Meet Our Counselors
Brian Strawn, MPA, LPCC-S, LICDC-CS
Brian is a native of eastern Pennsylvania, he started his career as an officer and pilot in the U.S. Air Force. He transitioned into counseling after doing his graduate work at Ohio State and Malone University. Brian has been serving in the public sector and counseling field for over 20 years in capacities spanning all chemical dependency, trauma, PTSD, and Veteran concerns. He is an avid reader, enjoys baseball, history, listening to and making music, haggling at yard sales and watching Netflix with the family.
Kassandra Johnston MS, LPC, LICDC
Kassandra is a Licensed Professional Counselor as well as a Licensed Independent Chemical Dependency Counselor who has worked with many populations- including those involved with The Department of Children and Family Services, young females survivors of human trafficking and both adolescents and adults involved in the criminal justice system. She is a graduate of Grand Canyon University with a Masters of Science in Professional Counseling, and began her career in 2015 as a Residential Support Specialist and Behavioral Technician in Southern Ohio at a rehabilitation center for male and females ages 13-18. In her free time, Kassandra enjoys both hiking and backpacking, spending time with her husband and training her dog Aspen - who is currently a Therapy Dog in Training and can be present during your therapy session!
Kassandra is seeing clients at our locations in Canton and Akron, OH as well as via Telehealth.
Jane Whitman, MS, LPC
Jane is a Licensed Professional Counselor who likes to work with all multicultural populations, including children and adolescents and clients diagnosed with Dysautonomia/POTS using a person-centered approach to counseling. She graduated with her Bachelor’s of Psychology [Summa Cum Laude] focusing on child and adolescent development and recently completed her Master’s of Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Walden University. She began her counseling career here at the Living Tree Recovery Center. Jane likes to spend her free time enjoying photography, cooking, baking, fishing, and enjoying nature with her partner and two children.
Jane is seeing clients at our Uhrichsville OH location as well as via Telehealth.
Shawna Graybill, CT
Shawna is passionate about empowering and supporting others and believes in providing a welcoming safe non-judgmental space for her clients. Shawna is committed to helping both children and adults find hope, gain confidence, build resilience, break behavior patterns, adjust to life transitions, and heal from difficult life experiences. Shawna has experience working with depression, anxiety, grief, suicidal ideation, self-advocacy, and unresolved trauma. Shawna's most common treatment approaches are mindful-based, person-centered, strength-based, cognitive behavior, and dialectical behavior therapy
Shawna is seeing clients at our Uhrichsville and Canton OH locations as well as via Telehealth.
Our counselors are available for both in person and virtual therapy appointments. Evening and Weekend Appointments are available upon request.
Susan Snare, MA, LPCC
Susan has worked in mental health for over 25 years. Her scope of practice includes counseling the severely mentally ill in both in-patient and out-patient settings, as well as a health officer working with involuntary commitment situations. She has almost 20 years of substance abuse counseling experience. Presently she sees adults and adolescents in private practice. She uses a feminist and person-centered approach to working with both men and women -- assisting both to recognize how opening up their minds to new ideas will contribute to happier lives and better solutions. Susan considers counseling to be a "two-way street" where both counselor and client will learn and grow from each other.
Tifanie Kukwa, LPCC-S, LICDC-CS, GAMBp
Tifanie is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and Licensed Independent Chemical Dependency Counselor with a Supervisor designation. Tifanie graduated from Kent State University with a Bachelors in Psychology and Malone University with a Masters in Clinical Counseling. She is presently working towards completion of her Pastoral Counseling Certification and Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision. Tifanie feels honored to have experience working with diverse client populations in various settings including the home, community, and outpatient settings since starting her career in 2016. Tifanie utilizes a compassionate, trauma informed approach and feels privileged to be able to provide a space for others to become their authentic selves. Tifanie is EMDR certified and also enjoys utilizing mindfulness techniques, music, movement, art, play and sand tools in sessions. In her free time, Tifanie spends her time with her husband and children and enjoys painting and going to concerts. Tifanie has a fondness for animals and happily welcomes pets into the office setting! You may even see her kitten Pancake visiting the office from time to time!
Tifanie is seeing clients at our Uhrichsville OH location as well as via Telehealth.
Caitlin Cable, CT, M.Ed
Aspen, Therapy Dog in Training, CGC
Aspen is the dog of Kassandra Johnston, LPC LICDC. She is a 3 year old Australian Cattle Dog x Border Collie who has never met a person she hasn’t liked! Aspen is currently undergoing training in hopes of receiving a therapy certification with Bright & Beautiful Therapy Dogs. She also earned the title of Canine Good Citizen through the American Kennel Club. Clients who are interested in being Aspens “practice” while in training can sign a release form and have a conversation with Kassandra about the risks and rules of allowing an animal in therapy. After this conversation, clients can request Aspen to be present during the therapy session.
In Aspens free time, she enjoys hiking with her owners, completing tasks for snacks and competing in frisbee disc dog competitions