Clinical Staff

Clinical Staff

JESSE CARLOCK, PHD is a psychologist, writer, trainer, and educator. Jesse has extensively trained in Gestalt, Clinical Hypnosis, and the Satir Systems Theory.

Jesse received her PhD from Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida in 1975. She was licensed as a psychologist in 1978 after serving three years as Assistant Professor of Counseling Education at Wright State University. Since that time, Jesse has been in private practice in Dayton and Vandalia, Ohio. She is also an associate with a firm in Atlanta, Crisis Management International.

Trained by leading experts in the field of therapy such as Carl Whitaker, Erving and Miriam Polster, Virginia Satir, Sonia Nevis, Betty Carter, and Stephen Gilligan to name a few, Jesse has also completed several extensive post-graduate training programs in Gestalt, Satir Family Systems theory, and clinical hypnosis. Jesse is always advancing her skills. She loves to learn.

Jesse currently holds memberships in several professional organizations: the Cleveland Institute of Gestalt Training, the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis, American Psychological Association, and Avanta: The Satir Network. She also serves on the Board of Directors of Avanta.

Writing is another love of Jesse’s. In addition to journal articles and book chapters covering topics related to group dynamics, intergenerational family therapy, self-esteem, gay/lesbian issues, and alcoholism, Jesse has also written several books: Enhancing Self-esteem, Bridges to Intimacy, and Enhancing Self-esteem Workbook.

In addition to a general practice, Jesse’s current specialties include group therapy, couples therapy, traumatic stress disorders, substance use disorders, gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender issues, chronic and life threatening illnesses, mood and anxiety disorders, and life coaching.

In her free time Jesse enjoys cross-country skiing, scuba diving, hiking, travel, films, cultural events, the Beach water park in summer and reading in front of a fire with her family, including two very cute and huggable cock-a-poos, Harley and Roxie.

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DONALD J. KRAMER, PHD is a clinical psychologist who received his doctoral degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1978. Don is also a graduate of a 3-year training program through the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland. Don has maintained a private practice in both Dayton and Fort Wayne, Indiana. He works primarily with adults and has a special interest in spirituality and psychotherapy. He has facilitated workshops in this area for both professionals and nonprofessionals. Don also has a special interest in Jungian psychology and integrated meditative practices with psychotherapy.

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SUSAN KAHLE, PHD is a clinical psychologist, nurse and educator. She worked in various areas of nursing for eighteen years, in which five of those have been in both inpatient and outpatient psychiatric settings. Susan received her doctoral degree in psychology from Nova Southeastern University, Florida in 1997. She was licensed as a psychologist after six years of training in areas such as cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy, pain management and brief therapy. She also has extensive experience in the medical field and has conducted research on the effects of nursing specialties on burnout and stress.

In addition to providing psychotherapy, Susan enjoys facilitating seminars on topics such as women’s issues, healthcare worker burnout and mental health in the elderly. She also has been a consultant for mental health programs and assisting with program development in both inpatient and outpatient areas.

Susan is interested in general practice. Her specialties include mood and anxiety disorders, work-related stress/burnout, coping with chronic physical illnesses, women’s issues, grief, pain-management, geropsychology, and group therapy. Her theoretical orientation is cognitive-behavioral.

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ANITA ZAKEM M.S.W., L.I.S.W. received her Masters degree from the University of Louisville, Kent School of Social Work in 1980. She was licensed in Ohio in 1987 as a Licensed Independent Social Worker.

Areas of competence are social psychotherapy, psychosocial assessment and diagnosis, psychosocial intervention, consultation and education, program assessment, planning and development, program implementation and evaluation and professional supervision and assignment of cases.

Areas of specialization and particular interest include: chronic mental illness, chemical dependency and co-dependency, lesbian and gay issues and women’s issues (i.e.: domestic violence, rape, incest, relationships, expression of feelings).

Anita has worked in a variety of settings including public and private settings. She has worked as a manager for nine years providing clinical supervision and program administration. Most of her professional experience has been as a mental health therapist. Half of her experience has focused on serving families and youth, half on serving adults.

Theoretical orientation includes cognitive behavioral therapy, brief solution-focused therapy and family systems. Anita also teaches deep relaxation and stress management techniques. She also incorporates art and music as part of the therapeutic process.

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CAROL PRATT, M.S.W., L.I.S.W., earned her MSW in clinical social work from The University of Cincinnati. She is a Licensed Independent Social Worker and has worked in the mental health field for the last twenty years. Carol has worked  in private practice, hospitals, head trauma units and most recently the Darke County Mental Health Clinic. For the last eight years Carol was the therapist for the Darke County School system’s Severe Behavioral Handicapped/Severely Emotional Disturbed program and also an outpatient therapist in the Darke County Mental Health Clinic.

Through the years Carol has also worked with couples in marriage counseling and groups of teens on the subject of date rape, self-esteem issues, relationships and communication skills. Carol’s specialty for the last eight years has been working with troubled youth and children with ADHD and their families. Her goal of working with troubled youth is to help them make better choices and feel better about themselves. Her work with families has been to facilitate better understanding of developmental stages, parenting skills, cooperation, respect and communication.

For the last twenty years Carol has continued her education by attending workshops on teen violence, ADHD, domestic violence, physical, emotional and sexual abuse and play therapy.

Carol has also attended workshops in Psychodrama, Gestalt therapy and Hypnosis.

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Scott Rathje, M.S.W., L.I.S.W., joins us with over 20 years of direct practice experience providing individual, family, couples, marital, and group therapies with diverse populations. He has provided these counseling services in a variety of professional settings, ranging from Corrections, Juvenile Court, substance abuse treatment, in-patient psychiatric hospitals, community hospitals and health-care, and outpatient community health centers.

Scott has held his independent licensure in Social Work (LISW) since 1999. He obtained his Masters degree in Social Work in 1995 from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. Previous to that, Scott obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology at East Stroudsburg State College in Ease Stroudsburg, PA.

In addition to his formal education, Scott has 18 years of experience and training gained from attending workshops and training sessions in a wide range of areas, such as: “Dealing with Grief”, “Children of Alcoholic Families”, “Risk Assessment for Violence”, “Working with the Sex Offender”, “Assessing the Chemically Abusing Client”, as well as many other areas.



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