Lynn Bañez

Hello, my name is Lynn Bañez. I earned my PhD in Counseling and Supervision from Kent State University in Ohio. I have 25 years of clinical experience, and I specialize in PTSD, Traumatic Grief and Loss, Chronic Pain, and Mood disorders. Over the last 10 years, I realized that on any given week, nearly 50% of my caseload were clients who are neurodivergent and who may or may not have sensory issues…or have spouses and children on the autism spectrum or with sensory Integration Disorder.

I became passionate working with clients with Autism and who experienced trauma, after working with clients who were misdiagnosed (due to their Autism and Sensory Integration Disorder), and therefore did not receive the therapy they deserved and resulted in years of additional trauma, anxiety, and depression. Similarly, I work with clients who are not on the Autism spectrum and who have Sensory Integration Disorder. Additionally, I worked extensively with and advocated for clients who identify as LGBTQQIA+ or who are discovering their identity as it relates to gender and sexual identity.

When people ask me, "Why do you do what you do?" this is my answer: I felt called to this profession. Growing up in a family with domestic violence and substance abuse, I often felt alone and in pain. If it hadn't been for music, sports, and a few caring adults, I might not have made it safely to where I am now. I left home and embarked on a winding path to adulthood and my career in mental health. I've always been a helper, a mediator, and a fighter for the oppressed. I chose this profession to help others who feel sad, alone, unwanted, or abused. I want to help them find that they are not alone on their journey and that the path will not always seem so dark. I made it, and they can too. Everyone has a life worth living, even if it doesn't feel that way in the moment.I believe in working in partnership with my clients. From our first contact to set up an appointment, I listen respectfully and without judgment. I value each person's dignity and want to get to know them as the wonderful people they are, not as the labels society often places upon them. I want clients to get to know me and ask me questions. Mutual trust is vital for therapy to be most helpful. We have to earn each other's trust. As a client, it is your right to find the best therapist for you and your needs. As a therapist, it's my privilege to be chosen to work with you. Whether I'm the best fit for you or not, you are the most important person in the helping/healing relationship.I work from a Trauma-Informed perspective, infusing the most up-to-date information on the neuroscience of trauma and the connection between mental health and physical health. When asked about my approach to therapy, I often say, "I believe in working with the whole person and tailor my approach to the client I am working with. I tend to draw from Trauma-Informed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Internal Family Systems, and tend to be less directive in sessions, allowing the session to unfold based on where the client is at in the moment. I can be more directive depending on the client. Over the course of my career, I have never stopped learning and have gathered quite the toolbox of skills and helpful resources that I readily make available for clients."