about OUR THERAPISTS

Sara Blakeslee Salkil, Ph.D., earned her doctorate in marriage and family therapy from Texas Tech University and her master’s in MFT from Abilene Christian University. She is an Independent Marriage and Family Therapist in Ohio specializing in couples therapy and systemic therapy for individuals and families. She offers treatment from a strengths-based perspective, viewing couples as suffering from distress rather than dysfunction. Her primary model is Emotionally Focused Therapy, with an emphasis on attachment and responsiveness in family relationships. She has experience working with gay and lesbian couples, straight couples, couples where one partner is transgender, and a variety of other presenting problems including depression, anxiety, life cycle adjustment issues, grief, and loss.​

Emily Bart, LISW-S believes in the profound process of integrating ones inherent capacity for creative expression and healing and how it can transform an individual’s experience in the world.   Emily helps families and individuals with adjustment to loss, couples counseling, family issues, parenting difficulties, job issues, and emotional distress.  Emily has been a mental health therapist for over 30 years and has the training, experience, and sensitivity to help you.  Adults, couples, and families realize their goals through therapy tailored to their needs.  Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Family/Couples therapy, and psychodynamic approach may be utilized.  While her style is relaxed and supportive, She is active in challenging the status quo, assisting clients in thinking in new ways to create change.   

David B. Brown, MDIV, LISW received his B.A. from Oral Roberts University, a Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and Masters in Social Work from Loyola University of Chicago.  Dave has counseled people with varying issues including depression, anxiety, personality and communication problems, as well as sexual abuse and addiction for over 30 years. He counts it an honor to help people grow and heal emotionally, relationally, and spiritually. He is in his 10th year at Deerfield Twp Family Counseling Center.  He is a valuable asset to our office and community.

Mark Freshley,LISW has worked in many different settings and has experience with individual and family therapy, inpatient and outpatient psychiatric facilities, community mental health programs, school-based counseling, and has also facilitated in a court ordered program for domestic violence offenders. He has had training in family therapy, play therapy, helping children deal with divorce or parental drug/alcohol addiction, brief therapy, trauma focused cognitive behavior therapy, and the teaching family model to name a few.  Mark has experience helping children deal with hypervigilance behaviors, ADHD, depression, anxiety, peer relationships, grief & loss, recovery from sexual abuse and other traumas. He has worked with parents to help them use their strengths to guide and nurture their children, so they can be successful in life. He has worked with adults regarding relationship and family issues, anger management, domestic violence, trauma recovery, anxiety and depression.

Brittany Peck, LPCC is a licensed professional clinical counselor. She received her Masters of education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Kent State University. She has been counseling since 2014. She enjoys working with individuals who struggle with addictions, co-occurring disorders, depression, anxiety, mood disorders and trauma and stress related disorders. Brittany utilizes person centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, solution focused, motivational interviewing and some aspects of DBT within her counseling sessions. She is laid back and is passionate about helping individuals find their internal and external happiness. 

Marilyn Brandon, LISW is also a Licensed Independent Chemical Dependency Counselor. She has dedicated her adult life and career to helping others. Active in the substance abuse recovery movement for over 40 years, she has worked extensively with groups, families, and individuals caught in the web of addiction. She also specializes in family of origin issues, relationships, life transitions, depression and other mood disorders. She strongly believes in empowering individuals to access their inner wisdom and the innate ability to heal and grow from life's adversity.

Christine Sweeney, LISW received a Psychology/Child and Family Studies Degree at Syracuse University in New York and her Master of Social Work with a specialty in Gerontology at Boston College.  Christine has experience working with the elderly population and is an expert at meeting the biopsychosocial needs of older adults.  She has also worked with caregivers in individual therapy and in group settings.  Additionally, Christine has experience with individuals dealing with anger issues, domestic violence,  anxiety, chronic illness, Co-occurring Disorders, substance abuse, depression, hoarding tendencies as well as loss and grief.

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Daniel Byerly, LPC, NCC, C-DBT has over 25 years of clinical experience working with all different ages in a variety of roles and settings. He is a nationally certified Dialectical Behavioral Therapy provider. What is Dialectical Behavioral Therapy? It is a form of treatment that helps people with a range of conditions including: Borderline Personality Disorder, Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar Disorder, Attention Deficit Disorder, Self-Esteem, Self-harm or suicidality. DBT is especially effective for individuals with trouble regulating the intensity of their emotions. The goal is to help people accept themselves and their emotions and to strive to make positive changes in life. DBT teaches life/coping skills like mindfulness, distress tolerance and interpersonal effective skills.
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Dan uses an eclectic approach to therapy when not using DBT. He takes various aspects from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy and Reality Therapy. Drawing on techniques that focus on the power of one’s thoughts that determine feelings and behaviors. This is accomplished through learning thought blocking and utilizing the power of positive self-talk. The focus is always on a positive and bright future by identifying healthier choices and attainable goals. ​

Taylor Koehler, Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), received a Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Cincinnati and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Dayton. She has experience working with all ages and walks of life. Taylor is accepting clients as young as 3 though the golden years. During her internship, she worked with adults with anxiety, depression, and relationship distress. She has also worked in an inpatient psychiatric setting with teens with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). As a paraprofessional, she worked with children with Autism in the school setting from preschool-first grade. Now, Taylor primarily works with those with anxiety, depression, relationship distress, and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) as well as those going through life transitions. She utilizes an eclectic approach to therapy to meet her clients’ individualized needs. Taylor typically incorporates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) as well as a Strength-Based approach into her sessions. In her free time, Taylor enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and dog Milo. She also likes to go on hikes, try new restaurants, and travel.

At Our Blue Ash Office

Russell Cruse, LPCC-S Just wanted to take a moment and introduce himself and tell you what he can offer... I have been working with young people and families since 1988… it doesn’t seem that long, but well, here we are! I have worked at two different children’s homes, as well as Family Preservation/Family Reunification Programs. I was a treatment director for a foster care agency, a youth pastor, and in private practice since 2010.  I’m married, with 4 kids, 2 girls 2 boys. We are a blended family. My biological son’s mother passed away when he was 10. We have focused on how that is part of the plan for his life in the bigger sense. My girls, though not my biological girls, are mine. Their previous life was filled with trauma, and we have worked hard as a family to overcome it. We are a weird family. I build coffin furniture in my spare time, AND my wife drives a hearse, yes, you read that correctly. She is a pin up model focusing on girl power, accepting self, and being emotionally healthy. But, like many ladies, she and my girls struggle with never feeling good enough, smart enough, or pretty enough at any given time. They struggle with feeling overwhelmed. We have worked together to learn skills to set boundaries, center ourselves, and stop that crazy lady living in their heads that is out to destroy them. The same things I talk to many of my female clients about. Men, we got you, not here to push the “feelings” thing.  Just some skills to be better men for ourselves, and those whom we care about the most.  I have built several cars and bikes over the years including a Mystery Machine from Scooby Doo and two Jurassic Park Trucks. So, sessions are laid back, T-shirts and jeans are the norm, none of that pretentious stuff, we are all broken people trying to survive. Oh, coffee, you need to know about the coffee. Bring your own, ‘cause I’m not sharing mine! Just Kidding! Come in, stretch out/curl up and let’s figure out life together. I'm Definitely NOT your average therapist. I am happy to do Faith Based Therapy upon request, but beware, I love me some Jesus, but I have a horrible mouth. 
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Areas of Competency: Relationships/Marriage, Family, Parenting, Anxiety, Depression, Anger, Work Place Issues, Loss/Grief, Crisis Management, LGBTQ Friendly

Hope to see you soon!!!
-Russell

 

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