Rachel Hummel-Sass, who returned to Tiffin after earning her doctorate in psychology from California Institute of Integral Studies, opened her practice last month. She and her father, Neil Sass, a psychologist who previously established the practice at the spirituality center, share the space.

Hummel-Sass is seeing clients full-time, while her father is at the practice one day a week, she said.

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PHOTO BY ERIKA PLATT-HANDRU
Rachel Hummel-Sass, a psychologist, opened a psychology practice last month at St. Francis Spirituality Center.

"I'm very excited," she said.

She said her specialties includes children, adolescents and families, but she also accepts adult clients.

"That makes me unique here in Tiffin and surrounding areas," Hummel-Sass said of her specialties.

Hummel-Sass, who also has a psychology practice in Bluffton, said therapy can be helpful for anyone, even people not suffering from a mental health disorder.

She compared therapy to a partnership between herself and a client; the client shares a problem or issue and she, in turn, offers coping skills.

"Therapy is a place where you can focus on what's going on in your life. A lot of people don't have space to just talk about them," she said.

"It can help people through a difficult time in their life," Hummel-Sass added.

She said clients with mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are especially helped by therapy in combination with medication.

"Taking medication might fix an imbalance, but therapy will help with coping mechanisms," she said. "Oftentimes, medications work better with behavioral changes."

Hummel-Sass said if a client needs medication, she can refer them to a doctor and help monitor the medication's effectiveness.

Hummel-Sass said she accepts insurance, Medicaid and out-of-pocket payments.

For more information on Hummel-Sass and her services, visit www.psychologytoday.com, email drhummelsass@gmail.com or call (419) 455- 6891.