About Dorothy Costakis Counseling

I'm Dorothy Costakis, LISW-S, LICDC, PG based in Ohio, offering therapy fully online. I work with adults who are ready to look honestly at the patterns that keep them stuck — often patterns that trace back to family, and often patterns that once kept them safe but no longer serve them.

I earned my MSW from the University of Akron in 2017, and I've spent more than 10 years working with clients in individual counseling, outpatient treatment, inpatient treatment, and hospital-based treatment.. My approach is trauma-informed, interpersonal, and mindful— which in plain terms means: we don't just talk about symptoms, we look at where they come from.

Outside the therapy room, I enjoy fireworks, technology, and exploring fun, new activities! I am married to a wonderful husband and I have a teenage son that enjoys learning as much as I do. I also enjoy spending time with my 6 cats! (I know, crazy cat family!)

I also have experience providing supervision and consultation, as well as training seminars for organizations with topics such as: ASAM Criteria, Substance Use Disorders, Gambling and Betting, Behavioral Addictions, Stress Management, Family Systems, and Effective Communication. Currently I am a Licensed Independent Social Work Supervisor, Licensed Independent Chemical Dependency Counselor, with a Preliminary Gambling Endorsement. 

Asking for help can be the hardest thing to do! Whether you have experienced trauma, struggle with substances, behavioral addictions, problem gambling, or self-esteem, I strive to provide support and a safe place to work on the challenges we can struggle with in coping with life. It is very human to need a little extra support.

My approach to therapy is to provide a safe, non-judgmental, compassionate, and warm environment to build a collaborative relationship and start the healing process. I have worked with many different concerns and my particular specialties are childhood trauma and abuse, sexual trauma, substance use disorders, gambling, and behavioral addictions.

My goal is to build a safe and compassionate environment to build motivation and help find solutions for making the changes in your life that you want to make. I build goals collaboratively with you starting from day one, so we can take this journey together!