A counselor trainee (CT) is a graduate counseling student seeking licensure as a professional counselor. Counselor Trainees have the same scope of practice as a professional counselor, but require much closer supervision during the training process.
Kimberly Benson (pronouns: she/her) is a counselor trainee who works with individuals, couples, and families. Her specialty interests include: working with individuals experiencing complex trauma, children and adolescent concerns, and couples seeking to strengthen their relationships. Kimberly believes in creating a safe, supportive, and collaborative environment where clients feel empowered to heal and achieve their personal goals through evidence-based, client-centered care.
Kimberly completed her advanced education at Kent State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. She attended Tiffin University, earning a master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in human resources. She is currently a master’s student at Walsh University completing a degree in clinical mental health counseling. Her diverse educational background has provided her with a strong foundation in ethics, human behavior, advocacy, leadership, and effective communication.
Prior to joining Wellness Grove, Kimberly owned and operated a human resources consulting business for more than 20 years. As an equal employment opportunity (EEO) investigator, she managed highly complex workplace investigations involving conflict, discrimination, harassment, and organizational challenges. This experience strengthened her skills in active listening, conflict resolution, crisis management, and supporting individuals through difficult and emotionally challenging situations, ultimately inspiring her transition into the counseling profession.
Beyond her clinical work, Kimberly enjoys coaching volleyball and appreciates the opportunities it provides to mentor, encourage, and empower young athletes. Coaching has reinforced her belief in resilience, teamwork, personal growth, and the importance of building confidence in others. She is committed to lifelong learning and strives to bring authenticity, compassion, and professionalism to every client relationship.
Kimberly's approach to counseling is grounded in empathy, collaboration, and a trauma-informed perspective. She believes that meaningful change occurs when clients feel safe, heard, and supported within a trusting therapeutic relationship. Her goal is to help clients recognize their strengths, develop effective coping strategies, and build resilience while working toward lasting emotional well-being through evidence-based therapeutic interventions.
Her strengths include: empathy, integrity, resilience, active listening, leadership, problem-solving, and a genuine commitment to helping others discover hope, healing, and personal growth.
Addiction
ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
Adoption
Alcohol Use
Alzheimer's
Antisocial Personality
Asperger's Syndrome
Autism
Behavioral Issues
Bipolar Disorder
Borderline Personality (BPD)
Boys’ & Men’s Issues
Children’s Issues
Chronic Illness
Chronic Impulsivity
Chronic Relapse
Codependency
Developmental Disorders
Domestic Abuse
Domestic Violence
Drug Abuse
Dual Diagnosis
Eating Disorders
Education and Learning Disabilities
Emotional Disturbance
Gambling
Hoarding
Infertility
Infidelity
Intellectual Disability
Internet Addiction
Learning Disabilities
Life Coaching
Marital and Premarital
Medical Detox
Medication Management
Narcissistic Personality (NPD)
Obesity
Obsessive-Compulsive (OCD)
Oppositional Defiance (ODD)
Peer Relationships
Racial Identity
Relapse Prevention
Sex Therapy
Sexual Abuse
Sexual Addiction
Sleep or Insomnia
Teen Violence
Testing and Evaluation
Video Game Addiction
Weight Loss
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Adlerian Therapy
AEDP
Affirmative Therapy
Applied Behavioral Analysis
Attachment-based
Behavioral Therapy
Bibliotherapy
Brainspotting
Career Counseling
Child & Adolescent Therapy
Child-Parent Relationship Therapy
Clinical Supervision and Licensed Supervisors
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Therapy
Compassion Focused
Couples Counseling
Dance Movement Therapy
Eclectic
Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT)
Existential Therapy
Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP)
Exposure Therapy
Faith-Based Therapy
Family / Marital
Feminist Therapy
Forensic Psychology
Gestalt Therapy
Gottman Method
Grief Therapy
Group Therapy
Humanistic Therapy
Hypnotherapy
Imago
Integrative
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Interpersonal
Intervention
Jungian Therapy
Military Counseling
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
Motivational Interviewing (MI)
Multicultural Therapy
Music Therapy
Narrative Therapy
Neuro-Linguistic
Neurofeedback
Person-Centered Therapy
Play Therapy
Polyvagal Therapy
Positive Psychology
Prolonged Exposure Therapy
Psychoanalytic
Psychobiological Approach Couple Therapy
Psychodynamic Therapy
Psychological Testing and Evaluation
Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT)
Reality Therapy
Relational Cultural Therapy (RCT)
Sand Tray Therapy
Schema Therapy
Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
Somatic Therapy
Spiritual Therapy
Strength-Based Therapy
Structural Family Therapy
Talk Therapy
Transpersonal
Trauma-Informed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (Trauma-Informed CBT)
Trauma-Informed Therapy
Wellness Counseling
Yoga Therapy
Body Positivity
Deaf Allied
Open Relationships Non-Monogamy
Sex Worker Allied
Single Mother
Vegan Allied
Veterans