I am a queer counselor, counselor educator by training, and founder of Vontella Counseling & Consultation. I provide LGBTQ+ affirming virtual counseling for adults in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana, including individual and relationship counseling. I work especially well with queer professionals, college and graduate students, helping professionals, and other adults navigating anxiety, burnout, relationship concerns, identity development, grief, trauma, minority stress, and major life transitions.
My approach is relational, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and grounded in the belief that identity is not a problem to be treated. I understand mental health within the context of relationships, family, faith, work, community, geography, culture, and systems. Clients do not have to minimize or defend their identities, relationships, or lived experiences in order to receive respectful care. My work may include exploring coming out or disclosure decisions, belonging, family or faith conflict, workplace stress, relationship patterns, boundaries, identity integration, experiences of exclusion, and the impact of living in rural or less affirming communities.
I hold a doctorate in counselor education and supervision and have more than a decade of clinical experience. My background includes private practice, crisis intervention, risk assessment, intensive family services, university teaching, and clinical supervision. I hold the Certified Clinical Trauma Professional–Level II credential and have completed advanced training in Cognitive Processing Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Trauma Systems Therapy.
My LGBTQ+ affirming preparation also includes developing and teaching graduate-level coursework focused on LGBTQIA+ issues, providing professional education on affirming and culturally responsive care, and supporting counselors-in-training as they strengthened their ability to work ethically with gender- and sexuality-minority communities. I am a member of the American Counseling Association, the Society for Sexual, Affectional, Intersex, and Gender Expansive Identities, and the Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development.
In counseling, I offer a direct, collaborative, and compassionate space where clients can better understand what they are experiencing, identify recurring patterns, strengthen communication and boundaries, develop practical tools for anxiety and stress, and move toward a life that feels more authentic, connected, and sustainable.