Lake Erie Counseling, Inc.

Our team of clinical social workers offer their years of diverse and rich experience, education, training, and skills to provide you with the best care possible. Each of our therapists is highly experienced, competent, welcoming, and affirming to LGBTQIA+ persons and offers care that is wholesome and affirming to who you are. MEET THE TEAM: Dale Allgeier, LCSW (he/him/his)-Practice owner and therapist. Dale brings more than 30 years of experience to families, couples, and individuals. Dale's expertise and training are within family systems theory, and he is prepared to help any and all persons navigate the diversity of their lives across a broad range of issues. He can offer trans evaluations for for further gender affirming medical care as well! (MSW-West Virginia University) Nicole DeFranco, LCSW (she/her/hers)-Therapist. Nicole is a truly dynamic and diverse therapist having worked in so many different domains of social work and mental health care. She brings nearly 30 years experience to her clients from children and youth partial hospital programs, skilled nursing facilities and hospice care, general medical social work, public schools, and complex medical/organ transplant services. She practices mostly from CBT and solutions focused perspectives. (MSW-University of Pittsburgh) Drew Himes, LCSW, CAADC (he/him/his)-Therapist. Drew brings a more than a decade's worth of experience to his clients from community mental health (partial hospital, intensive outpatient, and substance addiction treatment units), skilled nursing facilities, private practice, religious communities, and academia. He offers therapy from psychodynamic and client-centered (Rogerian) perspectives but also practices within CBT, CBT for trauma, and other modalities. He has advanced training in sex therapy and sexuality issues as well. He also has extensive training and experience in substance addiction treatment along with national certification in this area. He has also been a first responder and instructor (EMS and fire) for over 13 years and is prepared to assist other first responders and military veterans to navigate the traumas they have experienced in their service. (MSW-University of Pittsburgh; MDiv-Pittsburgh Theological Seminary) As you can see, our therapist have a broad range of training and experience ready and able to assist you in your healing journey!