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Christina Bahan is a Registered Dietitian at Lindner Center of Hope where she provides evidence-based nutrition therapy at all levels of care from inpatient to outpatient.  Christina (Christy) primarily works with inpatients, residential patients, and outpatients. Christy has over 20 years of experience as a Registered Dietitian.  Prior to working at Lindner Center of Hope, Christy gained experience in a variety of areas: community, acute care, LTACH, and wellness.  Christy has a passion for collaborating with those who desire support with nutritional status to maintain or improve health.  Christy works from a non-diet approach and a Health at Every Size philosophy that promotes inclusive, patient-centered, and individualized care.

Degrees:

• Bachelor of Science, Coordinated Dietetics, Purdue University, West Lafayette.
• Clinical Coordinated Experience completed at:
  St. Elizabeth hospital, Lafayette; IN
  Home Hospital, Lafayette, IN
  Culver Union Hospital, Crawfordsville, IN
• Associates in Applied Science, Organizational Leadership & Supervision, Purdue, Fort Wayne.

Licensure:

• Registered Dietitian, Commission on Dietetic Registration
• OH Licensure, State Medical Board of Ohio

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Kate Kersey is an Independently Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist. Kate comes to the Lindner Center with extensive experience in working with alongside individual clients, couples and families in private practice. Kate takes a systemic approach to her work, recognizing the impact of our relationships on our individual mental health and the way we impact one another relationally.

Kate’s passion for mental health began when she was a junior high student and went on her first mission trip to Mexico, where she worked alongside children and families from hard places. Kate has since carried that passion into her personal and professional life. Kate became a certified life coach in 2016, with an emphasis on empowering clients through life transitions, such as job changes, divorce, relocations, etc.  Kate formerly worked on a Trauma Care Team, where she helped facilitate and lead trainings for parents, caregivers, educators and adoptive parents to educate and support children in trauma. Kate has led group therapy courses for parents of adult children with mental illness. Kate is not afraid of embracing hard stories and truly understands the impact of mental health struggles in our individual, family and partner relationships.

Kate has vast knowledge of trauma and its impact on the individual, couple and family system, as well as strategies for parents and caregivers when caring for children impacted by trauma or battling other mental health struggles.  Kate works largely from an attachment-based lens, specifically looking at the impact of families of origin on our current individual and relational functioning. Kate has extensive experience and training in therapy models such as emotionally focused therapy, emotionally focused family therapy, the Gottman Model for couples, TBRI and Narrative Therapy. Kate views her therapy style as very collaborative and considers it a true privilege to journey alongside her clients. Kate enjoys learning from clients as well and highly values the therapeutic relationship. Kate desires for each of her clients to feel seen, heard, supported, educated, empowered and to instill hope.

Education:

B.A. Baylor University 2008- Speech Communications & Spanish

Institute of Professional and Executive Coaching (IPEC) 2016-Certified Life Coach, specializing in transitions.

Abilene Christian university 2022- Masters in Marriage & Family Therapy

MFT internship with Rivertown Wellness- 2021-2022

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Dr. Deckter is a child, adolescent and adult Psychiatrist. She is board certified in Psychiatry as well as Child and Adolescent Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Special interests include mood disorders, anxiety disorders (including especially PTSD and OCD), LGBTQ issues, ADHD, and children of International Adoption. Special training in a variety of psychotherapy modalities include play therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (including Exposure and Response Prevention) and psychodynamic psychotherapy.

Dr. Deckter previously worked for the past seven years at The Cincinnati Center for Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis as an outpatient Psychiatrist, providing medication management and psychotherapy for children, adolescents and adults.  Before that, she spent two years as a staff Psychiatrist at the Lindner Center of Hope as a child and adolescent Psychiatrist in a variety of settings, including outpatient, residential, partial hospitalization and inpatient levels of care. She also worked in the outpatient clinic with adult patients. During her time there, she was an Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine through the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.

Dr. Deckter completed her Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, where she served as Chief in her final year. Her Adult Psychiatry residency was completed at University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, where she also went to Medical School.

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Madeline Roberts is a Registered Dietitian at the Lindner Center of Hope, where she provides nutrition care to inpatients, outpatients, and residents at Sibcy House and William’s House, as well as to those participating in partial hospitalization programs.

She holds a Master’s certificate from the University of Delaware and earned her bachelor’s degree in Dietetics from the University of Cincinnati. Madeline previously conducted research at the University of Cincinnati, focusing on the effects of pharmaceuticals on nutrition. Her clinical internship was completed at Clinton Memorial Hospital, and she also spent time in Guatemala studying the socio-economic impacts on nutrition.

As a member of the Association for Size Diversity and Health (ASDAH), Madeline stays current with Health at Every Size (HAES) principles, ensuring her treatment is both inclusive and client-centered. Her commitment to these principles allows her to deliver high-quality nutrition therapy tailored to each individual’s needs.

Degrees:

2019-2020 Master’s Certificate; Nutrition, University of Delaware

2016-2018 Bachelor’s Degree; Dietetics, University of Cincinnati

2011 to 2015 Associate’s Degree; Nutrition Science, CSTCC

Internship:

2019-2020 Dietetic Internship, Clinton Memorial Hospital, Wilmington, Ohio

Licensure:

2020 Registered Dietitian, The State Medical Board of Ohio

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John M. Hawkins, M.D., has returned to the Lindner Center of HOPE (LCOH) as the Director of the Bipolar Disorders Clinic and as a staff psychiatrist.

Dr. Hawkins previously served as one of the Chief of Psychiatry and Chief Medical Officers at LCOH and is one of the initial clinicians to work at the Center.  Dr. Hawkins left LCOH in 2016 to pursue his interest in improving access to mental health care in our community.  He worked in several local hospital systems, helping to create clinical programs that improved access to psychiatric and mental health services within primary care group settings.

Dr. Hawkins received his doctor of medicine from the Medical College of Wisconsin and his bachelor of science in psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He then served his residency in the psychiatry department of the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.

His works have appeared in various professional journals, such as the Annals of Clinical Psychology, Clinical Advancements in the Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders, International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine, Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, American Journal of Psychiatry. He has also administered clinical trials for Pfizer Inc., Wyeth-Ayerst Research, Zeneca Pharmaceuticals Group and Jannsen Pharmaceuticals. His lectures and talks have covered doctor-patient relationships, pharmacology, antipsychotics, common psychiatric diagnoses, the catatonic syndrome and the neurobiology of addiction.

Through his vast teaching experience, including supervising psychiatry residents, Dr. Hawkins has received several awards, specifically The Golden Apple Teaching Award for Excellence in Medical Student Teaching and two Golden Apple Teaching Awards for Excellence in Resident Teaching. Dr. Hawkins also received the National Alliance of the Mentally Ill (NAMI) Exemplary Psychiatrist Award.  Over the course of his over 25 years of practicing psychiatry, he has been recognized for his outstanding contributions to the field, including a Health Care Heroes Award in 2013 and multiple Top Doctors Awards. Most recently, he was recognized as one of Cincinnati’s Top Doctors for 2020 by Cincinnati Magazine.

Areas of Specialty

Psychopharmacology
Research
Mood Disorders
Medication Interactions
Psychotherapy
Dealing with the Difficult Doctor-Patient Relationship
The Catatonic Syndrome
Integration of Physical and Mental Health

 

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Caleb serves as an Addictions Specialist at the Lindner Center of HOPE. They work as a group counselor in the residential services, as well as provide addictions specific interventions in the inpatient and partial hospitalization portions of the hospital.

Caleb earned a BA in Sociology from Shawnee State University and developed a keen interest in the recovery field at that time. They pursued this interest throughout their career, and later earned their master’s in social work from the University of Kentucky in 2023.

Their experience comes from an informed perspective on the nature of addictions. Caleb uses a combination of four years of frontline work in community mental health and service and evidence-based practices to tailor their therapeutic interventions. They focus on client centered care and connecting people to the tools they need to live a fulfilling life.

Prior to joining the Lindner Center of HOPE, Caleb provided peer support to youth affected by the opioid epidemic with the CollegeFIRST program launched at Shawnee State University. They then became certified as a Peer Support Coordinator and managed a small team of support workers on the university’s campus. Caleb then worked as a chemical dependency counselor’s assistant with The Counseling Center, Inc in Portsmouth, Ohio. There, they assisted individuals in their recovery and helped them regain their independence with reintegration-focused intervention. After moving to Lexington to begin their master’s degree, they partnered with Troy Johnson, LCSW to create an educational credit course focused on Queer Literacy in order to equip clinicians to better serve those in the LGBTQIA+ community. Caleb then spent two years working with aging and disabilities populations at the Bluegrass Area Development District as a Service Advisor for the Home and Community Based and Michelle P Federal Waivers. Caleb came to the Lindner Center of HOPE in July of 2024.

Presentation Topics:

• Addiction
• Queer Literacy

Caleb Moore, LSW

Degree(s):

• 2016-2021 BA in Sociology with a minor in Psychology, Shawnee State University, Portsmouth, Ohio
• 2021-2023 Master’s in Social Work, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky

 Internships and Practicums:

• 2022 Queer Literacy supervised by Troy Johnson, LCSW
• 2022-2024 Service Advisor Work supervised by Linda Cunningham, CSW at BGADD

Licensure and Certification:

• 2024 Ohio Social Work Licensure (LSW)

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Kaila Busken serves as an outpatient therapist at the Lindner Center of HOPE. Prior to earning her master’s degree in social work from the University of Cincinnati, Kaila studied visual communication and photojournalism at Ohio University.

Prior to joining Lindner Center of HOPE, Kaila worked with foster youth and young adults during her graduate training. She also worked at an agency serving young children and their families, gaining experience in working with diverse groups of individuals and their needs. After graduating from University of Cincinnati, Kaila worked as a therapist in a day treatment program serving adolescents.

Kaila is currently working on becoming certified in Developmental and Relational Trauma Therapy and has a passion for helping others in owning their stories of hardship. She also has experience in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy (RO- DBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI). As a new mother, Kaila is also passionate about maternal mental health. She is excited about helping new mothers in their new role as they learn to embrace the messiness and joy of motherhood. Kaila often integrates self-compassion, mindfulness, and body-based interventions into her work.

Areas of interest:

• Adult Therapy
• Young Adult Therapy
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Trauma
• Postpartum mood disorders
• Matrescence and the transition to new motherhood

Degree(s):

• 2011-2015  B.S.            Visual Communication, Ohio University, Athens, OH
• 2017-2019  MSW          Social Work, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH

Licensure and Certification:

• 2019 Social Work License, Ohio Social Work, Counselor, and Marriage and Family Therapy Board
• 2022 LISW

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Chae serves as an individual and group Outpatient Telehealth Therapist at the Lindner Center of HOPE. She treats late teens and adults of all ages, genders, and sexual orientations. Her therapeutic approach is person-centered, genuine, and engaging. She enjoys creating a safe, nonjudgmental, virtual therapy space to meet her clients wherever they are in their mental health journey and to support them as they work through issues and stressors that are interfering with participating in life to its fullest.

Prior to earning a master’s degree in social work from The University of Cincinnati, Chae earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from Miami University and worked as a mental health case manager. She continued to work in the mental health field in various roles as she completed her master’s program, gaining invaluable experience. She has worked in a variety of clinical settings and in all levels of care (inpatient, residential, PHP, IOP, and outpatient) in Southwest Ohio and Las Vegas, Nevada.

She has expertise in addictions and trauma. She incorporates EMDR, CBT, DBT, and ACT into her mindful, body-centric and holistic therapeutic approach. As a lifetime learner, her areas of interest are expansive and ever-growing. They include, but are not limited to, serving the LGBTQ+ community, adult ADHD, chronic and invisible medical conditions, perimenopause, relationship issues (boundaries and communication), body image, and religious trauma.

Licensure:

• 2012 Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW), Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, & MFT Board
  • 2016 Training Supervision Designation (LISW-S)
• 2016 Licensed Independent Chemical Dependency Counselor (LICDC), Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board

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Alesha is an outpatient telehealth therapist treating adolescents and adults. She specializes in the treatment of trauma, anxiety, depression, and grief/loss. In addition, Alesha has a passion for working with women who are experiencing challenges with postpartum depression and PMDD.

Alesha Ingram is LISW-S and graduated from the University of Tennessee with a MSSW degree. She has eighteen years of experience from working in hospitals, schools, telehealth, and outpatient-based settings. Prior to coming to the Lindner Center of HOPE, Alesha served for six years at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital in their school-based department and in their Psychiatric Intake Response Center. Before working at Cincinnati Children’s, Alesha worked as a behavioral health consultant for a group of primary care physicians.

 

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Amber serves as a Telehealth Outpatient Therapist at the Lindner Center of HOPE.  She earned her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Dayton in 2017. Prior to that, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Oakland University in 2014. 

Amber has 6 years of clinical experience serving the needs of children, adolescents, young adults, and families in both Ohio and Pennsylvania.  She has worked in a variety of settings that include school, outpatient, youth partial hospitalization, and juvenile detention.  She also has experience providing counseling from a Christian perspective. Amber has a heart for serving children and adolescent populations navigating symptoms of anxiety, adjustment, depression, trauma, and anger.  

Amber uses a variety of treatment approaches including CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Focused CBT, and Motivational Interviewing.  She incorporates play and art-based activities into her work with the younger populations.  Amber likes to focus on the individual needs of each client and believes that everyone should have a safe space to process through life stressors and challenges.  She is passionate about coming alongside her clients in their pain and strives to provide an environment to which her clients feel empowered while working towards the therapeutic goals that they set for themselves.

Areas of Specialty and Interest:

 Pediatric/Adolescent Psychotherapy

 Anxiety Disorders

 Christian Counseling

 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

 Motivational Interviewing

 Group Psychotherapy

 Family Counseling

 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

 Depression

 Life Transitions/Adjustment Disorders

 

Degrees:

• 2014: B.A. Psychology, Oakland University, Rochester, MI
• 2017: M.S.E Clinical Mental Health Counseling, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH
• 2022: School Counseling Licensure Only Track, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH

 Internship/Practicum:

• Counseling Practicum and Internship (2016-2017) South Community Inc, Dayton, OH.

 Licensure and Certifications:

• 2022 Licensed Professional Counselor (PA)
• 2022 Educational Specialist I Elementary & Secondary School Counselor PK-12 (PA)
• 2022 5-Year Professional Pupil Services License-OH School Counselor
• 2019 Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (OH)
• 2017 Licensed Professional Counselor (OH)