University Counseling Center

La Tasha Sullivan, PhD, LPCC-S

Director

Dr. Sullivan (Pronouns- She, Her, Hers) is actively serving as the Director of the Counseling Center promoting student wellness. Dr. Sullivan is a graduate of UToledo earning her doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision. She is a rocket through and through, also completing her bachelor's degree at UToledo majoring in psychology. She attended the University of Dayton obtaining a Master of Science in Education degree with a community counseling concentration. She is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with Supervision designation (LPCC-S) in the State of Ohio.

Dr. Sullivan believes that individuals are the experts of their own lives and that counselors play a supportive role assisting people through life transitions, treatment, and the journey to healing. Dr. Sullivan enjoys helping others and approaches situations with a student centered perspective. Her current role is in overseeing the overall operations and growth of the UTCC with her aims set to continue building partnerships across campus and the community for the benefit of students. She has four years of experience working specifically with the college student population and immensely enjoys it. She has worked with individuals from various elements of diversity and has an active interest in social justice counseling, women's issues, self-esteem, trauma, mood disorders, and relational issues.

For fun she enjoys crafting, thrifting, and family time. Go Rockets!

Amanda Jones, MRC, LPCC-S

Associate Director and Clinical Counselor

Mrs. Jones is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with a Supervision designation who joined the Counseling Center staff in 2019. She provides students at the University of Toledo with individual, couples and group counseling, crisis intervention, consultation and assessment.

She has spent the past 8 years of her 20-year career working with college students who are experiencing a variety of issues including: depression, anxiety, adjustment, relationship struggles, trauma, substance abuse, personality related disorders, discrimination and harassment. Amanda enjoys working with college students of diverse backgrounds to assist them in accomplishing their personal, psychological and academic goals.

Mrs. Jones completed her undergraduate degree in Child and Family Community Services as well as her graduate degree in Rehabilitation Counseling at Bowling Green State University. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family, watching reality TV and cooking.

Heather Schmidt, MSSA, LISW-S

Clinical Social Worker

Heather N. Schmidt (pronouns: she/her/hers) is a Licensed Independent Social Worker and became part of the University of Toledo Counseling Center in January of 2016. She earned her Master of Science in Social Administration from Case Western Reserve University and her Bachelor of Social Work from Lourdes University. She is currently enrolled in the Educational Psychology doctoral program at the University of Toledo.

Heather provides an array of therapeutic services to students enrolled at the University of Toledo and utilizes evidenced-based treatment to meet the unique needs of each individual. Heather has several years of combined experience working in behavioral health and private practice specializing in trauma, grief/loss, adjustment, anxiety, depression, and crisis intervention. 

In addition to being dedicated toward improving the mental wellness of students, Heather holds Supervisory Designation and has the unique opportunity as an internship site instructor to provide an eclectic internship experience to Social Work graduate students preparing them for a career in the field.

Ms. Schmidt enjoys spending time with family, annual Fall trips to the UP, relaxing poolside, meditative activities (Tai Chi), conducting research, watching forensic documentaries and other related docuseries, anything “80’s” (music/movies/vintage posts on social media…etc.), and holds a special place in her heart for all animals (baby piggies in particular)!

Cassie Haas, Psy.D.

Clinical Psychologist, Training Coordinator

Dr. Haas (pronouns: she/her/hers) is a full-time clinical psychologist who provides various mental health services to UToledo students.

Dr. Haas completed both her Master’s and Doctorate of Psychology in Clinical Psychology at the Florida School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University. Prior to her graduate training, she completed her Bachelor’s in psychology at Bowling Green State University. Dr. Haas has worked in counseling centers at several different universities in Florida, Michigan, and Ohio.

Dr. Haas provides a collaborative approach to counseling, taking time to build a strong therapeutic relationship with each client. Working through an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) lens, she believes that struggling against our emotions often creates problems and that it is important to learn to allow ourselves to feel and experience our emotions as they naturally occur. She has extensive experience working with college students, which provides her a deep understanding of the various life transitions students may face. Dr. Haas specializes in the treatment of trauma, and also has an interest in working with anxiety, mood disorders, women’s issues, multicultural issues, adjustment concerns, and relational issues.

Dr. Haas enjoys spending her free time with family and, as an animal lover, her cats and dog. Her hobbies include playing video games, cooking, trying new restaurants, attending fun local events, and photographing her pets in cute positions. She also enjoys traveling to both near and far destinations.

Alexandria Carlson, MA, LPCC

Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, Health Science Campus Liaison, Outreach Coordinator

Alexandria Carlson recently joined the team from Denver, Colorado where she had been practicing psychotherapy for five years. She holds a master’s in clinical mental Health Counseling from Adams State University in Colorado.

Some notable experience Alexandria holds in the field of counseling include working with a Depression Intensive Outpatient Program, as well as an Addiction Rehabilitation unit at an Intensive Residential Treatment level of care. She has also worked with those suffering from eating disorders with the Eating Recovery Program in Denver.

Alexandria is passionate about working with populations that hold presenting problems such as depression, anxiety, trauma-informed care, relationship issues, mood-disorders, career-counseling & eating disorders. Evidence Based Practices that Alexandria prefers to utilize are those such as CBT, ACT, BA, DBT, motivational interviewing & trauma-focused sensitivity. She strongly believes in individualized and collaborative care to allow the client to choose the direction & take ownership of their treatment. She frequently uses psychoeducation & normalization of the brain & body responses to stress. Alexandria often references the biopsychosocial model of care in session as well as while collaborating with her client’s other medical providers.

Alexandria loves traveling with her partner, skiing in the winter, finding new beaches, trying new foods from different cultures, as well as spending time with her family & friends whenever possible.

Hilary Thorpe, LPCC-S

Domestic Violence/Sexual Violence Counselor and Clinical Counselor

Hilary L Thorpe (pronouns: she/her/hers) is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with Supervisory designation (LPCC-S) who joined the University of Toledo as a counselor in 2017. Prior to working for the University, she worked in both community mental health and private practice. She graduated from Ohio State University with undergraduate degrees in Biology and Criminology, and earned her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Toledo.

Hilary specializes in trauma work, and has received training in Internal Family Systems. She has extensive experience working with trauma, depression, anxiety, LGBTQ+ issues, and relationship counseling. Hilary enjoys working with the diverse array of students we have here at UToledo and appreciates the opportunity to be a part of their college experience.

Hilary loves to read, cook, travel, and spend time with her family.

Valerie David, MA, LPC

Licensed Professional Counselor

Cathy Flanagan, MSW, LISW-S

Case Manager, Licensed Independent Social Worker

Cathy Flanagan (she/her/hers) is a Licensed Social Worker who recently joined the Counseling Center staff in 2022. She will be providing case management services to connect students with needed resources in the community.

She has spent the last seven years providing case management and individual therapy services to forensic patients. Cathy additionally has experience in hospice, foster care, college counseling, community mental health, and family medical clinics. Cathy has completed DBT training and has facilitated various mindfulness and skills groups which she enjoys.

Cathy was a Work Study Student and Social Work Intern for the University of Toledo Counseling Center beginning in 2009. In 2011 Cathy completed her internship and received her master's degree in Social Worker. Currently, she is enrolled in Educational Psychology doctoral program at the University of Toledo. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family, walking in the park, and cooking.