Cloudbreak Counseling Services

06/03/2026

✨ Wellness Wednesday ✨

Feeling overwhelmed, anxious, stressed, or stuck in your thoughts?

One of the most helpful skills we teach in therapy comes from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Grounding.

Grounding helps bring your mind back to the present moment when anxiety, trauma triggers, racing thoughts, or intense emotions try to pull you elsewhere. It reminds your nervous system that you are here, now, and safe.

Try the 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Exercise:

- 5 things you can see
- 4 things you can touch
- 3 things you can hear
- 2 things you can smell
- 1 thing you can taste

This simple skill helps shift your brain from survival mode back into the present moment.

Other grounding ideas:
- Hold an ice cube in your hand
- Take a mindful walk and notice your surroundings
- Suck on a sour candy
- Put on music and move your body
- Put your bare feet in the grass

Grounding isn’t about making difficult emotions disappear. It’s about helping you stay connected to the present so you can respond to those emotions rather than feeling consumed by them.

What is one thing that helps you feel grounded when life gets overwhelming?

06/03/2026

The goal isn't for your client to need you forever. It's to make yourself unnecessary. 💙

Alison Seponara reminds us that a client can only retain information, build new habits, and develop real self-awareness when they're inside their window of tolerance. That's not just a treatment planning consideration. That's the whole game.

When a client is flooded or shut down, the session isn't landing the way you think it is. 🧠 Regulation comes first. Always.

Ask yourself: Is my client actually inside their window right now? Or am I teaching, processing, and assigning homework to a nervous system that can't receive it?

Your job is to help them build a toolkit they can use without you. That's the win. 💪

Ready to go deeper? Alison Seponara's FREE upcoming training with PESI gives you the integrative CBT framework to help anxious clients regulate, rewire, and heal—inside the session and beyond it. 🔗 Click here to register completely free: https://bit.ly/4dCHkSU

05/28/2026

Exciting News from Cloudbreak Counseling Services!

We are proud to announce that Cloudbreak Counseling Services is now offering Outpatient Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Counseling Services.

Recovery is not a one-size-fits-all journey, and seeking support is a sign of strength. Whether you are struggling with alcohol use, substance use, relapse prevention, or are simply looking for additional support in your recovery journey, our team is here to help in a compassionate, nonjudgmental environment.

Our outpatient SUD services are designed to help individuals:
✔ Develop healthy coping skills
✔ Understand triggers and patterns of use
✔ Build relapse prevention strategies
✔ Address underlying mental health concerns
✔ Strengthen support systems and recovery goals
✔ Work toward long-term wellness and stability

At Cloudbreak Counseling Services, we believe healing happens when people feel seen, heard, and supported. Our goal is to meet you where you are and walk alongside you as you work toward the life you want to build.

- In-person and telehealth appointments available
- Contact us today to learn more or schedule an appointment.
Recovery is possible. Support is available. You do not have to do it alone.

05/21/2026

We are growing ✨
I am excited to welcome Karissa! She will begin seeing clients in three weeks and is eager to service our community! If you are interested in services please reach out to 440-645-9030!

“Hello! My name is Karissa Sasu, and I am a Licensed Social Worker with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Kent State University and a Master’s degree in Social Work from Case Western Reserve University. I have experience working with children, adolescents, young adults, and families, and I am passionate about creating a supportive environment where clients feel accepted, respected, and supported throughout their therapeutic journey.

My approach to counseling is grounded in connection, authenticity, and empowerment. Using a strengths-based approach and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, I work collaboratively with clients to build insight, strengthen coping skills, and support meaningful personal growth. I strive to create a calm, encouraging space where individuals feel comfortable while exploring difficult emotions, life transitions, and personal challenges.

I value bringing a warm, engaging, and personable energy into sessions and enjoy incorporating clients’ unique personalities, interests, and strengths into the therapeutic process. I believe therapy should feel individualized, supportive, and hopeful.

My clinical focus at Cloudbreak includes working with adolescents (12+) and young adults navigating anxiety, depression, mood disorders, self-esteem concerns, trauma, self-harm, suicidality, communication difficulties, and other emotional or interpersonal stressors.

Outside of therapy, I enjoy spending time with my pets and fiancé, going to cosplay conventions, reading a good book and exploring nature.
I look forward to connecting with and supporting new clients as they work toward their goals.”

05/18/2026

05/12/2026

EMDR can feel a little intimidating when people first hear about it, especially because there’s still so much misinformation online about what it actually is.

From a therapist perspective, EMDR isn’t about “erasing” memories or forcing someone to relive trauma. It’s about helping the brain process experiences that may feel stuck. Sometimes our nervous system stores distress in a way that keeps us in survival mode long after the event is over. EMDR helps create space for the brain and body to reprocess those experiences more adaptively.

From a client perspective, EMDR can look very different than traditional talk therapy. You don’t always have to explain every detail of what happened to heal from it. Many clients describe EMDR as helping them feel less emotionally activated by memories, triggers, anxiety, panic, or negative beliefs they’ve carried for years.

Healing doesn’t mean pretending something never happened. It means the memory no longer feels like it’s controlling your nervous system.

What has been your experience with EMDR?

05/08/2026

We are growing, again ✨

I am so excited to welcome Kinzer! She will be working nights, Monday-Friday and will be available in person! Kinzer comes HIGHLY recommended by her peers and we are so lucky to have her apart of our team ❤️

“Hi, I’m Kinzer Manning, a Licensed Social Worker passionate about helping clients feel supported, understood, and comfortable being themselves throughout the therapy process. I earned my Bachelor’s degree from Baldwin Wallace University with a major in Sociology and a minor in Psychology. I later earned my Master of Social Work degree from Case Western Reserve University with specialized training in Child, Youth, and Families and Trauma-Informed Practice. Following my graduate studies, I received my Pupil Services License in School Social Work through Baldwin Wallace University.

I believe meaningful therapy begins with a genuine connection. My goal is to create a warm, welcoming, and nonjudgmental environment where clients can openly process life’s challenges while feeling heard, seen, and respected. I take a strengths-based and collaborative approach, working alongside each client to identify personal goals, recognize existing strengths, and develop practical tools for growth and healing.

My therapeutic style is rooted in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Trauma-Informed Care. I approach each session with compassion, curiosity, and active listening, recognizing how past experiences can shape present emotions, behaviors, and relationships. I strive to help clients gain deeper self-awareness, build healthy coping strategies, and feel more confident navigating difficult situations.

I specialize in working with children, teens, adults, and families experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma/ PTSD, grief, anger management concerns, and life transitions. I also value collaborating with families, schools, and community supports to provide thoughtful and well-rounded care tailored to each individual’s needs.

Outside of the office, I enjoy trying new restaurants around the Cleveland area, spending time outdoors, traveling with family and friends, and unwinding with a good book.

I view therapy as a space for reflection, growth, and meaningful change. Whether you are facing a difficult season, feeling stuck, or simply looking for additional support, I hope to provide an environment where you feel encouraged, understood, and capable of moving toward the life you want for yourself. “

If you are interested in services please call 440-645-9030!

05/04/2026

May is Mental Health Awareness Month 💚

And honestly… this work matters every single month but I do appreciate having a time where the conversation gets a little louder.

What I see every day in this practice:

People showing up when it’s hard
People learning how to feel instead of avoid
People doing the kind of work that doesn’t always get seen, but changes everything

Mental health isn’t just diagnoses or therapy sessions. It’s how you cope, how you rest, how you respond, how you take care of yourself when life feels overwhelming.

If you’ve been thinking about reaching out for support this is your sign. If you’re already doing the work, keep going. It matters more than you think.

And if no one has told you lately: slowing down, setting boundaries, and taking care of yourself is not a luxury it’s necessary and a NECESSITY!

04/30/2026

Life can feel busy, overwhelming, and nonstop and sometimes your nervous system feels that before your mind even catches up.

If you’ve been feeling anxious, on edge, shut down, or overstimulated, here are a few simple, body based ways to reset that. These are some things I encourage my clients to do outside of our sessions:

Cold stimulation (ice)
Holding ice, splashing cold water on your face, or placing something cold on your neck can help “reset” your nervous system. This activates your body’s natural dive reflex, which can slow your heart rate and bring you out of fight or flight.

Sour candy
Something intensely sour can interrupt racing thoughts and ground you quickly. Your brain shifts focus to your senses, helping you come back into the present moment.

Somatic movement / dancing (I do this with my own kids)
Stress lives in the body. When you move freely and without judgment you give your nervous system space to release it. This isn’t about dancing “right,” it’s about letting your body lead. Shake, sway, stretch literally whatever feels natural.

These aren’t about fixing everything. They’re small resets. Moments of regulation. A way to remind your body that you’re safe. ✨