Darlene Wesley, MSW, LSW

Clinical Therapist

Hello! My name is Darlene Wesley. I am originally from our nation's capital, Washington, D.C., where I received my bachelor's degree in social work from Howard University. Born and raised in one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world, I learned at a very early age to enjoy the very broad spectrum of differences in our citizenry while also appreciating the commonalities we all share.  

I moved to Maryland as a young adult and lived there for over twenty years. In 2009, I moved to Columbus, Ohio. I graduated from The Ohio State University with a masters in Social Work in 2013. Shortly after moving from Maryland to Ohio, I caught Buckeye Fever and have never recovered! This is usually not an issue unless Ohio State plays the University of Maryland and then I have somewhat of a dilemma! It was easy to make Central Ohio my home due to the fact that I met plenty of friendly people who treated me like they’ve known me all my life and made my out-of-state transition pleasant. I am now firmly planted in Ohio soil with no intention of leaving.  

I come from a family of helpers. It’s something we love to do, so I guess you could say that genuine concern for others and providing helpful service is a part of my family culture that I learned at the feet of my elders. Becoming a social worker has been an exciting and rewarding experience. I love daily reflecting on the core values of social work: service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence. These core values help me come to work each day with a fresh mindset of giving my best to my clients as I assist them in their journey of healing and wholeness.  

At the beginning of my career, I worked extensively in customer service at a local bank and credit unions in Washington, D.C. and Maryland. Subsequently, I worked as a kindergarten teacher assistant for a private school, care manager at an assisted living facility, and as a case manager at a local area agency on aging assisting elders and disabled clients receive services in their home.  

After receiving my masters degree, I found my niche as a primary therapist providing mental health and addiction treatment services. In my role of primary therapist, I have assisted clients who needed help with anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues as well as substance abuse.  

I utilize Solution Focused Therapy which emphasizes client strengths as a means to resolve the client’s issues. I also utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing as a means to help clients make progress in their treatment. Clients have remarked that they appreciate my genuine empathy, my non-judgmental honesty, my sincere concern, and my commitment to helping them be their best version of themselves, as well as my offering a healthy dose of my sense of humor to lighten their mood.  

I enjoy working with individuals who are young adults in their early twenties through adults in their elder years. I can provide mental health treatment and outpatient substance abuse counseling. Admittedly, life can be very difficult. I help clients face their very serious issues but also give them hope that evidenced-based treatment can help them make progress day by day, one day at a time. I look forward to working with you.  

Having experienced my share of life's difficulties, I can relate to your challenges. Remember, you are a person of great worth and value. Give yourself opportunities to learn more about yourself and the meaningful life you were designed to live.