Anchoring Hope Counseling, LLC

Meet our new intern, Sammy! She joins us with experience in music therapy and works with all ages. She takes clients with any Medicaid insurance or st a reduced self pay.
Welcome, Sammy! 🎉

Samantha Engle, LPMT, CT

Sammy is a Licensed Professional Music Therapist with a Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy from the University of Dayton. She is currently pursuing her Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a focus on trauma and provides counseling services as a Counselor Trainee under supervision.
Sammy’s professional background includes working with individuals across the lifespan in medical, hospice, mental health, developmental, and community settings. She has experience supporting children, adolescents, adults, and families navigating trauma, grief and loss, chronic illness, substance use recovery, neurodevelopmental differences, and significant life transitions. Her experience in pediatric hospice and palliative care has especially shaped her compassionate, creative, and relationship-centered approach.

Sammy believes healing begins through authentic connection and strives to meet each client with compassion, curiosity, and respect. She uses person-centered, trauma-informed, and evidence-based approaches to create a collaborative environment where clients feel safe exploring their experiences, recognizing their strengths, and working toward meaningful goals. When appropriate and desired by the client, Sammy may also incorporate music-based experiences to support emotional expression, regulation, resilience, connection, and growth.

Outside of mental health, Sammy enjoys exploring food, playing guitar, time on a lake, and quality time with friends and family.

Meet Ben Highley! Welcome to our team!

Ben is a Licensed Professional Counselor who earned his Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Xavier University. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in Biblical and Theological Studies and a master’s degree in Ministry from God’s Bible School and College. He brings years of experience working with teenagers and adults.

Ben works with clients from adolescence through older adulthood. He enjoys helping people who are dealing with anxiety, major life transitions, uncertainty about their direction, or questions of meaning and purpose.

Ben believes meaningful change begins with seeing ourselves and our circumstances clearly. His approach is direct, thoughtful, and collaborative. He helps clients distinguish what they can control from what they cannot, examine the choices available to them, and consider how their present patterns are affecting their lives and relationships. His goal is not to make decisions for clients, but to help them develop the clarity and confidence to take responsibility for what is theirs and move forward with greater purpose.

Ben’s Christian worldview informs his understanding of human dignity, responsibility, relationships, and meaning. He brings that foundation to his work while respecting each client’s beliefs and freedom to reach their own conclusions.

Ben and his wife have been married since 2002, and they have six children. Outside of counseling, he enjoys reading, writing, and spending time with his family.

Meet our new intern! Rebecca will be seeing all ages with any Medicaid insurance or reduced self pay. Welcome, Rebecca! 🎉

Rebecca Algeo is a Masters student, studying Clinical Mental Health Counseling, at Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA. Before her time at Regent, Rebecca pursued her undergraduate degree in psychology and theology from the Catholic University of America.

Outside of studies Rebecca is a mother of three children, an avid reader, an okay baker, and a want-to-be crocheter. Rebecca and her husband enjoy road trips, historical sites, and enjoying all that Ohio had to offer.

Rebecca is eager to help all those who walk through the door and accompany each in their healing journey. As a former Navy spouse and mother, she feels particularly called to serve military families and those in the perinatal period.

Mindsets

🌳 No matter what happens in life; you can always start over. 🌳

Meet our intern!

Colette Miller is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Walden University. Inspired by the impact counseling had on her own life following the loss of her father, Colette is passionate about creating a space where clients feel seen, heard, understood, and empowered throughout their healing journey. Her background includes experience working with children, older adults, and individuals navigating major life transitions, and she hopes to eventually specialize in marriage, couples, and family counseling.
Colette takes a direct yet compassionate approach and is especially interested in trauma-informed care, grief, self-worth, relationship dynamics, and family systems. With over 20 years of experience in dance and the arts, she values the connection between emotional expression, the mind, and the body. She believes healing is not linear and strives to help clients feel grounded, supported, and more connected to themselves as they navigate life’s challenges.

Colette can see clients with any Medicaid insurances and self pay at a reduced rate. Contact our office!

Meet our intern!

Michelle Patterson is a Licensed Counseling Trainee who is passionate about helping clients feel seen, supported, and empowered as they navigate life’s challenges. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Clinical and Counseling Psychology from Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and she is currently pursuing her M.A. in Marriage, Couples, and Family Therapy at Regent University.

Michelle is committed to creating a counseling space rooted in warmth, tenderness, and emotional safety. She is especially interested in supporting clients facing life transitions, anxiety, depression, trauma-related concerns, stress management, and relationship challenges. Her approach is collaborative and strengths-based, with a focus on building insight, developing practical coping tools, and supporting healthier patterns in individuals and relationships.

In addition to her clinical training, Michelle has spent the last five years working as a Life Coach, helping individuals clarify goals, strengthen follow-through, and build healthier routines and mindsets. She also brings experience working with youth ages 6–12, 13–18, and 19–25 through her employment with the Louisville Metro Parks and Recreation Department. During that time, she created the “Teen Room” and facilitated group meetings for teens ages 13–18 that provided a supportive space to discuss relevant and sometimes sensitive topics such as teen pregnancy, safe s*x, gender identity, and other challenges impacting adolescents today. This background continues to strengthen Michelle’s comfort in engaging difficult conversations with care, clarity, and respect.

Michelle values working with clients from diverse backgrounds and respects each client’s personal values and lived experience. Under supervision, she strives to show up with professionalism, consistency, and genuine care—supporting clients as they take meaningful steps toward healing and growth.

Outside of counseling, Michelle enjoys quiet mornings, coffee, journaling, and time with family, and she appreciates moments of peace that restore and refocus the heart.

“The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.” — Carl R. Rogers

Michelle can accept clients with Medicaid insurances and self pay at a reduced rate. Contact our office!

Still time to join! Call us at 937-550-9129 ⚓️