John Spiesman, Ed.D., MSW, LISW

John Spiesman is a Licensed Independent Social Worker. He believes in a holistic approach to mental health that addresses the whole person – mind, body, and spirit. John has served as an educator of learners from kindergarten through graduate school for many years. He has practiced social work since 2006. John holds degrees from Lake Erie College (BSEd, MSEd), Youngstown State University (Ed.D.) and Cleveland State University (MSW).

John’s areas of expertise include working with older adolescents (17+), college age individuals and adults of all ages. John believes that one of the goals of therapy should be for a person to see a clear path to achieving life goals and dreams. This often occurs through in-depth self-study and examination, telling one's story and becoming comfortable with that story relative to a life situation. John believes that through therapy, an individual develops the confidence they need to face life with all its complications.

A variety of treatment methods may be necessary to achieve the goals of therapy. John is willing to explore options best for you, based on your individual needs. John’s areas of interest include, but are not limited to cognitive therapy, solution focused therapy, depression, anxiety, stress management, trauma (ITR and EMDR), educational counseling, family and individual therapy, life direction challenges, men’s issues, spiritual issues and dream work. John also works with adoptive parents (no assessment), general parenting issues, attention deficit disorders, self-esteem improvement, life coaching, career counseling and relationship issues.

John looks forward to working with current and new clients in designing a treatment plan to meet one’s individual needs. He enjoys sitting with them, listening to their personal stories, and helping them spread their wings and soar to new heights in life.

John Spiesman, Ed.D., MSW, LISW
Independent Social Worker

Contact

Position:
Licensed Independent Social Worker

Address:
8224 Mentor Ave, Suite 208
Mentor Ohio 44060

Email:
jspiesman@behavioralwellnessgroup.com

Phone:
440-392-2222 EXT 419

Fax:
440-565-2349

Articles

Pressing the Pause Button: Managing Distress with Mindfulness

In the hustle and bustle of modern life, we often find ourselves swept away by the currents of stress and anxiety. It can feel like we’re caught in a whirlwind in these moments, reacting instinctively rather than responding thoughtfully. However, there is a simple yet effective tool at our disposal: the power of pressing the pause button. By consciously choosing to pause, we can shift from a reactive state driven by our primal instincts to a more mindful approach rooted…

Winter 2024 Seasonal Letter 

Best Wishes to you and yours as we enter the New Year! The Behavioral Wellness Group remains committed to you and the care of your clients in this New Year! Thanks to your ongoing confidence in us, BWG has increased our number of therapists and services in other states (see website above for details) to meet the demands of our clientele. Our programs are CARF Re-Accredited for the maximum allowable duration which is a testament to our commitment to meeting…

Becoming More of a Positive Person In Today’s World

We often hear about how we need to engage in physical exercise in order to be healthy. There are many options for physical exercise. We can do aerobic exercise to increase breathing and heart rate; there are anaerobic options which strengthen muscles; flexibility exercises stretch muscles and help keep us limber; balance exercises are very important to prevent falls, especially as we age. All of these activities strengthen and reprogram specific parts of the brain. However, how often do we…

Stress and Anxiety Management the DBT Way

Anxiety and stress appear to be the next pandemic. I see so many people who are anxious, overwhelmed, edgy, panicky, full of worry, and always tense. If any of these words describe you and leave you with a constant feeling of uneasiness to all-out panic, you could be suffering from poor stress management. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, or DBT was developed by Marsha Linehan in the 1970s. She had her own experiences with mental illness that perhaps gave her a unique…

Coping with Grief during the Holiday Season

“What am I going to do if something reminds me of Grandpa?” “Who is going to help me decorate the Christmas tree this year?” “I don’t have the energy or the desire to do the things I usually do during the holidays.” If you are someone who has lost a loved one, these may be some of the thoughts that are running through your mind. Although the holidays are usually associated with happiness, joy, smiles and laughter for most individuals,…

When Seasonal Changes Affect Your Moods

Seasonal Affective Disorder How does one distinguish between winter blues and more serious conditions? Many feel sluggish or down during Fall and Winter months. The winter blues are pretty common. If this sadness is profound, it may be a sign of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD is a form of depression which results from decreased light during the darker Fall and Winter months. With decreased sunlight, our internal biological clocks are thrown off, and it feels as though everything is…