Our Counselors

A headshot of Mary Riposo. She is smiling warmly, wearing a black button up dress garment.

Mary Riposo LPCC

Accepting New Clients

Mary​ ​received​ ​her​ ​B.A.​ ​in​ ​sociology​ ​from​ ​Emory​ ​University​ ​and​ ​her​ ​M.A. ​in Clinical-Community​ Mental​ ​Health​ ​counseling​ ​from​ ​the​
University ​of​​ ​Akron.

She​ ​has​ ​had​ ​experience working ​in​ both community-based agencies​ and private practices. Mary has​ worked with​ ​survivors of​ ​​sexual​ ​assault ​​and​ provided ​academic​ and​ emotional​ ​support​ ​to​ ​children​ ​in​ ​metro​ ​Atlanta.​

She ​believes​ in a​​ ​strength-based​ ​perspective ​​and sees ​ counseling​ ​ as​ ​ a​ ​ tool​ ​ by​​ which​ ​ empowerment,​ ​ insight,​​ ​and ​skills​​ ​can ​​be​ ​gained ​​to​ ​improve self, relationships, and​ ​​overall ​ quality​ ​​of​ ​life.​

​Mary ​​has ​​experience​ ​working​ ​in​ ​groups, ​ with​ couples, and​ ​ with​ ​ individuals​ ​ and​ ​ primarily​ ​ utilizes​ ​ Dialectical​ ​ ​Behavior ​ therapy​ ​ ​and Cognitive-Behavioral​ ​therapy​ and mindfulness-based approaches​, ​and​ ​expressive techniques.​

Mary​ ​enjoys​ ​working​ ​with​ ​clients​ to strengthen​ ​their​ ​ability​ ​to​ ​decrease​ ​anxiety and ​ manage​ ​ depressive​ ​ symptoms and​ ​ ​is experienced working​ ​ with​ ​survivors​ ​of ​​trauma, and ​has a​ ​passion​ ​for​ ​women’s​ ​issues ​and​ relationship-building skills.​ ​She ​has​ ​​experience working ​ with​ ​ adults​ ​ with​ ​ ADHD,​ ​ individual​ ​ ​and ​ couples​​ LGBTQ​ ​​concerns, ​​issues​ related​ ​ ​to body ​ image​ ​ and​ ​ self-esteem​ ​, and​​ addiction.​ ​She​ ​​is​ ​currently completing the requirements​ ​ to​ ​ become​ ​ a​ ​ supervising​ ​ counselor.​

Thomas Taylor, LPCC-S

Thomas earned his Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology and a Bachelor’s of Arts in Sociology from The University of Akron. Additionally, Thomas received his Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the University of Akron.

He is currently a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with Supervision Designation (LPCC-S.)

Thomas has worked in community mental health for a number of years which helped him develop an eclectic counseling style.  He has worked with populations of all age ranges from toddlers to older adults and with a myriad of mental health concerns.

Some of his specialty areas include: Gifted populations, anxiety, depression, trauma and adolescence issues. His theoretical perspective follows the integrative approach with emphasis on person-centered and solution-focused elements.

Thomas focuses primarily on helping individuals harness their will and integrity to strive towards their best selves in a nonjudgmental, growth oriented environment that allows for mistakes, learning and adaptation.

A headshot of Thomas Taylor. A black male with short dark hair. Thomas is smiling and wearing a grey sweater with a black stripe. He is standing against a purple wall.
Headshot of Taylour Kidd, smiling. Caucasian female with long dark hair. She is wearing a grey short sleeved shirt.

Taylour Kidd, LPCC

Accepting New Clients

Taylour earned her Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University in Findlay and her Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Walsh University. Taylour is a licensed professional clinical counselor (LPCC).

She began working in the mental health field as a case manager at a community mental health agency and has been working as a full-time counselor since graduating. Taylour has experience working with adolescents and adults with a variety of behavioral and emotional concerns, including depression, anxiety, ADHD, self-esteem issues, relationship issues, trauma, addiction, stress management, and adaptive skill-building to manage areas such as care tasks (feeding, cleaning, hygiene, etc.).

Mercedes Bryjak, LPCC, IMFT, CST

Accepting New Clients (Starting May 5th, 2025)

Mercedes Bryjak received her bachelor’s degree in Language Arts and Psychology from Cleveland State University in 2010. She obtained her master’s degree in counseling as well as in Marriage and Family Therapy from University of Akron in 2014. She became a Certified Sex Therapist in August 2024 and is currently credentialed with the AASECT Board.

Mercedes Bryjak is proficient in the implementation of Cognitive Behavioral therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment therapy (ACT), trauma-informed techniques as well as family therapy modalities to address the needs of individual clients including teens and adults.

Mercedes specializes in utilizing systemic approaches including Gottman level I and II, Emotionally Focused therapy, Integrative Behavioral Couple therapy as well as various sex therapy modalities in conceptualization and treatment of the complex needs of couples. She is passionate about working with those struggling with mood disorders, adolescent services, couples therapy, family therapy, grief counseling, men’s issues, women’s issues, sex/intimacy issues, parenting, stress management, life transitions.

A headshot of Mercedes Bryjak. She is wearing a black turtleneck and smiling in an office setting.

Administrative Staff

We understand the need for compassion and confidentiality and we believe that starts with our front office staff.

The Intera Staff

The Intera Counseling and Wellness Mission

Intera Counseling and Wellness was born of a vision of therapy that reflects the meaning of the word by helping people to achieve their true Intera which means “whole” in Italian.
At Intera, our mission is to help our clients reach their goals through support, encouragement, and education. We welcome individuals, couples, children, families, and groups. In-person and virtual sessions are available.