Today we’d like to introduce you to Samantha Willi.
Hi Samantha, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was born and raised in the Cleveland area and attending Baldwin-Wallance for my undergad. I graduated from the University of Saint Francis in Fort Wayne, Indiana with Master’s in Mental Health Counseling and Psychology. I knew that my goal was to return to the Cleveland area. Early in my career, I worked in community mental health and realized that many of the systems in place didn’t align with my values and the level of care that I wanted to provide. This experience pushed me to create something different and I started CLE Counseling and Wellness Center. My mission has and will always be making high-quality mental health services more accessible for everyone.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Like many small practices, we’ve faced our share of challenges along the way. Just one month after opening our physical office in Westlake, the COVID-19 pandemic forced us to transition quickly to telehealth only. It was a whirlwind of adapting technology and processes to meet our clients’ needs. On top of that, we were significantly impacted by a major transition within Ohio’s Medicaid system, which resulted in months of delayed payments for services we had already provided. That strain was felt deeply by our team, yet they continued to see all of our clients without hesitation. Even now, we continue to face challenges as many of our clients are being removed from Medicaid coverage without warning, making it difficult for them to access consistent care.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
When I started CLE Counseling and Wellness Center, I knew I wanted it to be more than just a private practice—I wanted it to reflect a deeper mission. Our goal has always been to provide accessible, high-quality mental health care to individuals across Ohio, regardless of their background or financial situation.
What truly sets us apart is our commitment to holistic, inclusive care. While we specialize in many areas, our primary focus is on trauma work and EMDR, where we can help clients process and heal at a deeper level. As we identify unmet needs among our clients, we’ve continued to grow and adapt our services. Most recently, we began offering Autism and ADHD assessments, recognizing the limited options available—especially for adults.
Accessibility isn’t just a cute catchphrase for us—it’s the heart of what we do. We accept private insurance, Medicaid, and offer sliding scale rates for clients. Our interns are able to offer pro bono sessions for those who are unable to afford services. Being able to provide this kind of care, without turning anyone away due to finances, is one of the most meaningful parts of this work for our office. It’s what drives us every day and what I believe truly defines the CLE Counseling and Wellness Center brand.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
What I love most about Cleveland is the incredible sense of community and pride that runs throughout the city and the people. There’s something really special about how people here show up resilient, welcoming, and inclusive. I love how the city celebrates the diverse cultures, neighborhoods, and small businesses.
There’s still work to be done within Cleveland, though. One of the things that I find unfortunate is seeing how many people in our community still lack access to basic supports—whether it’s housing, basic needs, healthcare, or mental health services.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://counselinginthecle.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cle_counseling/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CLEcounseling/
