Board of Directors 2024-2025

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  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. 

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. 

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. 

 Kristin Curran, MAEd, LPC, MIACP

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. Kristin is also an accredited member of the Irish Association of Counseling and Psychotherapy. 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 in the counseling profession through membership and involvement with CSI, OCA, and SAIGEO. Additionally, she has facilitated psychoeducation groups for parents of LGBTQ+ folks at the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland.  

Jim Thomas, LPC

He/Him/His

Jim graduated from Walden University with his Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.  He 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, and Treasurer of Ohio chapter of SAIGE.

In addition, Jim was a White House photography intern in the Vice President’s photography office in 1999. Jim as presented on Photography and Counseling: Current Interventions at the All-Ohio Counseling Conference and the American Counseling Associations Association for Creativity in Counseling Conference.  He is 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.

Jim’s experience includes working with clients struggling with anxiety, depression, and trauma related disorders. James works with pre-teens to adults.  

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.  

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.  

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. 

Chase Morgan-Swaney, PhD, LPCC-S, NCC, CCMHC, ACS

He/Him/His

 Dr. Chase Morgan-Swaney (he/him), LPCC-S (OH), NCC, CCMHC, ACS, is a Professional Counselor in private practice at Arbor Sana Counseling & Wellness. He specializes in working alongside LGBTQ+ and neurodiverse clients to address anxiety, relational trauma, and other mental health concerns stemming from societal forms of oppression and injustice. Dr. Chase is an Associate Lecturer in the School of Counseling at The University of Akron. He earned his MAEd in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and his PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision at The University of Akron. Through a feminist and relational-cultural lens, his scholarly work centers around LGBTQ+ issues in counseling, counselor education, and training. He has given over 50 conference presentations and invited lectures at the national, state, and institutional levels. Dr. Chase currently serves as the North Central Ohio Regional Representative for SAIGEO. He is also a former president of SAIGEO (2021-22). Additionally, he currently serves as President of the North Central Ohio Counseling Association (NCOCA), President-elect of the Ohio Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (OACES), Chair of the Ohio Counseling Association (OCA) Media, Public Relations, and Membership Committee, member of the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES) Counseling Advisory Committee, and member of the SAIGE Conference Planning Committee. Dr. Chase has been recognized as the 2023 OCA Susan J. Sears Counselor of the Year and as a 2021 ACES Emerging Leader. 

Deanna Revels, MEd, LPCC-S

She/They

 Deanna is a LPCC-S at The Phoenix Counseling Center. She has had years of working with LGBTQ+ clients and is gender fluid, pansexual, and poly herself. She works for clients 10+ years and is EMDR trained, along with being specifically trauma trained in various other theories. Deanna primarily works with trauma disorders, personality disorders, and various anxiety/depression related disorders, such as GAD, MDD, and OCD. This will be Deanna's second year for being the Eastern Representative for SAIGE Ohio. 

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!

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.