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, LISW, CPSAS 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 in Chicago.  Dave has counseled people with varying issues including depression, anxiety, personality and communication problems, attachment and boundary issues as well as sexual abuse and addiction for over 40 years.  Dave is a certified pastoral Sexual Addictions Specialist and a Certified Clinical Partner Specialist.  He counts it an honor to help people grow and heal emotionally, relationally, and spiritually.

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. 

Jessica Zoeller, LPC completed her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Walden University. She was an educator for seven years, and she previously worked as a caseworker in Cincinnati, Ohio. Jessica works with children and adolescent clients, but she also believes in integrating parents into the counseling process so that there is a continuity of treatment. Additionally, she works with parents who are dealing with crises of their own, including: marital issues, family discord, postpartum depression, etc. Jessica uses a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy approach to treatment and intervention, with an emphasis on trauma intercession.  

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 30 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.

Patrick Chavis, MSW, LSW brings to Deerfield Twp. Family Counseling Center a passion for working with individuals who have experienced trauma throughout their lives. He utilizes a mind, body, and spirit approach to therapy by utilizing Mindfulness-Based interventions. Patrick has received training in DBT, EMDR, Motivational Interviewing, and Narrative Therapy. Through a combination of these therapeutic approaches, as well as various different approaches he has researched, he works towards meeting the patient where they at in the present, in order to guide them through the therapy process on their terms. Patrick has previously worked in the private practice setting, and currently works full time as a Behavioral Health Consultant in a health clinic. He recently graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 2021, with a Masters in Social Work.

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.