CEO, Founder, & Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor Supervisor

Dr. Katie Gamby is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (OH) Supervisor, Certified Wellness Counselor, Professional Life Coach, and Yoga Instructor. She has her PhD in Counselor Education and her Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Katie worked in higher education for 15 years and as a professor in Counselor Education for 9 years before going into full time private practice.

As a licensed professional clinical counselor, Katie has specialized training in EMDR (a trauma informed practice) and Internal Family Systems (IFS). Katie works with many folks who have experienced anxiety and related disorders, stress, spiritual/religious abuse, religious/spiritual disillusionment/deconstruction, grief/loss, LGBTQ+ individuals, trauma, and stress/life transitions. Katie works from an attachment lens, helps people understand their lifestyle patterns, and helps support clients from a place of authenticity and encouragement.

As a professional coach, Katie often works with people in job transitions and with individuals who are looking to explore new or creative endeavors but might be a little stuck and need some encouragement.

Katie frequently consults with clinicians in areas of private practice start ups, management, billing, and insurance reimbursement in the state of Ohio.

Katie started The Wellife, LLC in 2016 in Toledo and re-opened in 2019 in North Canton.

Vice President, Clinical Director & Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor Supervisor

Michael is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC-S) in the state of Ohio, a Certified Dialectical Behavior Therapist (DBTC), and a Certified Professional Life Coach. Michael obtained his master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from Bowling Green State University (BGSU), his DBT certification from the Evergreen Certifications Institute, and his 140 hour nationally approved life coaching certificate from Lark’s Song in Marion, Indiana. He has worked and served in the mental health field for the past ten years and has experience working with at-risk youth transitioning to adulthood, severe and pervasive mental illness (SPMI) populations, dual-diagnosis populations (mental health and co-morbid substance use disorders), emotion regulation and grief, LGBTQI+ populations, and facilitating creative expressive group programming in mental health inpatient settings.

Michael practices from an informed Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) approach integrated with Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to meet the needs of individuals and couples to treat anxiety related disorders, mood related and emotion regulation disorders (depression and bipolar), grief and bereavement, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), relationship communication and satisfaction, career concerns and loss, family adjustment as well as sexual identity and spiritual concerns.

Michael maintains an active role in the professional counseling field and promotes advocacy for counselors and clients alike. He has presented at national, state, church, and local conferences on a number of topics including emotion regulation and mood disorders, affirmative therapy and pedagogy practices for LGBTQI+ populations, and wellness. He has held executive roles in professional organizations concerned with ethical integration of spiritual and religious values in counseling, providing safe and competent resources for LGBTQI+ populations, and promoting education on eliminating human trafficking across the state of Ohio.

Licensed Professional Counselor (under Mike Desposito’s Supervision)

Mel loves to create a space for processing that is open, non-judgmental, and to see people come into more fullness in themselves and their relationships. With a person-centered style, she brings her authentic self into sessions; and co-creates an approach based on each client’s individual goals, strengths, and personality. Mel specializes in supporting matters around sexual health, positive identity, life transitions, relationship issues, anxiety, stress, low moods, and college student concerns. Mel also provides affirmative therapy for LGBTQI+ clients.

Mel pulls from various therapeutic approaches: emotion-focused therapy, existential, and narrative therapy. These approaches involve mindfulness, meaning, insight, and story in order to meet an individual in their whole identity. Mel holds an M.A. in three different fields: Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Theology and Religion - Gender Studies, and Intercultural Studies.

Clients who have worked with Mel find her trustworthy, hopeful, as they unlock insight together. Clients often report feeling challenged to grow in new ways. Mel is passionate about the wellbeing of all people, and she considers it a privilege to walk with someone through fears, hurts and challenges as they experience healing and restoration.

Licensed Professional Counselor (under Katie Gamby’s Supervision)

Dania M. King is a Licensed Professional Counselor (OH), a Certified Professional Life Coach and licensed and ordained Evangelist with over 25 years of experience in human service, non-profit administration and training, motivational teaching, and ecclesiastical service. Dania earned her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Malone University, and her bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies with a concentration in Family Life Education from Kent State University.

As a counselor, Dania has worked in office, community, residential, and school-based settings and has experience working with children, adolescent, and at-risk youth, individuals that have experienced sexual assault, domestic violence, and intimate partner violence, substance use disorders/addictions, and the pastoral and ministerial population. Dania integrates approaches in therapy including cognitive behavioral therapy, brief solution focus therapy, person-centered, motivational interviewing, bibliotherapy, and biblical Christian principles to meet the needs of individuals experiencing anxiety and stress related disorders, emotional regulation disorders, adjustment disorders, and family/parent-child adjustments.

As a certified professional life coach, Dania works with individuals who are seeking wholeness and healing from narcissistic and relationship abuse, young adults transitioning from high school to adulthood, and individuals seeking fulfillment later in life.

Dania believes no matter the state of an individual, everyone deserves empathy, compassion, genuineness, and unconditional positive regard. Clients of Dania remark on her ability to establish rapport, to be non-judgmental and “real”, and appreciate her supporting them in remembering their strengths.

Dania is a recurring teacher for Peek Institute Training and Professional Development, and presents and teaches at local, state, and national events and churches on teen and adult mental health wellness, suicide prevention and awareness, integrating bibliotherapy and puppetry with preschool/pre-k clients, and biblical principles.

Licensed Professional Counselor (under Katie Gamby’s Supervision)

Melinda “Mindy” Barth is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDCIII) in the state of Ohio. She has her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Malone University and Bachelor’s in Criminology from Kent State University at Stark. Mindy began in the field of behavioral health in 2019 at a residential facility for females struggling with mental health and substance use issues. Mindy has also worked in various levels of care in the addictions setting as well as school-based counseling and intervention programs.

As a Licensed Professional Counselor, Mindy integrates approaches in therapy including cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, person-centered therapy, and feminist therapy. While Mindy may have extensive experience in the field of addiction, she currently works with individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, stress-related issues, and has interest in working with individuals that are victims of narcissistic abuse. Mindy is open to working with individuals of all ages including older teens, young adults, and college students.

Clients that have worked with Mindy may say that she integrates a sense of humor in session, as she believes it is extremely important to have fun and laugh in life; even when things get tough.

Licensed Professional Counselor (under Michael Desposito’s supervision)

Abena Holben is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the State of Ohio whose path began with a deep desire to understand the complexities of the human experience. Academically, she was nurtured by pursuits in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Malone University, and at other institutions, studied Physical Therapy Assisting, International Business Management, Gerontology Health Care Administration and is a certified Yoga instructor. With a background in body-based interventions, Abena believes in incorporating somatic techniques when appropriate to encourage mindfulness-based stress reduction, trauma processing and emotional and nervous system regulation. Additionally, Abena is an INELDA-trained Death Doula; a specialty pursued following a unique personal story that catapulted her into that mental health space.

As a counselor, Abena has experience working with multicultural populations, marginalized communities, couples, and is open to working with all ages. Her clinical experience is in treating depression, anxiety, grief, complex trauma, betrayal trauma, bipolar disorder, and other mental health conditions. As a Death Doula, she assists in making deeper meaning of the end-of-life process by providing opportunities for an empowering experience through the end-of-life process for individuals and their loved ones and provides a unique approach to managing death anxiety. In her practice, she operates from a CBT and DBT approach infused with components of IFS, mindfulness and solution and strength focused therapy to achieve results.

As a Mental Health advocate, Abena has presented at a state level, held an executive role in the East Ohio Counseling Association and has a deep interest in mentoring new graduates stepping into the mental health profession.

In her commitment to offer a pathway for those seeking to find balance, embrace change, and reclaim their lives she founded Tranquil, a counseling and wellness company that embodies her unique holistic approach to therapy. Tranquil is a manifestation of Abena’s unwavering commitment to hold space for those seeking to discover their inner strength and resilience through life’s challenging layers. Clients who have worked with Abena find her compassionate and report a therapeutic relationship built on trust, respect and acceptance.