Lori McCready
Welcome! I’m glad you’re here. Beginning therapy is an important step, and I believe finding the right therapist is an essential part of creating meaningful change. I am a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) in Ohio and a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Washington. I earned my Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Franciscan University in 1998 and have over 28 years of experience helping individuals navigate challenges such as depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, relationship concerns, life transitions, and many other personal struggles. My practice is built on compassion, trust, and collaboration. I strive to create a supportive and nonjudgmental environment where clients feel heard, respected, and empowered to explore their experiences, recognize their strengths, and work toward lasting positive change.
First session
From our very first session, you can expect a warm, supportive, and collaborative experience where you feel welcomed, heard, and understood. We will begin by getting to know you—your unique experiences, current challenges, strengths, and the goals you hope to achieve through therapy. During the initial assessment, we will explore what brings you to therapy and begin identifying areas where you would like to create growth, healing, or positive change. I believe that building a strong therapeutic relationship based on trust, respect, and understanding is essential to effective therapy. Together, we will develop an individualized approach that aligns with your needs, values, and goals. You will always be an active part of the process, and your thoughts, feedback, and expectations will guide our work together. My goal is to provide a safe, compassionate, and nonjudgmental space where you feel supported as you gain insight, develop effective coping strategies, and take meaningful steps toward improved emotional well-being and a more fulfilling life.
Strengths
The strengths I bring to my sessions include extensive clinical experience, compassion, authenticity, and a genuine commitment to helping each client feel understood and supported. With over 28 years of experience as a mental health professional, I have had the privilege of working with individuals facing a wide range of challenges, including depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, relationship concerns, life transitions, and many other personal struggles. What makes my approach unique is my belief that therapy should be personalized and collaborative. I understand that every person’s journey is different, and I do not believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. I take the time to understand each client’s individual experiences, strengths, goals, and needs in order to develop an approach that feels meaningful and effective. I combine clinical knowledge with warmth, compassion, and practical strategies to help clients gain insight, build resilience, improve coping skills, and create lasting change. I believe therapy is a partnership, and my role is to provide guidance, support, and encouragement while empowering clients to recognize their own strengths and ability to grow. My goal is to create a safe, trusting, and nonjudgmental space where clients feel comfortable being themselves and supported as they work toward a healthier, more balanced, and fulfilling life.
Ideal clients
I have always had a passion for helping others, and I feel truly grateful to be in a profession where I have the opportunity to support people through some of life’s most challenging and meaningful moments. My therapeutic approach is grounded in compassion, respect, and creating a safe, nonjudgmental environment where clients feel comfortable being their authentic selves. I believe that every individual’s journey is unique, and I will honor and respect your personal values, beliefs, experiences, and goals as we work collaboratively throughout the therapeutic process. My hope is to provide support, encouragement, and guidance as you explore your strengths, overcome challenges, and create meaningful changes in your life. I would be honored to walk alongside you as you work toward healing, growth, and becoming the best version of yourself.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Throughout my years of practice, I have utilized Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as one of my primary therapeutic approaches due to its effectiveness in helping clients create meaningful and lasting change. During the therapeutic process, I help clients explore the connection between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors while gaining a deeper understanding of how their beliefs influence their experiences. Together, we identify patterns of thinking, including unhelpful thought distortions, that may be contributing to emotional distress or ongoing challenges. Through this process, clients learn to recognize, challenge, and modify these thought patterns, developing healthier perspectives and more effective coping strategies. The goal is to help clients reduce symptoms, increase self-awareness, and feel more empowered in creating positive changes in their lives.
Compassion-Focused
Utilizing this approach emphasizes the importance of compassion and self-compassion in how clients relate to themselves, others, and the world around them. The goal is to help clients shift from patterns of self-criticism, insecurity, and self-doubt toward greater self-understanding, acceptance, and kindness. Through developing self-compassion, clients can learn to better soothe themselves during difficult moments, recognize their own worth, become more open to receiving support from others, and cultivate a greater sense of safety, confidence, and emotional well-being. This approach helps clients develop a more balanced and compassionate relationship with themselves while building resilience, increasing self-acceptance, and creating a stronger foundation for healing and personal growth. Utilizing this approach emphasizes the importance of compassion and self-compassion in how clients relate to themselves, others, and the world around them. The goal is to help clients shift from patterns of self-criticism, insecurity, and self-doubt toward greater self-understanding, acceptance, and kindness. Through developing self-compassion, clients can learn to better soothe themselves during difficult moments, recognize their own worth, become more open to receiving support from others, and cultivate a greater sense of safety, confidence, and overall emotional well-being.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based approach that focuses on helping clients develop skills in emotional regulation, mindfulness, distress tolerance, and acceptance. This approach recognizes that difficult emotions are a natural part of life while teaching clients effective ways to understand, manage, and respond to those emotions in healthier and more balanced ways. Through DBT, clients learn to increase self-awareness, identify patterns that may contribute to emotional distress, and develop practical coping strategies to navigate challenging situations. The goal is not to eliminate difficult emotions, but to help clients build confidence in their ability to tolerate, process, and respond to them without feeling overwhelmed. By practicing mindfulness, self-acceptance, and effective problem-solving skills, clients can improve emotional stability, strengthen relationships, increase resilience, and create meaningful changes that support a more fulfilling life. My goal is to help clients develop practical tools that promote confidence, self-compassion, and a greater sense of control and well-being.
Solution-Focused Brief Treatment
This approach is utilized as a future-focused and goal-oriented method that emphasizes collaboration between the client and therapist. Together, we will identify meaningful goals while exploring and building upon the client’s existing strengths, resilience, and abilities throughout the therapeutic process. By focusing on strengths and solutions, clients are encouraged to recognize their capacity for growth, develop confidence in their ability to overcome challenges, and take active steps toward creating positive and lasting change in their lives.
Motivational Interviewing
This is a positive, client-centered approach that emphasizes the importance of open-ended questions, affirmations, and reflective listening. I believe meaningful change often occurs when clients are able to explore and express their own reasons for wanting change, identify their personal strengths, and feel empowered in the process. Through collaboration, we will work together to develop a plan that aligns with the client’s values, goals, and readiness for change. My role is to provide support, guidance, and encouragement while helping clients recognize their own motivation and ability to create lasting positive changes in their lives.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
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Licensed in
- OhioLicense E.0003280