Meet Our Counselors
Get to know the compassionate professionals behind our tailored counseling services, each dedicated to supporting your path to personal growth and well-being right here in Hamilton County.
Kristi Turner, MA, LMHC
Kristi is an EMDR Trained & Licensed Mental Health Counselor with over 15 years of experience in the counseling field. Kristi has worked with individuals, couples, families, and groups dealing with a variety of issues. While Kristi has experience in private practice, past and present, she also has worked in a hospital crisis unit and emergency departments assessing those dealing with everything from psychosis and drug abuse to depression and anxiety for immediate care. Kristi’s research during her graduate program was focused on geriatric depression and program development to address this issue and she has been published in this area.
Kristi is a married mother of 2 and has a passion for working with couples and families. In addition, Kristi has experience working well with: anxiety, depression, child/adolescent behavioral issues, bereavement/grief, phase of life issues, anger issues, abuse issues, communication issues, relationship conflict, parenting issues, and domestic violence.
Stacey Morrison, MSW, LCSW
Stacey is an EMDR Trained & Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years experience in the mental health field. She has worked with clients of all ages and backgrounds dealing with a variety of different issues. Having started out in Community Mental Health and doing individual and family therapy, she has also worked in the hospital setting doing crisis mental health assessments in a psychiatric emergency room and seeing patients in a supportive role on the inpatient medical floors for consultation. Stacey has also worked in a Domestic Violence shelter providing supportive counseling and education for women and their children during times of crisis.
Stacey enjoys working with people to help navigate the best course of treatment and road to health and happiness. She believes that those struggling with depression, anxiety, family conflict, parenting stress, grief, and chronic mental illness have the ability to develop coping strategies to live a happy, healthy, productive life.
Kaywin Lawrence, LCSW
Kaywin is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 10 years of experience in the Mental Health field working with children, adolescents, families, and adults dealing with a variety of issues. She received her Bachelor’s of Science Degree from IUPUI in Psychology and her Masters Degree in Social Work from The University of Southern Indiana. Kaywin has experience working with trauma, abuse, sexually maladaptive youth, bereavement/grief, anger, communication issues, anxiety, depression, and psychosis.
Kaywin is a former elementary school therapist who finds value in using a comprehensive approach to mental health care. She is trained in exploring and acknowledging biological, psychological, and social factors along with their complex interactions to best understand and treat each individual client’s needs.
Her counseling approach stems from a variety of theories including Cognitive Behavioral (CBT), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral (TF-CBT), Motivational Interviewing, Play Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, and EFT. Kaywin also enjoys incorporating expressive arts, yoga, and sound healing into sessions. While working together, you can trust that you will be heard, accepted, challenged, and encouraged!
Zachary Reed, MSW, LCSW
Zach is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 8 years of experience in the counseling field. He has worked with individuals and groups dealing with a variety of issues from handling everyday stressors to tackling emotional dysregulation and impulsive behavior. Zach has worked in both community and outpatient settings, assessing and treating numerous mental health diagnoses and has a particular passion for working with the LGBTQ+ community. He prides himself on being a sex-positive therapist.
Zach identifies as gay (pronouns: he/him/his) and enjoys working with both individuals and couples. His approach is primarily based on increasing mindfulness in order to promote clear-thinking, self-focus, and achievement of well-defined personal goals. In his practice, Zach has found that mindfulness is the perfect stepping stone for exploring issues related to anxiety, depression, grief, anger, sexual wellness, and even relationship issues.
Leslie Malkemus, LMHC, LMFTA
Leslie is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy Associate with over eight years of experience in the counseling field. Leslie has worked with individuals, couples, families, and groups in a variety of settings. Leslie began her career helping incarcerated clients and their families navigate through the complex corrections system while addressing mental health, addiction, and relationship issues.
Leslie has also previously worked with children and their families involved in the foster care system, tackling issues such as trauma and abuse, behavior management, anxiety, depression, substance use, grief and loss, ADHD, parenting, and adjustment. Leslie has a passion for addressing both personal and interpersonal issues like communication, conflict resolution, boundaries, changing intergenerational cycles, emotion management, trust, and forgiveness. Leslie seeks to collaborate with clients on finding the capacity to enact positive changes in their lives, break patterns that are no longer functional, increase self-knowledge, and develop healthier relationships with self and others.
Connor Thomas, MA, LMHC
Welcome to your path to healing! I’m a licensed therapist specializing in trauma, first responders, attachment, core beliefs, anxiety, and depression. With a strong belief in the mind-body connection, I’m here to help you heal through a robust therapeutic journey.
Together, we’ll identify and transform unhelpful patterns, equipping you with new coping skills to reach your goals. My passion lies in aiding those who crave progress from being stuck, whether it’s past traumas, anxious thoughts, or feelings of hopelessness.
I go beyond conventional talk therapy, focusing on evidence-based techniques like eye-movement therapy and “parts work” to facilitate profound healing and transformation. I’m trained in EMDR and certified in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) for trauma, anxiety, and depression relief. In addition to traditional sessions, I also offer longer intensives to speed up the healing process and get quite a bit of work done quickly.
My goal is to guide you toward lasting emotional well-being efficiently. My holistic therapy approach embraces the unity of mind and body, factoring in your entire being—psychological, emotional, physical, social, and spiritual.
If you’re ready to take the first step towards greater self-awareness, healing, and personal growth, I invite you to reach out and schedule a session with me today.
Jordan Fonseca, MSW, LCSW
Hello and welcome! My name is Jordan and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I feel honored to walk alongside others to provide comfort and support during difficult and overwhelming times in life. People have done that for me, and it has been instrumental in my life. We are not meant to live this life on our own, and if I can help shoulder some of the burden you may be carrying then I count myself blessed.
I have experience working with individuals, families, couples and groups dealing with a variety of issues. I have worked with people who have experienced depression, anxiety, relationship issues, troubles with boundaries, life transitions, difficulties with self-esteem, domestic violence, substance abuse and PTSD. I have a specific passion to help people heal from traumatic life experiences.
I believe in a person-centered and strengths-based approach to therapy. I strive to create a safe and compassionate environment for clients where they can feel empowered and understood. I am trained in EMDR, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing. I believe in the power of instilling hope even in life’s most difficult circumstances. I believe that true freedom and healing is possible for every person.
Kayla Medaris, LMHCA
My goal as a mental health counselor is to provide a safe environment for my clients to tell their story, process and feel emotions, and to just be. I want to walk alongside clients as they take steps toward healing, growth, and resilience.
I have experience working with adults and teens as they navigate grief and loss, trauma, life transitions, relationship challenges, anxiety, and depression. As a counselor, I believe in an integrative approach to therapy where I include client-centered, trauma-informed, and holistic treatment interventions to find the best approach for each client. This means fostering a compassionate, adaptable, explorative, and open space while considering the whole person in the process.
Clients, with the guidance of a counselor, can work on reconnecting with themselves and the world around them. Together, we can work toward exploring your experiences in a safe, comfortable manner and help guide you to healing.
Kanesha Miller, LCSW
Hi my name is Kanesha Miller, I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 20 plus years in the counseling field. I have been married for 20 years and have 2 daughters ages 15 and 18. This thing called life is difficult to handle at times, and I am here to help navigate those troubling, tumultuous times.
I have vast experience working with children and families, adolescents and adults with a variety of issues such as: depression, anxiety, family conflict, grief, anger, stress, relationships, etc. I utilize a Cognitive Behavioral treatment approach with a focus on family systems when working with children/adolescents. I feel parents/guardians are a vital part of any treatment with children/adolescents for long term success.
I have experience in all facets of the social work field including working in a hospital crisis unit and emergency departments assessing those dealing with everything from psychosis and drug abuse to depression and anxiety for immediate care. I would love to help you in your healing journey.
Shaylee Vice, MSW, LCSW
Shaylee is a Licensed Clinical Master Social Worker with over 7 years of experience in the Mental Health Field working with children, adolescents, and adults with a variety of different nneeds. Shaylee graduated in Highest Distinction with her Bachelor and Masters Degrees in Social Work from Indiana University and has since provided services in the Community Mental Health, hospital, emergency room, and inpatient and outpatient psychiatric settings within the community.
Shaylee holds a humanistic perspective to care and is an expert in a variety of evidenced-based treatment modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR). As a gay woman, Shaylee specializes in trauma/PTSD and LGBTQIA+, as well as first responders. Shaylee prioritizes a collaborative approach when working with individuals and couples, as she strives to support a healing therapeutic environment that meets people where they are and works to accomplish their own unique mental health goals.
Kristen Fuquay, MSW, LCSW
My name is Kristen Fuquay, and I have been practicing as a licensed clinical therapist for twenty-five years. My passion is working alongside individuals and families to navigate through life stages and challenges. I am passionate about creating a safe space in the therapy setting and meeting you where you are on your journey to achieve your goals.
I have had experience working in a variety of settings which includes outpatient community mental health, inpatient hospital, school social worker, school-based therapist, and most recently a private practice therapist. I work with primarily ages 10 and above into adulthood. Areas of mental health focus include anxiety, depression, ADHD, grief/loss, trauma, and adjustment stressors related to life transitions. I realize that people come into therapy with different therapeutic experiences and some with no history of seeking out therapy. Either way I acknowledge you are taking a very important step into your healing journey. I strive to tailor therapy sessions to each individual needs and goals. The therapeutic approaches that I utilize include EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy), Mindfulness/Meditation, and art therapy interventions.
Hamilton, Therapy Dog
Hamilton is a gentle and devoted Golden Retriever, proudly serving as a certified therapy dog. With a heart full of love and a natural ability to comfort, Hamilton is committed to making the world a better place, one tail wag at a time.
Through his hard work with Balanced Behavior K9, Hamilton has earned the prestigious titles of Canine Good Citizen, Canine Good Citizen Advanced, and Canine Good Citizen Urban from the American Kennel Club (AKC). These titles reflect his exceptional training, manners, and ability to interact positively with people in a variety of environments. Hamilton is also currently training in Deep Pressure Therapy to further expand his therapeutic skills and provide even more comfort to those in need.
When Hamilton isn’t working hard to bring joy to others, he enjoys spending his downtime playing ball, taking peaceful walks, and snuggling up with his family. He shares his home with his Bernese Mountain Dog siblings, Rita and Roman, and they enjoy endless hours of play and companionship. Hamilton’s loving and playful nature make him a cherished companion, both in his work and in his leisure time.
Hamilton is more than just a therapy dog—he’s a friend, a comfort, and a true heart-warmer.