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Welcome to

Lighthouse Family Center

At Lighthouse Family Center, Ltd., it is our mission to provide trauma-informed, strength-based mental health treatment and assessment services to children and families in a welcoming and compassionate environment. We emphasize the importance of creating a safe space that encourages a client’s ability to rebuild a sense of control and empowerment while promoting the importance of self-care. Lighthouse Family Center, Ltd. strives to assist children and families in their journey toward recovery from emotional and psychological challenges in their lives. We believe that emotionally strong families are the key in helping its members overcome conflict and struggles. As such, Lighthouse Family Center, Ltd. clinicians encourage and facilitate opportunities for families to work together toward achieving overall well-being while valuing diversity and welcoming individuals from all ethnic, racial, religious, sexual orientation, gender identification, and socio-economic backgrounds.

We offer mulitple Services

Please Call 330-305-2753 to Schedule an appointment.

  • Trauma-Focused Counseling for Children and Adults
  • Play Therapy
  • Art Therapy
  • Caregiver Consultation-Caring for Traumatized Children
  • Family Reunificationn
  • Trauma Assessments
  • Sexual Abuse Evaluations
  • Psychological Testing


Psychological Assessments for Domestic Relations Courts

Psychological Evaluations with Parenting Emphasis (PEPE) inform Domestic Relations Court about the impact of mental health and substance abuse disorders, characterological and interpersonal issues, and parenting strategies on an individual’s ability to competently raise and co-parent their child/children. This evaluation includes clinical interviews with the parents and the spouses/significant others and the child/children involved in the litigation. PEPEs consist of psychological testing, clinical interviews, and a review of collateral data. PEPE’s do not offer an opinion regarding custody or visitation but seek to assist the Court with making informed decisions.

Although it is recommended that both parents participate in PEPEs, Custody Evaluations require that both parents, their spouses or significant others, and the child/children involved in the litigation participate in the evaluation. Custody evaluations additionally include psychological testing, clinical interviews, and a review of collateral data. Custody evaluations offer recommendations regarding custody and visitation schedules based on numerous variables including mental health and substance abuse disorders, special needs of child/children, the ability of parents to effectively communicate, and parent-child dynamics.

Psychological Evaluations can be conducted with a child/children involved in custody disputes and offer insight into their specific emotional, behavioral, and/or medical needs of the child/children. Parents and other caregivers are included in the evaluation with questions tailored to parent-child dynamics, and parenting strategies that best meet the needs of the child/children.
Each of these evaluations center on the best interests of the child/children and are intended to provide objective, non-biased information to the Court, Guardian ad Litems, and the involved parties.

Psychological Assessments for Child Protctive Services

Parenting Evaluations are conducted with parents involved with Child Protective Services Agencies and Family Courts to assist with developing case plans tailored to meet the needs of the parents and the children. These evaluations specifically address the impact of mental health and substance abuse diagnoses, lifestyle choices, relationships, financial and housing stability, cognitive capacities, and parenting skills on an individual’s ability to safely and competently parent their child/children.

Trauma and Abuse Evaluations assess whether a child has been exposed to trauma, neglect, and abuse, and the impact of these adverse life experiences on the child’s mental health. In addition to offering mental health diagnoses, treatment recommendations are also offered.

Sexual Abuse Evaluations specifically assess children for exposure to sexual abuse and sexually oriented materials in a developmentally appropriate manner. Sexual abuse evaluations identify the nature and extent of the sexually inappropriate experiences and the impact of these adverse life experiences on a child’s mental health. Similar to the Trauma and Abuse Evaluation, Sexual Abuse Evaluations assess children for mental health disorders associated with the trauma, such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety.

Bonding Assessments evaluate the bond and attachment between child/children and their potential adoptive parents/caregivers, and the relationships between siblings.

Multi-Ethnic Placement Act Evaluation (MEPA) specifically assesses a child’s request to be placed with or adopted by a caregiver of specific race/ethnicity.

Psychological Assessments for Juvenile Courts

Competency Evaluations assess a juvenile’s competence to stand trial and considers factors associated with intellectual abilities, mental health diagnoses, and knowledge of the court process.

Dispositional Evaluations offer recommendations to the Court when considering potential consequences for juveniles involved in the criminal justice system that consider the psychological needs of a juvenile.

Amenability Evaluations are requested when a Court considers binding over a juvenile to the adult system based on the severity of the charges. Amenability evaluations consider multiple factors salient to treatment amenability, including risk for future violence, developmental maturity, intellectual ability, and willingness to participate in treatment services.

Special Youth Offender Evaluations are dispositional evaluations that assist Courts with determining whether a juvenile should be subject to a Special Youth Offender designation and could potentially experience incarceration within the adult system after completing their sentences within the juvenile correctional system.

Therapy Services

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy TF-CBT is an evidence-based treatment for children and adolescents impacted by trauma and their parents or caregivers. TF-CBT has proved successful with children and adolescents who struggle with symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, fear, anxiety, or depression, related to traumatic life events. TF-CBT provides psychoeducation to both child and their non-offending caregivers and help them identify and cope with emotions, thoughts and behaviors.

Play, Art, Sand Tray Therapy These psychotherapy approaches help children and adolescents explore their thoughts and feelings freely; these non-verbal forms of therapy allow them to discuss and process their trauma in a safe, non-invasive way. Therapists use play, art, and sand tray as a way to communicate with children who often express themselves better through play activities than through verbal communication.

EMDR Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy is a unique, nontraditional form of psychotherapy designed to diminish negative feelings associated with memories of traumatic events. Unlike most forms of talk therapy, EMDR focuses less on the traumatic event itself and more on the disturbing emotions and symptoms that result from the event.

Caregiver Consultation-Caring for Traumatized Children Provides education to parents/caregivers about how to support their child during the aftermath of their disclosure of abuse and/or trauma. Parents/caregivers are educated on the effects of trauma and/or abuse on the child’s brain and how it impacts their emotions, feelings and behaviors. In cases of sexual abuse, parents/caregivers are provided guidance on how to address their child’s concerns, questions and how to talk to them about what happened.

Meet Our Team

Dr. Aimee Thomas

Email: athomas@lighthousefamilycenter.com

Dr. Aimee Thomas is a licensed Psychologist and Professional Clinical Counselor with a Supervision Endorsement. She has undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Political Science from Kent State University, a Master’s Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from Kent State University, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology from The University of Akron. In addition to the foregoing degrees in counseling and psychology, Dr. Thomas also has a Juris Doctorate degree from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. Although Dr. Thomas is a licensed attorney, her license is currently inactive and she does not practice law.

Dr. Thomas has 22 years of experience in private practice, correctional facilities, and the Veteran’s Administration. Dr. Thomas conducts parenting evaluations, psychological evaluations with parenting emphasis, and custody evaluations. These evaluations always prioritize the best interests of the child/children involved in the litigation. Additionally, Dr. Thomas has conducted numerous sexual abuse evaluations, competency evaluations, disposition evaluations, amenability evaluations, and special youth offender evaluations. Dr. Thomas estimates that she has conducted more than 3,000 evaluations and testified as expert witness more than 300 times throughout Ohio. She is also a member of the Ohio Supreme Court faculty and has given presentations/workshops on a multitude of topics, including courtroom testimony, custody evaluations, and the impact of child abuse on parenting.

In November 2018, Dr. Thomas, along with four of her colleagues, founded Lighthouse Family Center, Ltd. with the purpose of creating a child and family centered counseling and assessment practice, and with a foundation on trauma-informed and evidenced-based services. In addition to conducting a variety of court involved assessments, Dr. Thomas also provides counseling servcies to individuals diagnosed with co-occurring mental health and drug and alcohol use, co-occurring chronic pain and addiction, gender identity issues, high conflict family problems, and general mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, Bipolar Disorder, and Personality Disorders.

Ms.Carrie Schnirring

Email:cschnirring@lighthousefamilycenter.com

Ms. Schnirring graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Dayton, earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology and Criminal Justice. She was then awarded a Master of Arts Degree in Clinical Psychology from Xavier University. She has been employed as a mental health provider for over 20 years and she currently works under the clinical supervision of a licensed psychologist, per the requirements of the Ohio Psychology Board. Ms. Schnirring has extensive experience in psychological assessment, and to-date, she has conducted over 2500 evaluations with children to determine mental health diagnoses and treatment needs. She also has tremendous experience regarding trauma informed care, trauma focused therapy, and other counseling modalities. She is additionally skilled in the provision of parent consultation regarding children with behavioral difficulties and regarding children whose parents are involved in high conflict divorce proceedings or custody battles. Ms. Schnirring is the mental health liaison for the Child Abuse Multidisciplinary Team of Stark County and her office is located inside the Children’s Network of Stark County’s CAC. As such, she works closely with various social services agencies throughout Northeast Ohio and many of the children that she assists are in the foster care system. Her primary focus has become childhood sexual abuse, and much of her evaluation work has been dedicated to the assessment of children and adolescents that have made sexual abuse allegations and/or who have made disclosures about other traumatic experiences. Her work with this special population has resulted in her involvement in legally complex cases that have required expert witness testimony in both criminal and family court settings. Ms. Schnirring has been designated as an Expert Witness in Stark County, Summit County, Holmes County, Tuscarawas County, Wayne County, Carroll County, Richland County, and Fairfield County. Ms. Schnirring is listed on the Data Bank of Experts on Child Abuse (DECA List) that is recognized by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.

Ms.Gail Mager

Email:gmager@lighthousefamilycenter.com

Ms. Gail Mager Ms. Mager graduated from Kent State University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology and Master of Education Community Counseling with a focus on Marriage and Family. She has had additional training in counselor education and has a counselor supervising designation. During her 27-year career as a mental health professional, Ms. Mager has provided psychosocial assessments, trauma assessments, trauma focused therapy, individual counseling, marriage and couples counseling, family counseling, parent education, child and adolescent counseling, counseling for grief and loss and counselor supervision. Ms. Mager has worked with children in foster care, children being raised by extended family members, family reunifications, high conflict divorce families, individuals recovering from abuse, individuals who experience general mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, adjustment disorders and individuals who have been diagnosed with ADHD.

Wendy Cargnel

Email:wcargnel@lighthousefamilycenter.com

Ms. Wendy Cargnel is a licensed Professional Counselor who graduated from Walsh University with a Master of Arts Degree in Counseling and Human Development.  Ms. Cargnel obtained her Bachelor of Arts Education degree from The Ohio State University. As a clinical and school counselor for over 25 years, she has provided therapy services to numerous individuals, groups and families. Experience includes community mental health agencies, school counseling and specialized grief and trauma work. In addition, she previously taught at Walsh University serving as adjunct faculty member in graduate counseling program for twenty years and supervised numerous counseling interns in her career. Ms. Cargnel counsels’ individuals of all ages with Mood Disorders, Adjustment Disorders, Trauma, ADHD, Substance Abuse, Autism and Learning Disorders, Childhood Behavioral Disorders and Relationship struggles.  Ms. Cargnel also has experience in working with family members during high conflict divorce.  She has assisted victims of sexual abuse and/or assault in the school setting, as well as assisted family members to provide support in the home.   Her belief is that each of us are the experts of their own life. As a therapist, her role is not to tell you what you ought to do, but to work alongside of you and at a pace you are comfortable with. She will work collaboratively to understand your needs, identify goals, and take steps toward achieving them in a compassionate, confidential and safe environment. Her goals as a therapist are to help clients in discerning old patterns, explore feelings, thoughts, behaviors and attitudes to ultimately provide a skillset and toolbox to manage life in a healthier way. Counseling goals include decreasing maladaptive behaviors, increasing adaptive coping in mindfulness, stress tolerance, emotional regulation and interpersonal relationship skills. Ms. Cargnel believes that the word "therapy" connotes "change." She is proactive, creative and goal-directed in her therapy approaches to help foster growth. However, each situation is unique and the client's needs will dictate my approach and the pace.

Types of Therapy Attachment-based, Cognitive Behavioral (CBT), Dialectical Behavior (DBT), Existential, Expressive Arts, Family Systems,Humanistic,Integrative,Mindfulness-Based (MBCT),Motivational Interviewing,Person-Centered, Reality Therapy,Solution Focused Brief (SFBT),Strength-Based, Trauma Focused.

Contact Us

Telephone: 330-305-2753

Fax: 330-639-1712

Summit County Office
4526 Stow Rd.
Ste. #A


Main Campus
4111 Bradley Circle NW
Suite #150
Canton, Ohio 44718


The Children's Network
213 Market Ave. N
Ste. #200
Canton, Ohio 44702