extensive experience working with children and adolescents in both the clinical and the school setting often coordinating services for more comprehensive care. Her experience covers most youth challenges including but not limited to adjustment issues, anger management, attachment, abuse, anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, behavioral issues, depression, divorce, grief, relationship difficulties, school refusal, social anxiety and trauma.

As a Registered Play Therapist, Julia has a passion for utilizing play therapy as one of her treatment approaches also incorporating Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy including Mindfulness, and Systems Theory in her practice. As a Registered Play Therapy Supervisor, Julia is licensed to supervise future play therapists.

Adult clients can find support with family issues including communication and parenting, balancing roles of career, family, caregiver and other demands. Julia adds a wholistic approach allowing adults to connect patterns from their childhood into their adult lives gaining insight when applicable.

Julia has additional training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy, CBT Trauma Based Therapy and received her Legal and Ethical Specialist Certification from the American School Counseling Association. She also teaches for the University of Akron as an adjunct faculty in their school and clinical counseling programs.

When not with clients, Julia enjoys life with her family and all of the activities her children enjoy, friends, her family pets, running, being outside and traveling.

​Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor™ and RPT-S™ are trademarks identifying credentials exclusively issued by the Association for Play Therapy, Inc.

Barb Frye is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor.

Barb obtained her degree from The University of Akron. Additionally, Barb has worked as a clinical counselor in hospital, in-patient recovery and school settings.

Barb has been trained to treat individuals, couples, and families. Barb is also trained in addiction therapy with a background of working in rehabilitation programs.

Barb has been working as a clinician since 2012, gaining experience working with depression, anxiety, attention deficits, divorce, self esteem, family conflict, grief, behavioral concerns, addictions, drug and alcohol abuse and other various presenting concerns. Barb relates to the journey we have as both individuals and members of families, occupational groups and society.

In her spare time, Barb enjoys spending time with her son, her pups, and her family. Barb is also a motivational speaker and published author.

Barb is seeing clients via telehealth only at this time.

Mindy Armbrust Beach, Ph.D., IMFT-S, LPCC, RPT™, AAMFT-AS

Mindy is dually licensed as an Independent Marriage and Family Therapist and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, as well as a Registered Play Therapist. She earned her Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy/Clinical Mental Health Counseling and her Doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision with a focus in Marriage and Family Therapy from The University of Akron. She also serves as a senior lecturer at The University of Akron and is an AAMFT-approved supervisor, providing supervision and training to other therapists.

Mindy works with children as young as two-years-old, adolescents, adults, couples, and families, including nuclear and blended families. Her areas of focus include parenting and co-parenting, high-conflict co-parenting, relationships and intimacy, sex therapy, and behavioral, emotional, and relational concerns. Her training as both a Marriage and Family Therapist and Professional Clinical Counselor allows her to consider not only the individual, but also the relationships and systems that shape their experiences.

Grounded in attachment theory and interpersonal neurobiology, Mindy is guided by the belief that behavior represents an unmet need. Rather than viewing behavior as simply “good” or “bad,” she works to understand what the behavior is communicating and the purpose it serves. This perspective helps clients move beyond simply managing behaviors toward understanding the underlying needs and patterns that influence them.

As a Registered Play Therapist, Mindy also incorporates play and creative approaches into her work. While play is a child’s primary way of communicating and making sense of their experiences, these approaches can also help older clients explore emotions, relationships, trauma, and other experiences that can be difficult to put into words.

Outside of her professional roles, Mindy’s life centers around her five children, family, and friends. She also enjoys traveling, reading, crocheting, and vinyl crafting.

Chase is a licensed professional counselor. She earned her master’s degrees in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Walsh University.

Chase has worked with all ages, but specializes in children and adolescents. She has extensive experience working with this population in a clinical setting. Currently Chase is completing her training to become a Registered Play Therapist.

In therapy, she finds it important to create a safe environment in order to meet the client where they are at. Chase believes in matching the child’s developmental stage and real life needs in order to achieve therapeutic goals.

When not with clients, Chase enjoys living life to the fullest with family and raising her babies. She enjoys being outdoors, reading, and finding new hobbies frequently.

Chase will be on maternity leave from November to the beginning of March. Upon returning, she will begin accepting new clients!

Isabella Stanziano is a Licensed Professional Counselor who earned her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Cleveland State University. She works with older adolescents and adults, supporting clients through a variety of challenges and life experiences. Isabella strives to create a safe, comfortable, and welcoming space where clients feel heard, understood, and supported.

In therapy, Isabella believes in building meaningful connections with her clients and working alongside them to help navigate challenges, develop greater self-awareness, and create positive change. She takes a collaborative approach to counseling and meets each client where they are, recognizing that everyone’s journey is unique.

In her spare time, Isabella enjoys being outside, reading, and spending time with family. She is eager to learn, enjoys trying new things, and is always open to a new adventure.

Isabella is currently on maternity leave, but will return after the new year!

Ameena is a Licensed Professional Counselor and certified Integrative Somatic
Facilitator. She earned her Master of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at
Cleveland State University and is currently working toward her Play Therapy certificate.
Ameena is bilingual in English and Spanish, and holds pride in her multi-ethnic and
multi-racial identity.
As a previous teacher in Cleveland, Ameena has experience working with children,
adolescents, and families from diverse backgrounds. With 7 years of experience in
integrative somatics, Ameena has experience working with adults teaching yoga,
mindfulness, and breathwork. Ameena blends these practices into sessions with
children, adolescents, and adults when appropriate. She fully believes in movement and
play as medicine, using the body as a tool to ground and build self-awareness.
Ameena’s integrative, trauma-informed approach is rooted in multiculturalism and
person-centered therapy. She incorporates mindfulness based techniques and somatic
exercises, and play techniques when working with children.
Her areas of expertise include multi-racial and multi-cultural identity exploration,
nervous system regulation and vagus nerve activation, depression, ADHD
management, anxiety, stress and life transitions, familial issues, and boundaries and
communication.
Outside of her time at Core, Ameena enjoys practicing yoga, going on runs with her
dog, and spending time cooking with her partner. She loves to travel, spend time
outdoors with family and friends, and laugh. Ameena is excited to be taking on new
clients, offering services in both English and Spanish.

Jillian Williams, LISW-S, MSW, JD

Jillian Williams is a licensed independent social worker with over a decade of experience helping individuals heal from emotional trauma and reconnect with their inner resilience. She holds a Master of Social Work from Cleveland State University, a Juris Doctorate from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Political Science from Otterbein University.
For the past ten years, Jillian has specialized in holistic psychotherapy, an integrative therapeutic approach that combines traditional talk therapy with nontraditional modalities to promote healing on the levels of mind, body, and spirit. She integrates psychodynamic, behavioral, and cognitive therapies with mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral therapy, guided imagery, and advanced clinical hypnotherapy. Her holistic framework supports clients in identifying and releasing emotional blocks, restoring balance, and achieving a greater sense of personal integration.
Jillian has extensive experience working with survivors of domestic violence, with a strong emphasis on understanding the complex dynamics of abusive relationships, including but not limited to narcissistic abuse. She supports clients in untangling the emotional and psychological effects of generational trauma, coercive control, gaslighting, and trauma bonding, while rebuilding self-worth, identity, and boundaries. Her trauma-informed approach honors each client’s pace and resilience, fostering a safe and validating therapeutic space.
Jillian’s work is rooted in the belief that healing is most powerful when the mind, body, and spirit are aligned. She is passionate about helping individuals uncover their inner strength, shift long-standing patterns, and move toward a life of clarity, balance, and empowerment.
Outside of work, Jillian’s world revolves around her family. Whether she’s in the stands cheering at her kids’ games and competitions or boarding the plane for their next adventure, she’s all about making memories. Some of her favorites are by the ocean—if there’s sand between her toes, salt in the air, and the sound of waves nearby, Jillian is exactly where she wants to be.

Elizabeth Cooper
LPC, CDCA (Preliminary)
Elizabeth Cooper is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Chemical Dependency Counselor
Assistant– Preliminary who is passionate about helping individuals feel understood, supported,
and empowered in their growth. She works with children, adolescents, and adults, providing
care that is both compassionate and tailored to each person’s unique needs.
Elizabeth earned dual Master’s degrees in School Counseling and Clinical Mental Health
Counseling from Malone University. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from
University of Akron, with a minor in Child Development, along with certifications in Parent-Child
Relations and Home-Based Interventions.
Elizabeth has experience supporting individuals navigating substance use and recovery, as well
as those facing challenges such as trauma, anxiety, depression, OCD, and bipolar disorders.
She takes a client-centered and trauma-informed approach, incorporating evidence-based
practices like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to
help clients build insight, strengthen coping skills, and create meaningful, lasting change.
Elizabeth is committed to creating a warm, welcoming, and nonjudgmental space where clients
feel safe to explore their experiences and be themselves. She values building genuine
connections and walking alongside her clients as they work toward healing and personal
growth.
In her free time, Elizabeth enjoys creating art, traveling, and spending quality time with family
and friends.

Kate ( She/Her)

Kate Hilvers is a graduate from The University of Toledo where she earned her bachelor's degree in disability studies and her masters in special education. She was an intervention specialist for eight years working with children in upper elementary school and junior high. Kate is currently working on her second masters degree at Cleveland state and is currently enrolled in the clinical mental health program. She has her counselor trainee license and is working towards getting her LPC.


Working as an intervention specialist made Kate have a passion for allowing children and all people to find their voice and express themselves. She learned that she loved being able to create a safe space for students and help others work through every day stresses of life. She has a passion for making people feel heard and seen. She has the mindset of meeting people where they are with a client centered approach. When she becomes a LPC she hopes to work with children, individuals who are suffering from anxiety and depression, working with new mothers who are suffering from post-partum anxiety and depression. Kate is committed to providing a welcoming, nurturing and safe environment.


In Kate's spare time she enjoys spending time with her husband and two children. She loves being able to workout and be outside with her dog. She loves to read and enjoys being able to travel and spend time with friends over a cup of coffee.

Rachel Smithburger is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor.

Rachel has her Masters of Education, with a focus in Marriage and Family Therapy. She obtained her degree from The University of Akron’s dual-licensing program, allowing her to gain both her Marriage and Family Therapist and Professional Counseling Licenses. Additionally, Rachel studied psychology, sociology and child & family studies at Ashland University.

Rachel has been trained to treat individuals, couples, and families from a systemic perspective. Rachel's area of specialty is with Perinatal Mental Health; she has completed her training with Postpartum Support International (PSI) and holds her Perinatal Mental Health Certificate. Rachel has been working as a clinician since 2015, gaining experience working with depression, anxiety, divorce, self esteem, family conflict, grief, behavioral concerns, and other various presenting concerns. Largely, Rachel's focus has been helping mothers/families adjust to the changes, hardships, joys, and pressures introduced with pregnancy--whether it be infertility, prenatal depression, miscarriage or loss, or postpartum mood disorders. Rachel is passionate about aiding her clients during their therapeutic journey and recognizing the worth and value in themselves, as well as experiencing relief in distressing symptoms. Additionally, Rachel is partially trained in EMDR; looking to complete her training in 2022.

In her spare time, Rachel enjoys spending time with her very active toddler, husband & pups; while binging [too many] shows and working on crafts.

Jamie (she/her) is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and Supervisor
(LPCC-S), Advanced Certified Heart-Centered Hypnotherapist, and EMDR-trained
trauma therapist. She specializes in trauma, dissociation, identity exploration,
neurodivergence, LGBTQIA+ experiences, and spiritually oriented concerns. Jamie
holds a Master of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Cleveland State
University. She is also a Master Reiki Practitioner and Registered Yoga Teacher
(RYT-200), bringing an embodied understanding of the relationship between emotions,
the nervous system, and lived experience into her work. Jamie is currently completing
training toward certification as a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner through Somatic
Experiencing International and is a teaching assistant for Heart-Centered Hypnotherapy
training at The Wellness Institute.
Jamie works with adults and adolescents ages 15 and older. Her approach is
trauma-informed, integrative, eclectic, and affirming of LGBTQIA+ identities and
neurodiversity. Her practice is sex-positive and kink-affirming, and she welcomes
individuals exploring or navigating polyamory, ethical non-monogamy (ENM), and other
diverse relationship structures. Her work draws from transpersonal, Jungian, and
existential-humanistic perspectives. Jamie also incorporates somatic and
polyvagal-informed practices to help clients understand the connections among their
emotions, nervous system, and physical experiences.
Jamie is grounded in feminist and anti-oppressive principles, recognizing how family
roles, relationships, culture, identity, systems of power, and societal expectations can
shape a person’s experiences and sense of self. She creates space for clients to
examine inherited beliefs or expectations, reconnect with parts of themselves that have
been silenced, and develop a life that is authentic to a client’s own identities, needs, and
values.
When she is not working, Jamie enjoys spending time with her husband and their house
full of cats, fostering kittens at the Berea Animal Rescue, playing video games, taking
on random crafting projects, and learning more about astrology.

Christina is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a Master's Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Akron. She offers depth-oriented therapy that is integrative and holistic, attending to mind, body, and soul.



You don't need to be in crisis to want change. You may not even have a clear label for what you're feeling, just a quiet sense that something isn't right and hasn't been for some time. Sometimes the signs are subtle: feeling disconnected from yourself or others, emotionally overwhelmed, or constantly managing life without truly thriving. Often these struggles are rooted in deeper places, old stories, early relational wounds, or long-standing patterns that require more than quick fixes.



Christina's work goes beyond symptom management and coping strategies to explore the deeper layers of your experience. Therapy with her may be a good fit if you've tried short-term, skills-based approaches and are now seeking deeper insight, greater self-understanding, and lasting change. The process may involve exploring your emotional landscape, early life experiences, interpersonal relationships, and recurring patterns, while also tuning into the body and what's happening in the present moment. To cultivate further insight, Christina may also draw on expressive techniques like art, music, writing, or sand tray for clients open to them. Reach out for a free consultation to see if you're a good fit!

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Audra is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, Supervisor, and Licensed Chemical Dependency Assistant. She earned her master’s degree from The University of Akron and has worked with adults in a professional capacity since 2016. Prior to joining Core Counseling, Audra began her clinical career in a correctional setting, where she supported clients as they began working through anxiety, depression, trauma, substance use, grief, and a variety of other life challenges.

Audra believes that healing begins in an environment where clients feel heard, understood, and accepted. She strives to create a welcoming and supportive space where clients can safely explore their emotions, experiences, and personal challenges without judgment. With training in trauma-informed care and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Audra supports clients in processing difficult experiences while working toward meaningful healing and personal growth.

Audra utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) strategies to help clients identify and challenge unhelpful thought patterns, while incorporating a person-centered approach that emphasizes collaboration, empathy, and respect for each individual’s unique journey. She also draws from evidence-based therapeutic strategies to help clients develop greater self-awareness, flexibility, coping skills, and confidence in navigating life’s challenges.

Whether clients are navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, relationship concerns, or simply seeking greater self-understanding, Audra strives to meet each person where they are. She works collaboratively with clients to build the skills and insight needed to create meaningful change, strengthen their sense of confidence, and move toward greater well-being and the life they want to live.

Outside of her work, Audra enjoys Spending quality time with her family, traveling, and enjoying time outdoors.

Rebecca (she/her/hers) is a licensed counseling trainee specializing in complex trauma, LGBTQIA+, and neurodivergence. Rebecca has her
Master’s in Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Cleveland State
University and received her Bachelor of Business in Finance from Kent State
University.

Rebecca currently sees individuals who are 15 years and older. Rebecca uses a trauma informed feminist/queer approach when working with
her clients. Rebecca believes it to be a privilege to walk alongside her clients in their darkest moments, assisting them to build nervous system resilience while providing a safe, accommodating environment to explore these emotions in depth. When she is not
at work, Rebecca enjoys spending time with her cats, crafting, and cooking.

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Amber (she/her/hers) is a licensed professional counselor specializing in chronic illnesses, eating disorders, and LGBTQIA+. Amber has her Master’s in Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with Neuroscience and Speech & Hearing Minors from Cleveland State University.

In addition to her specialties, Amber also works with teens, adults, and seniors on life transitions, trauma, grief, impulsivity, depression, and anxiety. She uses several approaches in therapy which often includes feminist and queer Narrative therapy with the practical, day-to-day tools of Cognitive and Dialectical Behavioral Behavior Therapies. This means sessions with Amber will balance discovering your own set of values, separating yourself from negative experiences, and building a toolkit to regulate intense emotions while setting firm boundaries.

It is always important to Amber in meeting anyone where they are at in life. You can be having a terrible flare, sitting in heavy emotions after a binge episode, or debating which identities matter to your life. No matter what, I will walk alongside you on the journey of finding your true values instead of feeling pressured by others. When she is not at work, Amber enjoys spending time with her guinea pigs, listening to music, and hanging out with friends.