LGBT therapists in Akron, OH

I am a licensed mental health counselor with a passion for helping couples, families, and individuals, especially teens and women, navigate emotional pain, trauma, and identity challenges with clarity and compassion. My work is rooted in a trauma-informed and holistic approach, recognizing the deep connection between the mind, body, and spirit in the healing process.

I hold a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling and have experience working with adolescents and adults in both individual and group settings. I specialize in supporting clients struggling with emotional dysregulation, anxiety, depression, trauma, and relational difficulties. I also integrate evidence-based approaches such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), trauma-focused interventions, and practical coping strategies to help clients build emotional awareness, stability, and resilience.

In addition to clinical work, I am deeply passionate about helping individuals rediscover their sense of identity, purpose, and inner strength. I strive to create a safe, supportive space where clients feel seen, heard, and empowered to grow at their own pace.

I became a therapist because I believe our struggles deserve to be understood, not just fixed. Too often, people come to therapy feeling like a problem to be solved or a checklist to work through, and that's exactly what I want to push back against. My goal is to help you feel more human, not more clinical.

I earned my Master's in Social Work from Northern Kentucky University in 2014 and hold a certificate in ADHD treatment. I work with adults navigating ADHD, depression, anxiety, and substance use disorder, and I bring both professional training and personal familiarity to these areas. I know this stuff isn't abstract. It shows up in real life, in real ways, every day.

I’m Dr. Michelle S. McBride, DNP, PMHNP-BC, MBA, a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner dedicated to providing compassionate and comprehensive mental health care. I earned my Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from Rush University in Chicago, IL. Before obtaining my doctorate, I was a board-certified psychiatric registered nurse, gaining extensive experience across various clinical settings, including inpatient psychiatry, psychiatric emergency services, community behavioral health, and forensic psychiatry (jail-based care).

I am experienced, confident in treating a wide range of mental health conditions, including:

• Schizophrenia & Schizoaffective Disorder
• Eating Disorders
• Psychosis
• Major Depressive Disorder
• Personality Disorders
• ADHD
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• PTSD
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
• Bipolar Disorders
• Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD)
• Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED)

20+ years helping youth, adults and families work through grief and trauma, restore relationships, and build healthier thought and behavior patterns. Specializing in helping clients in transition or facing a dilemma.

Licensed Counselor & Certified Coach with lived experience as Ohio Hall of Fame DI basketball player & coach, espn color analyst, C-level corporate executive, non-profit leader, cancer survivor, later in life adoptive parent, and member of multi-racial family.

Hello, I am Sarah, a licensed professional clinical counselor in Ohio. I received my M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Akron, but I also have a M.A. from The Ohio State University in Comparative Studies, focusing on the body, trauma, and narrative. We are our stories, as well as how we re-create our stories!