Hi, welcome to Mind Trek Counseling! My name is Kimera, and I am glad you are here! I’m glad that you are ready to make a change and explore a healthier, happier version of yourself. You may be struggling with anxiety, depression, self-esteem, relationship concerns, behavioral issues, or traumas. You might be looking for an empathic yet direct approach that feels safe while helping you face challenges with confidence. Your goal is to see real, meaningful results—progress that restores hope and helps you feel more in control of your life. I am here to support you get there.
My Background
I am a Master ’s-level Licensed Professional Counselor and graduate of the University of Akron. My clinical training includes Level 1 Gottman Method certification and specialized education in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), both of which equip me to effectively support couples navigating relationships and marital challenges.
I incorporate Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills and the SAMHSA Anger Management curriculum to help clients strengthen emotion regulation, reduce anger, and develop healthier coping strategies. I am also EMDR trained, enabling me to guide clients through deeper exploration of distressing or traumatic experiences to identify root causes and reduce the emotional, physical, and physiological symptoms connected to past or present events.
My professional background includes work in both private practice and community mental health settings, giving me a broad range of experience supporting diverse clients with varying needs.How can I help?
How Can I help?
I provide a person-centered approach that utilizes evidence-based strategies tailored to the individual (s) I am working with. I offer support to adults and teens who are dealing with anxiety, depression, and self-esteem issues. I specialize in helping clients who have experienced trauma and want to heal from their experiences. My eclectic approach to therapy with my clients allows them to learn various ways to tackle their issues and to feel like their plan was specially made for them. I utilize CBT, DBT skills, EMDR, IFS, and Motivational Interviewing as some of my specialties to assist my clients.
Get in Touch with Kimera
Kimera Dean, LPC, MA
My top three specialties are Anxiety, EMDR Therapy, Couples and Teens.
Anxiety Treatment
In my work with anxiety, I focus on helping clients understand the why behind their internal experiences—how anxious thoughts, uncomfortable emotions, and physical sensations all interact and create a cycle that can feel overwhelming. Instead of pushing these reactions away, I guide clients in becoming curious observers of their nervous system, learning how it tries to protect them and how to respond with intention rather than fear.
Together, we explore personalized triggers and patterns, looking at how stress, past experiences, and self-expectations shape each person’s emotional world. I incorporate psychoeducation, grounding practices, and practical coping strategies to help clients build confidence in managing symptoms day-to-day. My approach emphasizes progress that feels steady and sustainable, encouraging clients to develop self-compassion and a more balanced relationship with their thoughts and emotions. Over time, clients learn not only how to reduce anxiety, but how to navigate it with clarity and resilience.
EMDR Therapy (Trauma-Informed Care)
As an EMDR therapist, I prioritize creating a space where clients feel deeply supported, informed, and in control of their healing process. Before beginning reprocessing, I offer clear, accessible explanations of how trauma impacts the brain and body and what to expect during EMDR. This foundation allows clients to enter the work feeling grounded and empowered.
I follow the standard EMDR protocol while also integrating resourcing and stabilization techniques to ensure each session unfolds at a pace that feels safe. Rather than forcing traumatic memories to the surface, I help clients slowly build the internal capacity to approach difficult experiences with greater strength and perspective. Throughout treatment, I emphasize honoring the client’s readiness, boundaries, and emotional needs.
My goal is to help clients shift the beliefs that trauma often imprints—feelings of being unsafe, unworthy, or powerless—and reconnect with a more compassionate and resilient sense of self. EMDR becomes not only a tool for processing trauma but a pathway toward reclaiming identity, agency, and internal harmony.
Working With Couples
In my work with couples, I focus on creating a space where both partners feel heard, respected, and supported as they navigate the complexities of their relationship. Drawing from Gottman Method principles, I help partners understand the patterns that keep them stuck—cycles of criticism, defensiveness, withdrawal, or miscommunication—and replace them with habits that deepen connection and trust.
I guide couples in strengthening their friendship system, improving communication skills, and cultivating a stronger emotional bond. Using tools from the Gottman Method such as building love maps, increasing positive interactions, repairing conflict, and strengthening shared meaning, I help partners approach challenges from a place of curiosity rather than blame.
My approach emphasizes collaboration and empathy while still being direct and structured. Whether partners are navigating conflict, rebuilding after ruptures, or simply wanting a stronger foundation, I support them in creating a relationship that feels secure, fulfilling, and resilient.
Working With Teens
When supporting teens, I start by understanding their world—the pressures they face, the identities they’re exploring, and the emotions that often feel larger than life. Teens benefit from a space where they can speak openly without fear of judgment, so I work to build a relationship that feels authentic, relatable, and grounded in mutual respect.
I help adolescents make sense of their emotional experiences and develop healthier ways of managing stress, conflict, and self-doubt. Whether a teen is navigating trauma, family changes, school challenges, or identity-related concerns, I take a collaborative approach that encourages self-expression and fosters confidence. We work together on emotion regulation, communication skills, and strengthening their sense of autonomy.
A central part of my work involves helping teens untangle unhelpful narratives—labels they’ve been given, expectations they feel pressured to meet, or beliefs that make them question their worth. By supporting them in rediscovering their strengths and voice, I aim to help them build resilience, self-awareness, and coping skills that will serve them well into adulthood.