Jennifer Hernandez grew up in Henry County, Ohio, and graduated from Napoleon High School. She attended and graduated 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 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 better understand 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 in gaining 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 to build 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.
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's degree in social work. She went on to the University of Michigan, where she studied Clinical Social Work, receiving her Master's 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 to determine the best course of action while utilizing therapeutic techniques that assist in the change process. Teresa believes it is important that through the therapeutic process, goals are created, the individual and family feel 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 she would embrace an opportunity to work with you.
Michelle Gee grew up in Hillsdale County, Michigan, and graduated from
Waldron High School. She attended and graduated from Defiance College,
where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in social work. Michelle
went on to obtain her master’s degree in Applied Social Science from
Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Michelle is a
Licensed Independent Social Worker in the state of Ohio through the
Ohio Counseling, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist
Board.
Throughout Michelle’s social work career, she has worked in the
surrounding communities within the local community mental health
system. She has experience working with children, teenagers, and
adults, allowing her to develop the unique skill sets needed to work
with each population. She can adapt her skill set to the
individual she is working with and join them in their healing.
Michelle has worked within a variety of settings, including home-based
therapy, public schools, office-based settings, and inpatient therapy
at a local hospital. This has allowed Michelle to treat individuals in
a variety of settings, struggling to manage a variety of mental health
and addiction issues. Michelle is trained in and utilizes
evidence-based treatment modalities and has specialty
training in EMDR. This allows her to be more effective in meeting the
clients where they are and using the treatment modalities that will
best treat the condition. Michelle commonly works with individuals
struggling with trauma, abuse, depression, and anxiety.
Michelle recognizes that the therapeutic relationship between client and
counselor is the most important intervention to affect change. She
understands people’s need to connect and be understood in their
struggles. Her clients know her to be compassionate, genuine, and nonjudgmental. Michelle would embrace the opportunity to work with
you!
