Today we’d like to introduce you to Merisa Salazar
Hi Merisa, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Lindsay and Merisa are both non- Ohio natives, however college brought them to Ohio as both felt the calling to serve Ohio but especially Stark County. Separately, Lindsay and Merisa had hopes of starting a trauma center to address the mental health crisis.They worked at Children Services in Stark for 7 years each and went into private practice where they connected with the founder of Branch Counseling. Both Lindsay and Merisa agreed that Branch Counseling and Trauma Center was something that they wanted to be apart of and became partners with 2 other like minded women. Now, they serve Stark County and the surrounding counties.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Walking alongside people who are hurting means holding space for their struggles, and while it isn’t easy, it has always been worth it. Branch Counseling and Trauma Center is rooted in the concept of hope. Hope that people can change, grow, and build a life that’s worth living to them. Hope can be the ignition for change, and we hold onto that everyday as we walk alongside others. When a person comes in so desperate, clinging on to the last bit of hope-that is when the beautiful thing we call change begins. Even if it is ever so small, someone getting up to shower after days of not being able to, that’s hope. As therapists, we keep a book of our “little wins” where we celebrate success. It’s the stories we can look back on throughout our time as therapist that gives us hope that even through the most difficult times in our lives, our clients lives, there is still hope.
As you know, we’re big fans of Branch Counseling and Trauma Center. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
All of our therapist are trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) which is a “structured therapy that encourages the patient to focus briefly on the trauma memory while simultaneously experiencing bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements), which is associated with a reduction in the vividness and emotion associated with the trauma memories. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an extensively researched, effective psychotherapy method proven to help people recover from trauma and PTSD symptoms.” (EMDRIA,2025).
We also offer a week long intensive treatment called Instinctual Trauma Response (ITR) which is a brief, intensive trauma treatment that is based on reworking how traumatic memories are encoded in the brain while providing opportunity for relief from the symptoms related to unprocessed trauma event. The ITR process is a form of art and narrative therapy and fosters a persons connection to themselves and reconnection to others through integrative work, self discovery and balanced parenting (for youth clients) through using aspects of Internal Family Systems therapy alongside the trauma processing.
We also offer individual counseling that is trauma informed & client focused. Something unique about Branch Counseling and Trauma Center is that therapists are clinically trained, compassionately oriented, and can offer a spiritually sensitive perspective if clients identify that as a need within their treatment.
Branch Counseling and Trauma Center is dedicated to offering a safe space in Stark County for those who feel hopeless and have a desire to get to the root of their trauma experiences. Not only do we want to foster a place of healing but we also encourage our clinicians to use the same approach in their own lives. We know how difficult this job can be but as business owners and clinicians we encourage our staff to seek counseling themselves, alongside of boundaried practice and connecting with their community.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
Merisa Salazar: My biggest supporters have been my friends who challenge me to be the best version of myself. My grandma Jennie who never let me quit something I started. My family that has loved me through dreams, challenges and creative thought processes. Most importantly my soccer coach Jenn who believed in me even when others did not.
Lindsay DeHaas: When I think about the people who supported me in the process of getting to where I am in life, no one person comes to mind; Instead, a beautiful picture of a community of champions who prayed, cried, cheered me on throughout my life flash through my mind. I am extremely grateful to have family and real friends who see, know and accept me as I am as it allows me to be free to show up as myself and do this work I’m so passionate about.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://branchcounseling-center.com
