ABOUT
Erin A. Dodds, M.Ed. LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor), originally from Columbus, Ohio, relocated to Cincinnati in 2016, where she lives with her husband and their three wonderful children. A proud Otterbein University alumnus, she graduated with a degree in Organizational Communication in 2009. Erin began her career with the State of Ohio as a Correction Officer and Case Manager before pursuing her Master's in Education in Counseling at Lindsey Wilson, graduating in 2021 with a Master's in Education. Currently, she serves as the Clinical Director at A Sound Mind Counseling Services, specializing in family systems, couples therapy, depression, and anxiety. Erin is dedicated to empowering the Black community and promoting women's empowerment, fostering generational healing within families, and challenging the stigma surrounding mental health and its treatment.
Monica Hayden, MSSW, LISW is an independent licensed social worker supervisor. She received her AA degree from St. Catherine College, her BSSW degree from Spalding University, and her MSSW from University of Louisville Kent School of Social Work. She has been in the mental health field for over 20 years. Ms. Hayden has experience working with diverse backgrounds with mental health issues and other daily stressors. Her areas include but not limited to adolescents age 14 and above, Individual Therapy, Group Therapy, Relationship Issues, Depression/Anxiety, Personal and Social Issues and Stress Management.
Teresa Hard is a dedicated Counselor in Training (CT) who is on the verge of completing her Masters in Clinical Mental Health. With a Bachelor of Arts and Science from Xavier University and over 30 years of community and ministry experience, she has a passion for young women in areas such as parenting, organization, and financial management. Teresa specializes in helping individuals challenges like low self-worth, anxiety, and depression using person-centered therapy (PCT) and cognitive behavioral therapy (T). Her previous role as an EEO Counselor with the Internal Revenue Service adds depth to her expertise, making her a compassionate guide for those navigating life's obstacles.
Mission: To serve others providing them with coping strategies and assistance to
become thriving citizens with clinical and Christian Counseling providing hope!
Formal Professional Education and Degrees Awarded:
Bowling Green State University Bachelor of Arts 1977
University of Kentucky Master of Social Work 1989
Areas of Competence: Criminal Justice, Behavioral Health Counseling and Social
Work.
Psychosocial Assessment: Planning, Intervention, Psychotherapy with Individuals
and Families
Mental Health Assessments: Diagnosis, and treatment of emotional and mental
disorders
Mental Health Counseling, Crisis Counseling, and Consultation
Criminal Justice: Individual, Group, and Family Counseling
Special Skills:
Solution Focused and Cognitive Behavioral Health Therapy
Professional Education: Planning, Development, Implementation, Evaluation,
Behavioral Health, Trauma Assessment and Implementation, Marriage and Family
Therapy, Individual Therapy, and Promoting Health of Gender and Sexual
Minorities.
Prior Professional Affiliations: Hamilton County Community Health
Board/Secretary
State Of Ohio Counselor Social Worker Marriage and Family Therapist Board
Association of Social Workers Board Discipline and Regulatory Commission
Yolanda Houston
I received my master’s degree at Oklahoma City University; and I have worked in the mental-behavioral field since 2007. My education and work experience have prepared me for such a time as this. As a mental health professional, I serve as an advocate for those voices unheard. We all heard the saying, “Take care of your mental health.” We are talking more about mental-health than ever before.
Everyone has a purpose on this earth, and you are worthy to "become," where your journey may lead you. However, if you are hurting, talk to someone.
One of my favorite poems is: “Our Deepest Fear,” by Marianne Williamson
Leslie Cooper, LMSW is a native of Cincinnati and a Princeton High School graduated. She
graduated from North Carolina Central University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and
Howard University with a Master’s Degree in Social Work. As a Howard University student,
Leslie participated in an international internship in Rwanda, Africa, where she assisted with
relocating displaced children back to their families after the genocide wars. After graduating,
Leslie spent the 23 years working with at risk children & families in the Washington, DC
metropolitan community . Her experience includes: child welfare, school and medical social
work at Johns Hopkins Medical Center. This lead her to pursue & graduate from Johns Hopkins
University with a Master’s Degree in Business Administration. In 2018, Leslie was hired by
Aleta E Lutz VAMC in Saginaw, Michigan, accepting a role as a Home Base Primary Care
Social Worker at the Oscoda CBOC. Due to illness in her family, she decided to transition back
home to better support her ailing parents. In June 2019, Leslie was hired by the Cincinnati
VAMC as a HUD/VASH Social Worker in the Community Outreach Division and currently
works as the Program Coordinator for the Medical Foster Home Program. Leslie is very
appreciative of this wonderful opportunity and to work with such an amazing staff at Sound
Mind Counseling Center. Leslie likes to travel internationally and meet new people. She has one
daughter and several family members in the Cincinnati Metropolitan area.
Amber is a lead school-based therapist and clinical mental health counselor who spends her days working directly with teens in a school setting. She brings a warm sense of humor and a deep commitment to helping young people navigate life’s challenges. In addition to her school-based work, Amber also supports couples and families, drawing on her clinical mental health counseling degree with a focus on marriage, couple, and family counseling. Whether virtually or in person, Amber is dedicated to creating a supportive and encouraging space for all her clients.
Dr. Katrina J. Wyche has been in the substance abuse prevention and mental health field since
1995. She is the mother of two wonderful adult children and has two beautiful grandchildren.
Dr. Wyche is a Life Coach and holds an Ohio Certified Prevention Consultant, Certified Trauma
Support Specialist, and is an Ohio Counselor Trainee (CT). She obtained her Doctor of
Education (Ed.D.) and Medical Trauma-Informed Care Certification from Xavier University,
where she is pursuing a second Master’s in Clinical Mental Health. She is also an adjunct
professor and Assistant Director of Graduate Admission at Xavier University. As well as a Life
Coach at A Sound Mind Counseling Services.
Dr. Wyche is the co-founder of Love You to Life, LLC, a suicide prevention and mental health
awareness organization. She is a member of the Hamilton County Suicide Prevention Coalition,
the Task Force for Improving African American Mental Health, Butler County Suicide Prevention
Coalition, State of Ohio’s QPR Advisory Committee, the Social Determinants of Health
Workgroup, and Wyoming Community in Action (WCIA). She partnered with Cincinnati Black
Theater Company to develop and co-facilitate the Shoot with A Camera (SWAC) program.
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Shanika Lykes, MSW, LSW is a dedicated and compassionate social
worker with over 10 years of experience in the field of Social Work in
various capacities. She holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from
Walden University, where she further developed a strong foundation in
social justice, advocacy, and community engagement, and a Bachelor’s
degree in Criminal Justice from Albany State University.
Throughout her career, Shanika has worked with diverse and
vulnerable populations, including those with developmental disabilities,
children, families, senior citizens, and individuals facing various
challenges, such as mental health issues, substance abuse, and
homelessness. She has received training sessions on topics such as
trauma-informed care, crisis intervention, and cultural competency. She is
passionate about making a positive impact in the lives of those she serves
and empowering all to lead fulfilling and healthy lives.
Steve Brown, LSWTrauma, Chemical Dependency and Christian Counselor I am a husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, pastor with a ministry emphasis on chemical dependence and homelessness, a licensed social worker, with over 48 years in the social service field, including approximately 35 years of substance use disorder specific experience and over 12 years of mental health emphasis, especially trauma-based treatment. I have also been empowered to develop a Christ centered curriculum and power point presentation entitled “Journey to Deliverance”: addressing the various areas of psychoeducation and ministry: “Spirit, Soul and Body in Addiction, Recovery and Deliverance”; “Physical and Psychological Effects of Substance Abuse”; “Craving Management”; “Relapse Prevention”; “Stress Management”; “Identifying and Addressing Trauma”; “Anger Management” and “Rebuilding Families Impacted by Substance Use Disorders”. The power point presentation is available in both English and Spanish. Much of my therapeutic emphasis pertains to trauma focused cognitive behavioral and client centered therapy modalities.
Mariella F. Richardson, LISW is a Licensed Independent Social Worker with a
Supervisory Designation for Ohio.
Mariella graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Central State
University in Wilberforce, Ohio. She continued her studies at the University of
Cincinnati where she majored in Social Work and graduated with a master’s degree.
She has worked as a licensed independent social worker through the state of Ohio for
over fourteen years. Before that time, she worked in the journalism and education fields
where she honed her skills in research and fact finding. She has continued to work and
has served in various capacities in which she has given of her time and expertise. The
work that she has found herself in during her career has taken her to elementary,
middle and high schools, residential group homes, community mental health agencies,
inpatient psychiatry units and hospitals.
Mrs. Richardson professional experience has included working on committees at work
and in the community in order to gain more information and understanding from the
Cincinnati area regarding the hard to reach populations that we serve. She is committed
to her craft and research in areas that will add to the knowledge base in order to assist
with understanding and thus eradicating poverty. Mrs. Richardson has also worked with
National Association of Social Workers Ethics Board, and Butler County Mental Health
Board as a board member in the past. While these positions she was dedicated to the
mission at hand. Mrs. Richardson continue to work towards the goal of assisting those
who are most at risk within our communities.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Personal and social counseling, educational counseling, individual
counseling, group counseling, family counseling, mental health counseling, dually
diagnosed treatment (including both substance abuse and mental illness as well as
intellectually disabled and mental illness), consultation, administration. Trained in
Trauma Focused Care, CPI (Nonviolent crisis intervention), Motivational Interviewing,
Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI).