Staff Bios

Gary M. Echt, LPCC, LICDC, SAP, NCGC II, has been working in the field of mental health for almost 20 years. In the past he has worked for several community-based mental health agencies in Geauga County as well as Cuyahoga County.  He is currently in a very successful private practice in Wickliffe where he attends to the needs of individuals, couples , family, and adolescents providing General Mental Health , Substance Abuse services and for the State of Ohio Parole Authority, providing treatment for sexual and violent offenders coming out of the prison system.  Aside from his private practice he has worked with defense attorneys and provided expert testimony in legal court cases in Federal, State, and local Municipal courts.

Jennifer M. Giesel, B.S., M. S., Psychology Fellow (Clinical Psychology), CM
Jennifer graduated in 2003 from Notre Dame College with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, and in 2005 with a Master of Science in Psychology.  She is currently finishing her last year of graduate work toward a PhD in Clinical Psychology.  Jennifer is now completing her dissertation research in the area of anxiety disorders with a research team at the University of Connecticut.  Jennifer’s specialty is in that of anxiety disorders and depression.  She has performed extensive research in both areas and has developed her own program designed to treat both disorders in a group setting.  Jennifer has also facilitated support and therapy groups for individuals suffering from a range of anxiety disorders including; social phobia, panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder.  Jennifer’s theoretical orientation and treatment is based on a cognitive behavioral and client-centered approach.  In addition, Ms. Giesel is certified in mediation and conflict resolution. Mediation is a form of aided negotiation involving a third party not currently a participant of the dispute.  Mediation can formally be defined as the intervention by a third party between two or more sides in a dispute in an attempt to help them reach an agreement.  Ms. Giesel’s training in mediation includes; business, employment, labor-management relations, family, education, public policy, civil court cases, and other interpersonal conflicts.  Training in the above areas has given Jennifer the ability to meet the needs of her clients in a compassionate and safe approach to treatment.