Mackenzie Nester MSW, LSW

She/her

Mackenzie is passionate about supporting women - particularly those on their motherhood journey - build compassionate and curious relationships toward their bodies and minds. If you are struggling with anxiety, depression, body image struggles, disordered eating, mom rage, identity and role confusion, pressure to be "perfect", people pleasing, boundary setting, or stress under the weight of the maternal mental load, you are in the right place. All these are well-intentioned responses (often to patriarchal systems, trauma and relational wounds) that deserve to be validated, understood and released from the burdens they hold.

Mackenzie’s style is warm, relational and grounded in a trauma-informed, identity-affirming lens. She often draws from systems and feminist theories and Internal Family Systems (IFS), though she prioritizes the safety and connection of therapeutic relationship over any one approach. She  has worked across several levels of care supporting clients with eating disorders and has specialized training in perinatal mental health - spanning infertility and preconception to pregnancy to postpartum - through Postpartum Support International.

Mackenzie believes therapists are not a blank slate and acknowledges her worldview is influenced by her identities as a white, straight-size, heterosexual, cisgender, able-bodied woman and lived experience as a mother. She is actively committed to her own unlearning and divesting from systems of oppression. Within the therapeutic space, this includes intentionally naming and exploring the systemic factors that impact clients, and outside of it, this looks like engaging in social justice and advocacy work around maternal mental health, paid parental leave and affordable childcare.

Mackenzie believes you have inherent goodness and wisdom that can help you navigate life's inevitable struggles with less suffering. Her role is to help you access what's already within you. If you're interested in seeing if we might be a good fit, please reach out to schedule a complimentary consultation!

Mackenzie sees adult clients virtually in the state of Ohio under the supervision of Jackie Garn, LISW-S.

What brings me joy…my daughter’s laugh, walks with my golden retriever, reading nonfiction on the porch, baking, traveling and exploring new places on foot, journaling, yoga, photography, summertime and Graeter’s black raspberry chocolate chip ice cream.

Certifications: Behavioral Health Workforce and Education Training Program (BHWET)

Education: BA in Communication Studies, Saint Mary’s College; Masters in Social Work, The Ohio State University