Gestalt Therapists in Columbus, OH

My approach to therapy is warm, collaborative, and grounded in genuine connection—with a touch of humor along the way. I support clients through life’s challenges, including anxiety, depression, unresolved trauma, relational struggles, and major transitions. Together, we’ll explore the patterns that support your well-being and those that may be holding you back, always with a focus on your unique values, needs, and goals. Drawing from evidence-based therapies, I tailor our work to help you feel empowered, deepen self-understanding, and move toward meaningful change. Taking this step toward healing is courageous, and I’m here to walk alongside you as you create the life you want.

Hello and thank you for coming to my page. I am a clinical psychologist with 25+ years of experience providing personalized care to individuals, couples, and families across the lifespan. My approach is supportive, integrative, empathetic, and nonjudgmental. When you work with me expect to be treated with respect and dignity, state-of-the-art care and confidentiality. I look forward to meeting you.

As an autistic psychologist in Colorado, I personally understand many of the personal challenges my neurodivergent (ASD/autism, ADHD, learning abilities) clients are facing. I excel by helping you get clarity about your current challenges through psychological testing and what next steps and recommendations may be helpful after testing is completed. Through therapy, I often help clients come to terms with a new diagnosis, unmask, understand differences between neurotypical and neurodivergent approaches, and come to accept your identity as a neurodivergent person.

FREE INTRO Session - to see if we're a good fit. My main focus is working with ACAs - adults who were raised in an alcoholic / narcissistic family. The long-term goal is to uncover your True Self, develop a Loving Parent voice, heal the Wounded Child, & encourage the Healthy Child to shine. Together we identify the harsh beliefs you absorbed from your family, school & religion, and work on transforming them into positive do-able ‘rules’ to live by. EXP: “I know what I know”, “I have a right to my needs”, “”There’s no such thing as perfect”….. I also provide a safe place for you to experience painful or joyful emotions you weren't allowed to feel growing up. ACA Recovery work is about facing the reality of early damage, and working to overcome the after-effects. “Trying to flourish in an atmosphere of criticism is like trying to get sober in a bar.”

I’m Dr. Ilyssa Swartout, a licensed psychologist dedicated to helping adults and couples heal from past wounds and create meaningful change. My approach blends warmth, presence, and evidence-based therapy to help you move beyond old patterns and reconnect with your sense of worth and wholeness. My background includes over 20 years of mentorship with James Bugental, Ph.D., founder of Humanistic Psychotherapy, and advanced training in EMDR, Brainspotting, Gestalt Therapy, and Developmental Needs Meeting Strategy (DNMS). These approaches support healing from trauma, anxiety, depression, and relationship difficulties by addressing both emotional and body-based experiences. As an EMDR Consultant and Certified In-Depth Therapist, I guide clients and other professionals toward lasting transformation and self-understanding. Therapy is a courageous step toward healing and growth. Together, we’ll create a safe and supportive space for you to explore, recover, and thrive.

Columbus is home to Ohio State University — one of the largest universities in the country — creating sustained demand for therapists specializing in academic pressure, young adult identity, and sports psychology. The city's position as Ohio's state capital and a growing tech and healthcare hub has accelerated demographic change, with therapists increasingly addressing burnout and adjustment among a fast-growing professional population. OhioHealth, Nationwide Children's Hospital, and the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center provide major institutional mental health anchors for the region. Columbus also has one of the largest Somali communities in the United States, making culturally competent and multilingual therapists who specialize in refugee trauma and identity an important part of the local therapy landscape.

Gender ID

	58%	Female
	42%	Male

Session Type

	50%	In Person and Online
	50%	Online Only

Top Specialties

83%	Anxiety or Fears
75%	Self Esteem
67%	Depression
58%	Loss or Grief
58%	ADHD
58%	Parenting
58%	Forgiveness

Ages Served

100%	Adult
83%	Young Adult
58%	Teen
58%	Senior
8%	Children

Client Focus

75%	Men
67%	Women
50%	Christian
42%	Military / Veterans
33%	Jewish

Gestalt therapists in Columbus, Ohio OH

Dr. Kelsi Clayson

Debra Zand

David Houston Murphy

Donna M Torbico - HEAL & GROW for ACoAs

Ilyssa Swartout

Gestalt Therapy therapists in Columbus, Ohio Statistics

Average years in practice

Average cost per session

Accept insurance

Offer sliding scale