We help people find balance in their lives everyday...

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-S 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 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.


Alexis Patti, LPC, NCC completed her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from University of Montevallo, Alabama and undergraduate in Gerontology from Bowling Green State University. Alexis has experience working with older adults in memory care prior to becoming a therapist. Since then, she has found her passion for adolescents during her internship, working in a residential facility for homeless youth and teens seeking a second chance after juvenile detention. Overall, Alexis has experience in working with individuals of all ages by utilizing person centered therapy, motivational interview, cognitive behavioral therapy, and interventions beyond theories, such as art, to cater to each client’s individuality.

Morgan Hamilton, MFT, received a B.A. in Psychology from Roanoke College and an M.S. in Human Development and Family Science from Ohio State University. Morgan works with many different client and family constellations including individuals, couples, and families facing a variety of concerns ranging between depression, anxiety, premarital therapy, transitions in couple hood, divorce, family expansion, behavioral concerns and more. She works most often utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Family Therapy or Structural Family Therapy frameworks. Morgan considers herself to be flexible, open, and empathetic to every client in the room with the ultimate goal of working collaboratively to fulfill each client's desire for happier, healthier relationships.


Jacob Oedy , CT has a B.A. in Psychology from Cedarville University and will be completing his Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University this fall. As a cognitive behavioral and narrative therapist, Jacob is passionate about helping adolescents, adults, and couples understand their stories, identify patterns of pain, and work towards meaningful change. Jacob has experience working with a variety of issues including depression, anxiety, OCD, grief, occupational stress, stage of life issues, and relational stress. He considers empathy, compassion, and connection to be foundational building blocks of change, and looks to provide these qualities to every client he interacts with. Jacob counts it an honor to be able to come alongside others as they navigate life, loss, and change.


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