Our Team
Kimberly Koljat, IMFT-S (OH), LMFT (CA), RPT-S, RDT
INDEPENDENTLY LICENSED MARRIAGE & FAMILY THERAPIST SUPERVISOR IN OHIO; LICENSED MARRIAGE & FAMILY THERAPIST IN CALIFORNIA; REGISTERED PLAY THERAPIST SUPERVISOR, REGISTERED DRAMA THERAPIST, certified grief support professional
Who Kimberly works with:
Adults online in CA and OH
Children in person in Cleveland, OH
Adults in person in Cleveland, OH
Groups in person in Cleveland, OH
Areas of focus:
Children: behavioral issues, school issues, tantrums, attachment difficulties, separation anxiety, grief, divorce or separated families, big life transitions, anxiety, depression, sensory differences, neurodivergence, trauma, self-esteem, LGBTIQQA+ families and children.
Adults: identity work, grief, burnout, neurodivergent individuals, trauma, highly sensitive people and empaths, people pleasers, caregivers, perfectionists, LGBTIQQA+ community, self-esteem and self-compassion (low sense of self).
About me and how I practice:
Client Centered Therapy
Psychodynamic Therapy (attachment work)
Narrative Therapy
Play Therapy (Child-Centered Play Therapy, Filial Therapy, Directive Play Therapy)
Grief support through Megan Devine’s grief model
Sand Tray Therapy
Drama Therapy (Developmental Transformations, 5 Phase Model)
Neurobiology Informed
Trauma Informed
I’m a white, female-identified, cis-gendered therapist who uses she/her/hers pronouns. I actively seek to create an inclusive, safe environment in my practice for all clients. I remain cognizant of how race, power, and privilege impact our experiences with each other, within the world, and within our lives- and that includes in the therapy room.
I provide therapy to those seeking insight into their experience, looking to unpack and transform patterns of behavior. My work is person-centered, trauma-informed, and highly relational. The impact of trauma is relational. I help you explore the ways you relate to yourself and others, and how previous experiences inform your actions today and discover new ways of being.
I believe in the healing capacity of connectivity to ourselves and each other, and the incorporation of imagination, music and dramatic arts relevant to identity, resiliency, expression, emotional identification, and the normalization of our experience.
I completed my masters program in Counseling Psychology focused in Drama Therapy at the California Institute of Integral Studies. After graduation I discovered play therapy and its rich, vast applications and research. I spent the first decade of my career in the healing arts weaving these two complimentary modalities together to serve my clients. My practice is the application of the following theories: psychodynamic, client-centered, and narrative therapies. I support all my work with an understanding of neurobiology, as it is a key component to understanding what we need when we need it.
I started my private practice after working several years in community mental health, having been a Clinical Director, Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant, School Based Therapist, and Supervisor within the San Francisco system of care for children, youth and families serving clients in San Francisco homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters, preschools, elementary schools, and summer programs. In the more recent past, I co-lead the San Francisco Developmental Transformations training institute, and maintained an adjunct faculty position at my alma mater, the CIIS Drama Therapy program. I was a member of Megan Devine’s first training cohort in her professional grief support training program, and completed the certification in May 2023, incorporating an approach to grief work into my practice that is real, relational, and of great importance to my life’s work.
I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (CA LMFT91272), Independent Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Supervisor (OH- F.2000144-SUPV), Registered Drama Therapist (RDT 742) with the North American Drama Therapy Association, and a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor (RPT-S 2525) with the Association for Play Therapy. I am a member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT ), California Association for Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT), North American Drama Therapy Association (NADTA), Association for Play Therapy (APT) and East Bay Association for Marriage and Family Therapists. I’ve consulted with online news sites like boredpanda.com and snugme.com on understanding children’s behavior and parenting skills. I’ve led trainings for county programming in early childhood mental health and school districts on the developmental stages and play. I’ve supported staff members of domestic violence shelters and preschools on the relevance of vicarious trauma and neurobiology.
To work with Kimberly, contact her using the contact form on the bottom of this page, or call her at 216-245-7650.
Lauren Holland, LMFT
LICENSED MARRIAGE & FAMILY THERAPIST IN OHIO
Who Lauren works with:
Children in person in Cleveland, OH
Teens in OH in person via telehealth
Families in OH in person or via Telehealth
Areas of focus:
Children: behavioral issues, school issues, anxiety, separation anxiety, depression, grief, self esteem, attachment difficulties, peer relationships, family/sibling conflict, life transitions, stress, trauma
Tween/Teens: identity work, school issues, peer relationships, anxiety, depression, grief, self esteem, parent-child relationship issues, stress, trauma, life transitions
Families: parenting, family/sibling conflict, family identity
About me and how I practice:
I am a marriage and family therapist (MFT) that focuses on helping children, parents, and families explore their world through the modality of play and relational experience in therapy. The overwhelming feelings of anxiety, depression, stress, and conflict can build in ourselves and our relationships resulting in feeling stuck and like there is no way out. I believes in the power of play to explore with children (and parents!) their thoughts, feelings, and experiences in a natural and growth-focused way. I provide a safe space for children, parents, and families to learn more about themselves and others in their live, which results in endless possibilities to do things differently and find relief.
I have a Bachelor’s degree in Neuropsychology from the University of Cincinnati and a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Akron. I have experience working with children and families in-home addressing issues such as trauma, anxiety, depression, parenting/coparenting, grief, life transitions, sibling conflict and more. My focus and passion is working with children and parents to help build the family’s connection and understanding of themselves and each other through play and experiential interventions.
I am open and ready to start a conversation around what you are looking for help with!
To work with Lauren, use the contact form on the bottom of this page or call her at 216-309-0779. Her individual website can be found here
What does it mean to be an RPT-S? It means finishing the rigorous requirements to become a Registered Play Therapist, including completing three years and 3000 hours specifically focused on the practice of play therapy. It means receiving clinical supervision by play therapist supervisors to assure the therapist is applying the theoretical approaches properly in session with clients. It means completing all requirements necessary to provide supervision to new therapists interested in learning play therapy, and completing significant training in the modality to do so. It means completing ongoing continuing education to deepen skill sets specific to working with children using play as a modality, including child development, application of multiple play therapy theories, mentorship and supervision to new play therapists, and dedication to maintaining the authenticity of the theoretical approaches.
What does it mean to be an RDT? From the NADTA.org website: A Registered Drama Therapist (RDT) is a Master’s level credential requiring coursework in psychology and drama therapy, experience in theater and supervised internship and work experience. RDTs are board certified in the practice of drama therapy and follow the NADTA Code of Ethics. The RDT is granted by the North American Drama Therapy Association and indicates that one has met the educational requirements and achieved competency in the practice of drama therapy. It incorporates experience in theatre as a performer, education in theatre, and clinical theoretical practices of counseling. This credential also requires a significant number of hours of practice alongside supervision by a Registered Drama Therapist and Board Certified Trainer assure practice remains within the scope of the therapist’s role and that the therapist stays true to the theoretical approaches.
Schedule your 15 minute phone consultation today
You can reach Kimberly at 216-245-7650, Lauren at 216-309-0779 or use the form here. Please indicate which therapist you would prefer to hear from.