Hayley Whitman, LPCC-S, IMFT

Pronouns: She/Her

Hi! I am a relationship counselor, whether I work with individuals, couples, or a family, so much of mental health goes back to the important people in our life.

As a couples counselor, I get to watch people connect, try new things, and rekindle their commitment after years of being lost or stuck.  I serve as someone to lean on when the conversations get tough and I will help guide you back to a dialogue that that is constructive and meaningful.  My goal is to help you understand what personal issues are blocking you and keeping you spinning, and then how to have conversations that get to the heart of the matter.

In my work with couples and individuals, a lot of my clients grew up with difficult families and they find themselves all grown up, but stuck in a similar situation.  Others come from relationships that were emotionally, verbally, or even physically abusive and are having difficulty with trust and becoming vulnerable in the relationship.  I am very protective of your confidentiality, and I endeavor to help you feel as safe and comfortable as possible throughout the therapy process.

Families often come to me because one of the children is having difficulty with anxiety, depression, grades, or peer relationships and parents aren’t sure how to help.  I balance between respecting the privacy of each child and involving the family members so they know how to create a supportive environment for their child.  I facilitate conversations between family members so they can really hear what the other person needs, rather than listening only to defend or respond.

Spending time educating myself through trainings and reading brings life into my practice, and it allows me to present the most up-to-date information to empower you to change your relationships. Here’s a little about my formal training and workshops so far:

• Bachelor of the Arts in Psychology, Sociology, and Women’s Studies (Otterbein University)
• Master of Science in Counseling, dually licensed as a Licensed Practicing Clinical Counselor and a Marriage and Family Therapist
• Certified in Prepare and Enrich Couples and Family Assessments
• Gottman Certified, Level I
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Certification
• Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Certified
• Training in Transactional Analysis
• Training in Emotionally Focused Therapy

I also belong to organizations and regularly attend and present for the following organizations:

• American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
• Cleveland Coordinator for The Ohio Marriage and Family Therapist Network
• American Counseling Association

I started my journey into psychology by wanting to understand how people perpetuate negative, painful cycles, and why is it so hard to get out once you’re in?  I began my education volunteering at a domestic violence shelter and working as a sexual assault victim advocate, then a foster care home, and afterwards working with juveniles and their families in the court system.  I learned that each problem has many moving parts, there are no easy answers.  Above all, for people to grow, I need to understand each person’s perspective and connect with them without judgement.  If you choose to share your story with me, I promise to meet you where you’re at and help you move forward.

I look forward to meeting you!