Denise Sager

You deserve care that honors all of who you are. I'm Denise, an LPCC in Ohio with 30 years of experience supporting adults through trauma, grief, ADHD, chronic illness, and more. I'm affirming and welcoming to LGBTQIA+, transgender, and neurodiverse clients. I'd love to connect.

My background is in special education, which is why neurodiversity like Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, dyslexia, and learning differences are areas where I have real depth, not just familiarity. I've spent years understanding how neurodivergent brains work - and how the mental health system often misses them. I also work with clients who've been hurt by their church, their pastor, or their faith community - what many people now call "church hurt." This is a profoundly underserved area of care, and my training at Trinity Seminary means I'm not approaching it from the outside. I understand the language, the culture, and the specific kind of grief that comes with spiritual betrayal. I treasure my global experience and look forward to working with multi-cultural people, including immigrants and refugees.

I'm practical and collaborative - I want you to actually feel different by the time we're done, not just have talked about feeling different. I draw most often on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) because it gives us real tools for the patterns that feel stuck. For deeper emotional work, I use Internal Family Systems (IFS), which is particularly useful for clients who carry parts of themselves that feel at war with each other. For couples and families, I use the Gottman Method and Bowen Family Systems - both of which are grounded in research and give us structure that actually moves things forward. I also work through a faith-integrated lens when that's meaningful to the client, drawing on my theological training at Trinity Seminary. I adapt to what you need. Some clients need concrete strategies. Some need space to process something they've never fully said out loud. Most need both, in different proportions at different times.

Our first session is a chance to get to know each other. I'll ask about what's brought you here, what has helped before, and what you're hoping to build. There's no pressure to share more than you're ready to. You'll leave with a clearer picture of how we'd work together, and most importantly, feeling heard and less alone with what you're carrying.