Alysha Kirschner, MSW, LISW
Offering in-person sessions at Columbus (Polaris) and online sessions at Columbus (Polaris), Middleburg Heights, and throughout Ohio State.
Ages Served: 6+
"The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn."
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
This quote guides my work with clients. Small steps create profound change. One conversation, one realization, one moment of courage—these are the acorns that grow into transformation.
I'm a licensed independent social worker who believes in the power of meeting people exactly where they are. My approach isn't simply about fixing what's broken. It's about discovering what's already strong and building from there. Every person I work with has an innate capacity for growth, even when life feels overwhelming or stuck.
Who I Work With
I work with clients starting at age 6 and continuing through adulthood. Whether you're a child learning to name big feelings, a teenager navigating school pressures and identity questions, or an adult wrestling with anxiety that colors every decision—I'm here to walk alongside you. My training includes specialized certification in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which allows me to support people healing from difficult experiences with evidence-based techniques that work. I'm also trained in Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths assessment.
The symptoms and challenges I work with most often include:
anxiety
depression
ADHD
trauma
academic & work stress
But here's what matters more than any diagnosis: you're struggling with something real, and that struggle deserves attention and care.
My Approach
I use a collaborative, client-centered approach informed by Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills, Motivational Interviewing, and trauma-informed care. I integrate education around nervous system regulation and the mind-body connection, especially when working with health-related stress and chronic conditions.
My sessions often incorporate grounding techniques, DBT-based emotion regulation tools, psychoeducation, and mindful body awareness to help you build self-regulation skills and reconnect with your body in safe, empowering ways. I recognize that factors like sleep, movement, nutrition, and sensory input all play crucial roles in emotional well-being, and we’ll explore these connections together.
Professional Background
My background brings together diverse experiences that shape how I understand the human experience. I served in the military before pursuing my Master's in Social Work. That time taught me about resilience, adaptability, and the strength people find when faced with challenges they never expected. Originally from Northern California, I've lived and worked across different communities, which gives me perspective on how culture, environment, and personal history intersect in meaningful ways.
Personal Touch
Outside the therapy room, you'll find me with my husband and our two English Mastiffs, who are enormous and think they're lap dogs. We travel when we can, enjoy a good cup (or two) of coffee, and binge-watch TV shows that make us laugh or think or both. These rhythms of ordinary life remind me that healing doesn't happen in some separate therapeutic realm—it happens in the daily choices we make, the relationships we tend, and the small moments we choose to show up for ourselves.
I'd be honored to guide you through your healing journey. Together, we'll plant acorns that grow into the forest you're meant to become.
Supervised by David Bowers, PhD, IMFT lic# F.2000127
Accepted Insurance
Aetna
Anthem
BCBS
Medical Mutual
Optum
OSU—Faculty and Staff
OSU—Student Health Insurance
United Healthcare
AmBetter
Molina
OhioHealthy
Oscar
AmeriHealth Caritas
CareSource
UHC Community Plan
HUMANA
Cigna/Evernorth
