ABIGAIL ARNER, LPC, C-DBT

Abigail (Abby) Arner (pronouns: she/her) is an experienced licensed professional counselor who works with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. Her specialty interests include: anxiety, depression, girls’ and women’s issues, phase of life changes, LGBTQ+ issues, trauma, career development, school issues, relationship and communication issues, grief and loss, perfectionism, and family conflict. Abby utilizes evidence-based interventions in a warm, empathetic, respectful, and open-minded environment while she walks besides clients on their wellness journeys.

Abby completed her advanced education at The University of Akron, earning her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling. She took specialized graduate coursework in play therapy, sex therapy, and career counseling. Abby is passionate about furthering her education and skill sets as a counselor with research interests in feminist therapy and play therapy.

Prior to private practice, Abby worked with diverse clients in hospital, school-based, and community mental health settings.

Over the last 3 years, she has had many unique opportunities – from running parenting groups to facilitating crisis-based counseling following lock-down drills– that have contributed to her passion for helping others and her clinical approach. Abby currently holds a certification in dialectical behavioral therapy.

Abby utilizes treatment approaches that are uniquely tailored to each client. Her approach to counseling is client-centered and multiculturally aware. Abby believes that we feel safe to be vulnerable and grow when there is mutual respect, safety, warmth, and authenticity in the therapeutic relationship. She has strong experience in person-centered counseling, crisis counseling, self-compassion therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, feminist therapy, strengths-based approaches, and dialectical behavioral therapy. In addition to being a non-judgmental, compassionate listener, Abby is known for using humor, psychoeducation, creative solutions, and metaphors in sessions.

Her strengths include: kindness, love of learning, emotional intelligence, empathy, and holding space for others.