"What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are small matters compared to what lies within us." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
You don't have to be sick to get better. In other words, you don't need to be knee deep in stress before you come see us. We can help right now!
Call us at (440) 826-2180 to set up an appointment. During the academic year, scheduled appointments are held Monday-Thursday 9am - 7pm (depending on availability of counselors) and Fridays 9am - 3pm. Counseling Services are available on a limited basis during the summer. Please contact the office for details.
Sophia Kallergis, Psy.D., Director
Dr. Sophia Kallergis is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and the Director of Counseling Services. She earned her doctorate from Wright State University and has worked in college mental health for over 20 years. Her clinical interests include helping students navigate life transitions, manage anxiety and depression, build self-confidence, and explore identity. As a first-generation college student herself, she finds working with first-generation students rewarding and understands how much there can be to figure out along the way. Sophia aims to create a space where students feel comfortable being themselves and where they feel heard and respected. She approaches her work with cultural humility and sees therapy as a collaborative process. She believes that growth often begins with greater self-awareness and self-compassion.
Timothy Hall, M.Ed., PCC-S, Associate Director
Tim Hall is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and the Associate Director of Counseling Services. He earned his master’s degree from the University of Georgia and has 15 years in the field of college mental health. He views college as a season of transformation and self-discovery. Tim partners with students to help them build lives grounded in meaning and purpose, with focuses on self-compassion, identity development, trauma recovery, and the management of depression and anxiety. Tim’s practice is rooted in cultural humility, humor, and authenticity. He believes therapy serves as a powerful anchor from which students can challenge themselves and experiment with new ways of navigating life’s complexities. Tim is also passionate about fostering a collaborative, inclusive environment that supports the holistic well-being of the entire BW community.
Mina Neal, M.Ed., Clinical Counselor, LPCC-S
Mina Neal is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor. She completed a B.A. in Sociology from Ohio State University, an M.S. in Psychology from Capella University, and an M.Ed. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Cleveland State University. She utilizes an eclectic approach in counseling which is flexible and meets the person where they're at. Her training and experience also provide therapeutic strategies, various ideas, and multicultural counseling's to all individuals. She is skilled in evidence-based models to process trauma, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). For her, counseling must be based on trust, safety, and collaboration. She values a client counselor relationship. She enjoys spending time with family and friends and her passion is traveling and learning about different cultures.
Mariah Bruening, ATR, LPCC-S, Clinical Counselor, Conservatory of Music
Mariah Bruening is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with a Master of Arts in Counseling and Art Therapy from Ursuline College. She has worked in a variety of settings over the years providing mental health services for individuals from many different cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. Mariah is a graduate of the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory with a Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance.
As a conservatory graduate, Mariah has a unique understanding of the stresses and challenges that performance-oriented students experience every day. She takes a collaborative client-led approach to help students build skills and strategies that they can use in their daily lives to increase their success in pursuing their personal goals.
Christin Li, Counselor Trainee
I am an internship student currently pursuing a Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Cleveland State University, having completed one semester of clinical work in college counseling. I am passionate about counseling college students, with a particular interest in supporting those with concerns regarding anxiety, depression, identity formation, empowerment, and self-esteem and self-acceptance. I approach my work through various theoretical lenses, including humanistic, existential, and feminist models. As a queer first-generation Chinese American, providing care that acknowledges systemic forces and takes into account multicultural factors is a priority for me. I look forward to walking together with you on your mental health journey!
Kara Smosny, Counselor Trainee
I am a counselor trainee. I received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, and I am currently pursuing a Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling both from Cleveland State University. I am drawn to working with college students because it is a time during the lifespan when individuals are faced with life transitions, and identity formation. My specific interests include trauma, anxiety, LGBTQIA+, interpersonal relational struggles and adjustment. I believe that each client should be viewed from a holistic perspective therefore I take an eclectic approach to counseling pulling from several different theoretical orientations including, feminist, humanistic, psychodynamic and CBT. I believe that therapy should be a collaborative experience in which the counselor provides the client with a safe space to show up as they are. I am honored to continue to walk alongside of clients and to witness their growth.
Ishara Jean-Francois, M.A., Psychology Trainee
I am a Counseling Psychology doctoral student at Cleveland State University. I earned my Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Central Florida. My clinical experience includes working in both community mental health and college counseling settings.
I am particularly passionate about working with college students, as this stage of life is often marked by exploration, growth, and significant transitions. My clinical interests include anxiety, depression, trauma, identity development, and interpersonal relationship challenges.
In therapy, I strive to create a space that is warm, welcoming, and collaborative. I take an integrative approach to counseling, drawing from a variety of theoretical orientations including multicultural, feminist, person-centered, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). I look forward to walking alongside you on your journey!
Sinan Payat, M.A. (he/him), Psychology Trainee
I am a clinical psychology doctoral student at Case Western Reserve University, under the supervision of licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Sophia Kallergis. I have experience supporting individuals navigating stress related to anxiety, depression, traumatic experiences, and life transitions. I take a warm, collaborative, and culturally responsive approach to therapy with the aim of creating a space where clients feel understood and empowered. In addition to my clinical work, I am involved in research focused on expanding access to effective and culturally adapted mental health care for displaced communities. Outside of my professional life, I enjoy traveling, exploring local coffee shops, and spending time with my friends.
Karen Heft, B.S., Part-time Office Manager
Karen Heft has worked with individuals from early childhood all the way through to seniors living out their golden years and enjoys meeting and interacting with people of all ages. She finds working with college students very enjoyable because they're making decisions and laying the foundations for their future through learning and exploration. Her goal is to make accessing Counseling Services as comfortable and easy as possible for students seeking assistance. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and spending time outdoors.