Executive board 2025-2026

---

Mariah Payne, MA, LPCC

She/They

 Mariah Payne is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and a graduate of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Heidelberg University. Mariah currently works in private practice and provides therapeutic services for individuals, couples, and families, with a specialization in affirming care for LGBTQ+ individuals and ethical/consensual non-monogamous relationships. They have completed comprehensive training on writing letters of referral for gender-affirming medical care. They are passionate about advocacy efforts for minority communities and intersectionality. Mariah has previously served as a North Central Ohio Representative for the Society for Sexual, Affectional, Intersex, and Gender Expansive Identities (SAIGEO) and the Government Relations Committee Liaison from 2023-2024. 

 Grey Nelei, PhD, LPCC-S (OH/KY), LPC (CO), LICDC (OH)

They/Them/Theirs

  Grey presently serves as the Assistant Dean of Curriculum for the Counseling Division of Antioch University.  They obtained a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision at Adams State University in 2023 and a MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Northern Kentucky University in 2015. They have been practicing as a counselor since 2015 and primarily work with queer & trans adults. Their counseling practice, supervision, and teaching are rooted in queer theory and narrative therapy. 

Jennifer Bullock M.S. LPCC-S, LMHC

She/Her/Hers

Jennifer is a licensed professional clinical counselor with training supervision designation and owner of Through the Phases Counseling in Cincinnati. She obtained her MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Northern Kentucky University in 2020 and her BS in Psychology from Cincinnati Christian University in 2018. She primarily works with LGBTQIA+ adolescents, teens, and young adults who are struggling with an eating disorder/disordered eating behaviors, emotional dysregulation, identity work, & religious deconstruction. She believes that we are life-long learners; therefore, she is continuously trying to grow her understanding and ensure that she is providing trauma-informed, social justice-informed, decolonized, affordable, and affirming care. In addition to her work with clients, Jennifer is passionate about supervising and building community with other LGBTQ+ clinicians. She is excited to expand her work with SAIGEO and continue connecting with other queer clinicians and our allies!

Kimberlee Barrella, MEd, LPCC-S

She/Her/Hers

Kim is a Licensed Professional Clinical

Counselor with Supervisory designation and serves as Director of Clinical Services at

Navigate Counseling and Consultation Services, a practice specializing in affirming care

for LGBTQIA+ individuals, relationships, and families.

Kim is a doctoral candidate in Counselor Education and Supervision at Kent State

University, where she has also taught undergraduate and graduate courses in

counseling, ethics, and motivational interviewing. She provides clinical supervision,

supervision-of-supervision, and continuing education trainings in supervision, ethics,

and identity-affirming care.

Her clinical focus includes emerging adults, women, and LGBTQIA+ clients, with

emphasis on identity development and life transitions. She is trained in EMDR and a

member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT).

Kim’s leadership spans national, state, and local levels, with involvement in the

Association of Humanistic Counseling, Ohio Association for Counselor Education and

Supervision, and the Cuyahoga Falls Chamber of Commerce.

Nic Smith, LPC, LICDC

He/Him/His

 Nic Smith is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Independent Chemical Dependency Counselor, working for an LGBTQIA+ affirming practice in Columbus. He is a graduate of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Heidelberg University. Nic works primarily with children, adolescents, trauma and LGBTQIA+ clients from all different backgrounds. He has completed additional training in EMDR and Trauma-Focused CBT to assist clients with their various trauma needs. Nic has served in a variety of roles and boards over the years including Central Ohio Counseling Association, OCA Ambassador, Association of Child and Adolescent Counseling, and Ohio Association for Resiliency and Trauma. He is passionate about being able to advocate for clients and work to advance mental health services for all individuals. 

Kelsey Ward, PhD, LPCC-S, NCC, CCMHC

They/Them/Theirs 

Kelsey is a licensed professional clinical counselor with supervisory designation at Clintonville Counseling and Wellness in Columbus. They primarily work with teens and adults surrounding issues of gender and sexuality but have experience in helping clients from many backgrounds and presenting problems. Kelsey is a clinical faculty member at Adams State University in the Department of Counselor Education. They obtained their PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from Adams State University in 2023, their MS from Wright State University in 2016, and their BA from The Ohio State University in 2012. They practice, teach, and supervise primarily from person-centered and feminist theories.

Along with working with LGBTQ+ teens and young adults, Kelsey's passion lies in providing education. They have presented at national, state, and regional conferences on LGBTQ+ issues and counseling techniques, have held independent CE events on LGBTQ+ issues and have provided education to middle- and high-school educators on LGBTQ+ youth.  

Jennifer Bullock M.S. LPCC-S, LMHC

She/Her/Hers

Jennifer is a licensed professional clinical counselor with training supervision designation and owner of Through the Phases Counseling in Cincinnati. She obtained her MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Northern Kentucky University in 2020 and her BS in Psychology from Cincinnati Christian University in 2018. She primarily works with LGBTQIA+ adolescents, teens, and young adults who are struggling with an eating disorder/disordered eating behaviors, emotional dysregulation, identity work, & religious deconstruction. She believes that we are life-long learners; therefore, she is continuously trying to grow her understanding and ensure that she is providing trauma-informed, social justice-informed, decolonized, affordable, and affirming care. In addition to her work with clients, Jennifer is passionate about supervising and building community with other LGBTQ+ clinicians. She is excited to expand her work with SAIGEO and continue connecting with other queer clinicians and our allies!

Grey Nelei, PhD, LPCC-S (OH/KY), LPC (CO), LICDC (OH)

They/Them/Theirs

 Grey is a Program Director and Teaching Faculty in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Antioch University New England. They obtained a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision at Adams State University in 2023 and a MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Northern Kentucky University in 2015. They have been practicing as a counselor since 2015 and primarily work with queer & trans adults. Their counseling practice, supervision, and teaching are rooted in queer theory and narrative therapy. 

Brandon Pettry, M.Ed., LPC

He/Him/His

  Brandon earned his master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Cleveland State University in 2021 and is currently enrolled in the Counselor Education and Supervision (CES) doctoral program at Kent State University. He is a licensed professional counselor in Ohio and works with clients at New Care Behavioral Health in Wellington. He is passionate about advocating for and supporting the LGBTQ+ community through his counseling, leadership, teaching, and research. He previously served as the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 SAIGEO Doctoral Level Emerging Leader for SAIGEO. He is excited to continue remaining involved with SAIGEO as the North Central Co-Representative and looks forward to what experiences may arise throughout the next year.
 

 Emma Wolfe, MA, LPC

She/Her

Emma is a licensed professional counselor and a graduate of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Master's Program at John Carroll University in 2022. Emma currently works with adolescents with eating disorders at a day treatment program in Cleveland, providing individual and group therapy. Emma is passionate about providing inclusive, affirming care to her clients and improving access and standards of care for LGBTQ+ adolescents. She is excited to expand her work with SAIGEO! 

Jess Meadows, MA, LPC (IL), PEL (IL)

She/Her/Hers

Jess is a licensed professional counselor and school counselor, working with a broad

spectrum of clients. Jess primarily works young adults struggling with anxiety,

depression, and life transitions. Jess also specializes in working with couples. She is

passionate about advocating for and supporting the LGBTQ+ community through

counseling and leadership and focuses on providing affirming care for LGBTQ+

members. Jess is currently a doctoral student in Counselor Education and Supervision

at Kent State University. She hopes to focus her research on the connection between

movement, diet, and mental health, as well as the connection between receiving

affirming care and mental health. Jess has previously researched and presented on

peer support and peer mentorship for freshman college students, particularly first

generation students, and international transfer students. She is excited to work with

SAIGEO!

Emmett Drugan, LPCC, CDCA

He/Him/His

 Emmett, is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor

and Chemical Dependency Counselor Assistant working in private practice in NE Ohio.

He is a graduate of Kent State University’s Clinical Mental Health Master’s Degree

Program and also earned an Addictions Certificate. Emmett has engaged in extensive

training and research regarding gender-affirming care, WPATH letter writing, LGBTQIA+

affirming counseling, trauma, and addictions; he operates from Feminist, Multi-Cultural,

and Social Justice lenses and utilizes various interventions that meet the needs of each

individual client including: EMDR, CBT, CPT, and ACT, among others. Emmett’s

passions lie in educating and advocacy and has served as Co-Chair of the Government

Relations Committee (GRC) and Chair of the Education Committee. He is currently

serving as the Education Committee Chair and the Eastern Ohio/EOCA Chair and as a

member of the GRC Committee. He has given many presentations at state and local

events and conferences (including AOCC, TransOhio Symposium, and Kent State

University) regarding LGBTQ+ affirming issues, counseling, and advocacy to further

educate others to create a better world for all. Emmett has also been outspoken and

engaged against legislative injustices to help improve the lives of marginalized people.

Adrianne Johnson, PhD, LPCC-S

She/Her/Hers

 Adrianne L. Johnson, Ph.D., is a licensed mental health counselor and supervisor, and an Associate Professor at Wright State University. She earned her doctorate in Counselor Education from the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville in 2007, and has published and internationally presented on various topics related to best practices and approaches in clinical mental health counseling, higher education, leadership, and DEI. She has held several organizational leadership positions, and her passions include mental health training and supervision, mental health advocacy, and social justice in the field of counseling. 

She/Her/Hers

 Emma is a licensed professional counselor and a graduate of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Master's Program at John Carroll University in 2022. Emma currently works with adolescents with eating disorders at a day treatment program in Cleveland, providing individual and group therapy. Emma is passionate about providing inclusive, affirming care to her clients and improving access and standards of care for LGBTQ+ adolescents. She is excited to expand her work with SAIGEO!