Jennifer Hernandez grew up in Henry County, Ohio and graduated from Napoleon High School. She went on to attend and graduate from Bluffton College with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Worker. Jennifer is a Licensed Social Worker through the State of Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board. She has been licensed since 2002.
Throughout Jennifer’s career, she has worked with populations based in rural communities, allowing her to understand the dynamic needs of individuals living in Northwest Ohio. Jennifer has worked with clients in a variety of settings, including individual’s homes through home-based work, office-based care, hospital settings, and telehealth-based services. She is adaptable and works to meet the client where they are to gain a better understanding of their needs. She has worked with individuals, families, groups, and couples, while serving children, adolescents, and adults. Jennifer enjoys working with a variety of populations and embraces what each population offers in the therapeutic environment. She has worked with families in the Help Me Grow Home Visiting Program where her primary focus has been on assisting parents to gain a better understanding of their child’s needs and helping them develop effective parenting skills and strategies. Jennifer has helped families to overcome obstacles and strengthen their connection with their children and family system. Most recently, Jennifer has been the Director of Social Programming that serves Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Paulding and Williams Counties through the local Health Department.
Jennifer believes that individuals present with a desire to improve their life circumstances and overcome life stressors, mental health challenges, and addiction struggles. Her responsibility is to join the individual in identifying their strengths and goals for care, building on those strengths and assisting the individual in building skills, and empowering the individual to create a plan to sustain change. Jennifer appreciates the opportunity to serve the community and strengthen individuals and families.
Breanna McKenzie was born and raised in Defiance,Ohio. She attended Defiance College graduating with her Bachelor's degree in Social Work. She went on to receive her Master’s degree in Social Work from Case Western University. Breanna is a licensed social worker through the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, Marriage and Family Therapy Board under the supervision of Teresa Eicher, LISW-S and has worked with youth and families in mental and behavioral health settings since 2015.
Breanna works with children, teenagers, adults, and families. She enjoys working with children/teenagers and, as appropriate, utilizes educational and play therapy interventions to help the child/teen learn their emotions, learn and utilize communication skills, and understand and improve their behavior. Additionally, she works with the parent(s)/guardian to gain a greater understanding of their child's struggle and help them improve their connection and effectively work together. Brianna guides the parent through child developmental milestones, brain development, budding personality features, and tools to improve family functioning. She enjoys bringing the family system together and improving the communication and increasing positive connection and interactions. Breanna has spent several years working in foster care settings and the Help Me Grow Program where child wellness and improvement of family functioning are key goals. She desires helping children and families establish a strong foundation and connection for the rest of their lives!
Breanna embraces the opportunity to work with individuals and families; meeting them where they are at in life. She recognizes that people and families are unique and dynamic. She helps them to embrace their uniqueness and maintain those dynamics that are special to them as a system, but improve in areas that need to be strengthened. She recognizes that it is a privilege to work with and guide youth and families in our communities and treats it as such.
Elizabeth Wilde was born and raised in Defiance, Ohio. She attended Defiance College where she obtained her Bachelor in Social Work degree, and went on to Spring Arbor University where she obtained her Master in Social Work degree. Elizabeth is a Licensed Independent Social Worker in the State of Ohio. She works with individuals throughout the life span struggling with life adjustments, depression, anxiety, misuse of and addiction to substances, identity issues, self-esteem issues, and self-harming behaviors.
Elizabeth has received specialty training in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) Therapy and has developed a core focus of treating trauma, including single incident trauma and complex trauma. She understands that trauma can overwhelm an individual and those closest to them. Elizabeth believes in the importance of not only treating the individual, but also the larger family system. Many times, traumatic experiences cause negative beliefs about yourself, others, and the world around us. Elizabeth utilizes therapeutic techniques to assist the individual in developing skills to cope with these negative belief systems and daily challenges, as well as healing the core past trauma.
Elizabeth joins with the individual to build a safe, trusting relationship that becomes the foundation to the greater work that is done within the therapy setting. Additionally, she empowers others to see their value and works with them to build hope for their future.
Teresa Eicher was born and raised in Archbold, Ohio. She attended Bowling Green State University where she majored in Social Work and received her Bachelor in Social Work degree, and went on to the University of Michigan where she studied Clinical Social Work receiving her Master in Social Work degree. Teresa is licensed as a Licensed Independent Social Worker – Supervisor in the State of Ohio and has worked with individuals struggling with mental health and addiction issues for over 15 years.
Teresa works with adults, children, and families by joining them to overcome the challenges and obstacles that can be brought on by mental health and addiction issues. Her goal is to work with the individual and family in determining the best course of action while utilizing therapeutic techniques that assist in the process of change. Teresa believes it is important that through the therapeutic process goals are created, the individual and family feels empowered, a sense of hope is instilled, and change occurs.
Throughout Teresa’s career she has specialized in serving individuals throughout the life span and families that have experienced issues such as trauma - many times coming in the form of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse; struggles with depression and anxiety – including self harm and suicidal thinking that impacts day to day functioning and happiness; family or marital discord that leaves the union in jeopardy; and substance abuse and dependence. These are just a few of the areas in which she has experience in helping others and would embrace an opportunity of working with you.
