Board of Directors 2023-2024

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  Sarah Hatch, MA, LPCC-S, NCC

She/Her/Hers

 Sarah is a licensed professional clinical counselor and has been working in private practice as the owner of Be Well Counseling, LTD since 2017, primarily serving LGBTQ+ clients. She was recently granted her supervisory endorsement and is looking forward to working with new clinicians who also want to serve LGBTQ+ clients. Sarah is a doctoral student in Counselor Education and Supervision at Ohio University and hopes to focus her research on the use of somatic therapies in the treatment of trauma in queer individuals. She currently serves as President for the Society for Sexual, Affectional, Intersex, and Gender Expansive Identities of Ohio (SAIGEO) and last year was the Vice President of Ohio University’s Alpha Chapter of Chi Sigma Iota. As an advocate for the inclusive treatment of LGBTQ+ folx in counseling, Sarah has given many presentations to other mental health clinicians who want to expand their areas of practice and clinical competency. 

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

(They/Them)

Grey is a 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, in various settings and levels of care. They primarily work with queer & trans adults. 

 Their counseling practice, supervision, and teaching are rooted in queer theory and narrative therapy.

 Kristin Curran, MAEd, LPC

She/Her/Hers

  Kristin is a licensed professional counselor in Ohio at The Phoenix Counseling Center. She works with children, adolescents, and adults in private practice settings. She received her B.A. in Psychology from Southern New Hampshire University in 2020 and M.A.Ed. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Malone University in 2022. She has been actively serving the counseling profession through membership and involvement with ACA, CSI, OCA, SAIGEO, OASGW, OASERVIC, and OCSJ. Additionally, she has facilitated psychoeducation groups for parents of LGBTQ+ folks at the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland. 

James Thomas, CT

He/Him/His

 James Thomas is a Counselor Trainee at the Family and Child Abuse Prevention Center, whose mission is to intervene and educate to reduce family violence. The Family and Child Abuse Prevention Center is an organization James has volunteered for over ten years. James recently graduated from Walden University with his Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. James is a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success, Chi Sigma Iota Walden University Chapter, Society for Sexual, Affectional, Intersex, and Gender Expansive Identities (SAIGE), Association for Creativity in Counseling (ACC), Ohio Counseling Association, Treasurer of Ohio chapter of SAIGE, in addition, a White House photography intern in the Vice President’s photography office in 1999. James has done poster presentations on Photography and Counseling: Current Interventions at the All Ohio Counseling Conference and the American Counseling Associations Association for Creativity in Counseling Conference. Lastly, James is working on writing a book about photography and its therapeutic qualities. James in 2018 traveled to Moshi, Tanzania, on a mission trip to photograph buildings and programs associated with the Diocese of Moshi to help raise awareness and funds for various programs sponsored by the Diocese of Moshi.  

Kelsey Scanlan, 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.  

Kelsey Scanlan, 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.  

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

(They/Them)

Grey is a 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, in various settings and levels of care. They primarily work with queer & trans adults. 

 Their counseling practice, supervision, and teaching are rooted in queer theory and narrative therapy.

 Mariah Payne, MA, LPC

She/They/Elle

  Mariah is a Licensed Professional Counselor at Phoenix Counseling Center. They specialize in providing comprehensive care to LGBTQIA+ folxs and people in consensual non-monogamous relationships. She currently serves as a Northeast Ohio Representative, Social Media Coordinator, and Co-Chair for the Government Relations Committee. Mariah received her bachelor's degree in psychology through Cleveland State University in 2018 and their master’s degree in counseling through Heidelberg University in 2021. Mariah firmly believes in advocating for affirming care and providing support for expansive identities.