Mindy Haaf

I am so glad you are here. If you are reading this, chances are things feel rough right now. I want you to know that you are not alone, and that whatever you are facing, you do not have to sort it out by yourself.

I have lived in Southern Ohio my whole life, and my path into this work started early. I am the oldest of three, and growing up was not easy — my mom struggled with alcohol use. When I was thirteen she went to counseling and got sober, which was a huge thing, even if being a teenager dragged along to AA meetings felt embarrassing at the time. Those meetings are where my interest in counseling actually started.

My own path was not a straight line either. I had a kid young, spent about six years piecing together enough credits to finish my bachelor’s, and made it through a marriage, a divorce, another kid, and graduate school along the way. I have needed therapy myself more than once to find my way back to who I am.

I know how hard it can be to reach out. I also know how much it matters.

In session, my job is to make the room feel steady enough that you can actually do the work. We will move at a pace that feels manageable, name what we are working on out loud so nothing feels mysterious, and build tools you can use when things get loud again. For memories that still feel active, I use EMDR and trauma-informed approaches. For everything else, we work on practical skills for regulating emotions and rebuilding resilience.

When I am not working I am usually listening to a podcast, reading, or watching TV with my teenage daughter. I love concerts and travel, and I get outside even though I genuinely hate exercising, because I know what it does for my mental health. Music has always been how I process things.

Wherever you are at, I would like to help. Let’s take that step together.