Personalized care starts with the right therapist.
Our team
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Executive Director, Psychologist, Co-Author of Gentle Mending
Dwight (he/him/his) earned his Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee in August of 2008. During the educational and training process, he worked in a variety of settings and with a variety of populations. Specifically, he has worked in community mental health centers, university counseling centers, and with a crisis organization for children and adolescents. Dwight completed his pre-doctoral internship at The Ohio State University’s Counseling and Consultation Service. Since his post-doctoral work, Dwight was an associate, owner, and/or Executive Director at Affirmations Psychological Services. Over the past few years, Dwight’s professional roles included being a Market Leader for Optum Behavioral Care, which entailed oversight of Affirmations and three other mental health brands in the State of Ohio.
Mending, Growth, and Empowerment:
Dwight’s orientation toward clients, mental health, and psychotherapy is Humanistic. In essence, this symbolizes a desire to build, create, and foster relationships with clients that matter for the clients. To achieve this type of relationship, Dwight attempts to understand and connect to the whole human being, suggesting that acceptance is as important as change.
Dwight views the therapeutic journey as a process of mending, and empowerment, which can be accomplished by attending to the processes of daily living such as making routine decisions AND processes of existential living such as how human beings seek purpose and meaning in Life. Dwight has a deep respect for clients, hoping they feel his care and concern as well as his belief in their ability to change. In this light, he views his role as one where he helps clients feel empowered to interact with others, the world, or themselves differently and to develop the confidence, resilience, and belief to live a sustainable Life.
Dwight has been trained as a generalist and embraces his ability to work effectively across the life-span and with most mental health concerns. If you review the home page and what we’re building and creating at REAL, inclusion, differences, diversity and affirming clients are the heart and soul of Dwight’s work. Dwight is accepting new clients at our E. Broad St. Location. Dwight has been a licensed psychologist in the state of Ohio since 2009.
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Emily graduated from The Ohio State University with both her undergraduate and graduate degree in Social work and has experience in crisis work with adolescent youth and in community mental health. Emily is a dedicated and licensed outpatient therapist committed to facilitating positive change and growth in individuals' lives. Emily has a deep passion for mental health and well-being, and believes in providing compassionate and non-judgemental treatment with evidence-based therapeutic interventions.
Emily has experience in working with anxiety, depression, trauma, self esteem, interpersonal and family relationships, gender/sexual orientation, and has a passion for working with individuals in the LGBTQ+ community. Utilizing a client-centered and strengths-based approach, she strives to empower individuals to navigate life's challenges and discover their inherent resilience. Emily draws upon a range of therapeutic modalities, to create a personalized treatment plan that aligns with each client's goals. These therapies include; Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Motivational interviewing, Internal Family Systems and she is trained in Eye Movement Densensitization and Reprocessing Therapy.
In her free time Emily enjoys spending quality time with her partner, friends, family (pets) and enjoying activities outdoors.
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Kierre earned her certification in Health Information Management Technology from Columbus State Community College. Kierre also holds a certification in Mental Health First Aid. Kierre has over 15 years of experience in the health care setting, working in primary care, chiropractic and eye care facilities. This experience coupled with her educational background gives her a unique perspective on the billing and insurance challenges that many clients face.Kierre loves figuring out challenging insurance issues and resolving billing mysteries.
Kierre aspires to follow the tenets of patient-centered care in all of her interactions with clients and their families. Kierre understands how stigma, cultural beliefs and socioeconomic status may limit a person's accessibility to mental health service and tries to assist with the accessibility, affordability and acceptability of care. In both her work and private life, she works to help reduce mental health stigma and support policies that broaden access to care for people from all walks of life.
Kierre is excited to work for REAL because she knows that each clinician working here genuinely cares for and respects the entirety of their client’s experience. Kierre values working for a company that centers inclusion and social change as a part of everyday values.
In her free time Kierre likes to spend time with her children and rescue pets (currently has a cat and a dog), listen to live music and dance. Kierre also volunteers with several political advocacy groups centering around reproductive justice and criminal justice reform.
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Life brings change, loss, and unexpected challenges—and sometimes, it helps to have a safe space to process. Tara is a graduate from The Ohio State University’s Social Work program (MSW) but spent most of her career working in community health, public health, and in health education. Her experience working with a wide variety of people has given her compassion for a spectrum of struggles. Tara believes that connection is key to growth and change and that a positive, non-judgmental clinical relationship can be transformative. Her approach is collaborative and centered on client strengths and strives to help in discovering effective solutions that align with clients' goals and values.
Tara helps individuals and families navigate grief, life transitions, parenting stress, anxiety, and depression with compassion and practical support. She integrates Mindfulness, Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy into a client-centered healing process.
Tara enjoys making music, gardening, spending time with her daughters, and traveling in her free time.
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Nic (He/Him) graduated from Capital University with a Bachelors in Psychology and Heidelberg University with his Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Nic has experience in community mental health, college counseling centers, private practice settings, working with children, adolescents, adults and LGBTQ+ communities. He is dedicated to creating an affirming and inclusive therapeutic environment that promotes safety, resilience, and self-empowerment.
Nic utilizes a trauma-informed and evidence-based approach, integrating cognitive-behavioral strategies, motivational interviewing, and strengths-based techniques to support each client’s unique path toward healing and growth. Additionally, he is trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR). He has experience working with anxiety, depression, substance use, trauma, and system involved clients.
Outside of work, Nic enjoys spending time with friends, family, and pets. He also enjoys reading, watching shows, and seeing movies.
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Elliott (they/them/theirs or he/him/his) earned a Bachelor of Science in Social Work and a Master of Arts in Social Work from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. During his education, he developed a strong foundation in social justice and advocacy. His educational journey equipped him with the knowledge and skills necessary to support diverse populations and address a wide range of mental health challenges in an often-unjust world.
Elliott’s clinical experience includes focus on traumatic stress, anxiety, depression, autism and ADHD. He has experience working with adolescents and adults from diverse backgrounds, especially those who identify as LGBTQIA+. Elliott specializes in supporting individuals who are exploring their gender identity, including providing necessary documentation for accessing gender-affirming care.
Elliott’s therapeutic approach is grounded in the belief that neurodiversity is a strength and that cultural humility is essential to providing effective care. He meets individuals where they are, and through authentic connection, works collaboratively to reach their goals. He believes that the person seeking therapy is the expert in their own experience, while his role is to offer tools that have worked for others.
Elliott integrates various evidence-based modalities in his work, including Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). He is committed to providing a safe and supportive space for individuals to explore their emotions, challenge negative thinking patterns, and develop resilience. With specialized training in trauma-responsive care, Elliott is passionate about supporting individuals who have experienced trauma and providing a safe environment where healing can take place.
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Luke (he/him/his) graduated from Capital University with a Masters of Arts in Counseling Education. He has experience seeing adults, teens, and children. Luke values people from all walks of life and is equipped to meet people in a variety of experiences.
Luke offers you a place to make meaning of your life and listen with acceptance to the things in you that feel hard to accept. His desire is to be with you in this process—with his real self, honesty, and care—as you discover the unique experiences that form you.
Luke facilitates a counseling relationship with empathy and acceptance. He believes that he is a person too and is able to be with you on this quest for yourself. He will be honest with you about how he feels in each moment without imposing judgement on you. He believes that you are the expert of your experience, but that it can be a terrifyingly new thing to reckon with. Luke uses nondirective, person-centered practices to create this enabling environment for you to grow.
In his free time, Luke enjoys reading and drinking as much matcha as he can get his hands on.
Luke’s training supervisor is Andrea Weisberger, and her contact information is AWeisberger@playtherapycolumbus.org
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Sahaj Vohra is a Licensed Professional Counselor and National Certified Counselor who is dedicated to helping individuals navigate life's challenges with greater self-awareness, resilience, and purpose. He earned his Master of Science in Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Dayton and is currently pursuing a doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision at Ohio University.
Sahaj works with young adults and adults experiencing anxiety, depression, stress, relationship concerns, life transitions, and difficulties related to self-esteem and identity. He believes that meaningful change begins within a safe, supportive, and authentic therapeutic relationship where clients feel heard, understood, and valued.
His counseling approach is eclectic, drawing from several evidence-based perspectives while remaining tailored to each client's unique needs. At its core, his work is grounded in Person-Centered Therapy, emphasizing empathy, genuineness, and unconditional positive regard. He also integrates principles from Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help clients develop insight, manage difficult emotions, challenge unhelpful thought patterns, and build lives aligned with their values.
In addition to his clinical work, Sahaj serves as the Counselor-in-Residence for after-hours crisis services at Ohio University Counseling and Psychological Services. His professional interests include men's mental health, suicide prevention, counselor wellness, and mindfulness development for young adults. He is committed to creating a collaborative and nonjudgmental space where clients can explore their experiences, discover their strengths, and move toward lasting growth.