A Journey Rooted in Connection

“Healing isn’t just about feeling better—it’s about being seen, understood, and supported as your full self.”

I’m De’Asia L. Thompson, LISW-S

Trauma Therapist, Educator, Speaker, & Founder of Rise Counseling Group

But before the titles, I was a teen mom and two-time cancer survivor who learned early what it means to fight for healing, identity, and stability.

Those personal challenges didn’t break me—they shaped me. They taught me that our well-being depends on the quality of our relationships: with ourselves, with others, and with our purpose. That belief is now the heartbeat of everything I do.

CONNECT WITH ME

I earned both my B.A. in Sociology and Master of Social Work from The Ohio State University and am currently completing my Ph.D. at The Institute for Clinical Social Work in Chicago, IL. Over the past decade, I’ve worked across the lifespan—in hospitals, college counseling centers, residential programs, and now, in private practice—always bringing a relational, trauma-informed lens to my work.

Today, I hold clinical licenses in both Ohio and Tennessee and am certified in EMDR. I’m also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., where I continue to champion sisterhood, service, and social justice.

But my proudest accomplishment? Building Rise Counseling Group into a safe and empowering space for Black women and teen girls to feel seen, heard, and held—therapeutically and beyond.

At the core, I believe this: People deserve to feel well while doing the work that matters most. Whether you’re a therapist, teacher, parent, student, or leader—your emotional health shouldn’t be the cost of your impact.

I’ve been in systems that didn’t support me, and I’ve worked with clients and clinicians who were told they had to choose between survival and success. My mission is to change that.

I wear many hats—but they all point back to connection and community:

• Therapy & EMDR for Black women and teen girls

• Clinical supervision and consultation for LSWs and independently licensed clinicians

• Training and speaking for organizations, schools, and companies

• Mental Health First Aid instruction and trauma-informed professional development

• Advocacy and leadership through NASW Ohio and Dayton ABSW

You may have also seen me on Oxygen, TV One, or featured in Therapy for Black Girls, Your Teen for Parents, Fox 45, and Cheddar News.

What has led me to this moment

PLACES I'VE BEEN SEEN:

WHO I SERVE

I work with mission-driven organizations that want to...

strengthen their teams through mental wellness, equity, and relationship-centered leadership. I support Black women social workers and helpers ready to build careers that feel good and do good. And I create spaces where healing, growth, and joy can live side by side.

Ready to Connect?

Let’s work together to build healthier teams, stronger relationships, and more sustainable ways of showing up—whether through therapy, training, or consultation.