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MEET OUR EXPERT
TERRI KERN, MA, LPCC
Why work with me?
Therapist in Columbus Ohio
As a therapist in Columbus Ohio, I see how emotionally dysregulated people are feeling right now. It's real - and it must be dealt with if we're going to pull through this difficult time.
I teach people how to regulate their emotions and thrive - even in this hostile environment our elected officials on both sides of the aisle have created for us to live it.
I don’t just teach these skills—I lived them. I know what it’s like to feel overwhelmed, lost in emotional chaos, and stuck in unhealthy patterns.
Through years of personal struggle and professional experience, I’ve learned what truly works. My approach is direct, practical, and rooted in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)—a proven framework to help you regulate emotions, think clearly, and take back control of your life.
If you’re ready for real change, I’m here to help you make it happen.
TERRIKERN
CLINICAL COUNSELOR
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck in emotional chaos, or struggling to focus and follow through, I get it—because I’ve lived it.
I’ve had severe ADHD and struggled with emotional regulation my entire life. It affected everything—my education, career, and relationships.
In early adulthood, I battled severe depression, which evolved into debilitating anxiety by the time I was thirty. I overthought, overreacted, overate, overdrank (alcoholism runs in my family), and overperformed behind a mask of iron. As a single mother, 800 miles from my support system, I managed everything on my own—until I couldn’t.
For 15 years, I was the primary caregiver for my beloved mother, Bunny, as she endured the devastation of Alzheimer’s. After she passed, I sank into the deepest depression I had ever known. Losing both parents and my brother Rick left me feeling completely untethered. If I weren’t a counselor, I wouldn’t have had the tools to pull myself out of it.
I have a great support system in my family and they were amazing.
Then came the unraveling of our country. I fought against reality for years, joining Adam Kinzinger’s Country First group, where I learned the hard truth about what’s happening in our government—on both sides of the aisle. What I discovered broke my heart worse than getting dumped approximately one hour before my high school graduation ceremony.
Eventually, I had to step away. I turned off the news and I've started to think about this - what one thing would benefit every single American, regardless of party affiliation?
Emotional Regulation Skills
Through all of this, I found my way back to stability through Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills: Skills that allow me to stay emotional regulated - in full control - regardless of what I'm feeling.
When we're in control we act in ways that make things better; when we're at a 7, 8, 9 or 10/10, we're at high risk of acting in ways that make things worse and more times than not, a lot worse.
In my professional opinion, DBT is the instruction manual for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)—a practical, evidence-based way to get your train back on the track.
My passion is teaching people how to regulate their emotions so they can think and feel for themselves. If we could all calm down, our rational brains would engage—and isn’t that exactly what we need right now?
If you’re ready to step off the emotional rollercoaster and find real, lasting balance, let’s work together.
I offer free 15-minute consults!
15 min
Free