Cornerstone Family Services is committed to increasing accessibility of Christian counselors and furthering counselor education in Central Ohio by providing internship opportunities for counseling graduates. Each Counselor Trainee (CT) is required by the State of Ohio to log 600 hours of supervised counseling before receiving their Licensed Professional Counselor designation. Each counseling session is reviewed with their supervising Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC-S). After reaching the 600-hour milestone, CT’s are required to pass the National Counselor Exam (NCE) to receive their Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) designation.
During the training and supervisory period, state law prohibits interns from receiving direct compensation for their counseling services. Through the internship program, Cornerstone provides no-cost counseling services for social agencies such as Mental Health America of Ohio (MHA), as well as low-pay counseling for economically disadvantaged clients. Fees collected from low-pay clients go directly to Cornerstone to support our mission of providing quality professional mental health care to anyone in need, regardless of financial means.
Jennifer Pennington, CT
Email: jpennington@cstoneohio.org
Phone: 614-459-3003, ext. 831
Areas of Clinical Focus: Abuse/Domestic Violence, Anger management, Anxiety, Career Counseling, Depression, Eating Disorders, First Responder Care, Grief, Mood Disorders, Parenting, Relationships, Spiritual Issues
Jennifer Pennington is a counselor trainee currently under the supervision of Chad Kays, LPCC-S. She is pursuing her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling at the Townsend Institute Concordia University Irvine and is in her 3rd year. She is a member of the American Counseling Association and the American Association of Christian Counselors. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science at the University of Dayton and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Grand Canyon University. For five years, she worked as an EMT and for seven years, she worked as a home health and hospice RN.
Professional Focus:
Jennifer transitioned into the counseling field after working as a hospice nurse. Nursing led her to realize she has a passion for helping others with life’s challenges. She understands the difficulties life brings and how crucial it is to seek guidance when needed. She also understands the hardship of eating disorders, divorce, and adolescence.
Personal Info:
Jennifer moved to Columbus from Phoenix, AZ six years ago. She has two grown children and a dog. She loves to watch OSU football, Phoenix Suns basketball, and work out. She also enjoys spending time with her children and boyfriend. She loves being outdoors when it is warm but is still getting used to Ohio winters. She is looking forward to this new chapter in her life and connecting with others.
Kristi Todd, CT
Email: ktodd@cstoneohio.org
Phone: 614-459-3003, ext. 833
Areas of Clinical Focus: Boundaries, Church hurt, Faith-related concerns, Identity development, Life transitions, Parenting and resilience, Relationship concerns, Trauma
Kristi Todd is a Counselor Trainee currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Counseling at Crown College. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies from Simpson University and brings many years of ministry leadership experience, both in the local church and internationally, into her counseling work. Kristi is under the supervision of Tracy Whiteside, LPCC-S.
Professional Focus:
Kristi works with individuals (16+) and couples and brings a strong relational focus. She supports clients processing trauma, life transitions, identity concerns, faith-related issues, boundary challenges, and church-related hurt. Kristi strives to create a counseling space that is warm, thoughtful, and safe—one where clients feel seen, heard, and supported as they work toward healing and growth. She is described as insightful, discerning, and easy to open up to, with a relational style that helps clients gain clarity and perspective. Her approach is trauma-informed and grounded in foundational cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), with integration of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), attachment-based therapy, and family systems perspectives. Kristi values integrating faith into the counseling process when desired and provides sensitivity and space for each client’s unique spiritual journey.
Personal Info:
When Kristi isn’t spending time with her people (especially the additions of 2 grandbabies), you might find her with her hands and nose in the soil of one of her many house plants or clipped into her skis on a mountain (hopefully in Colorado). Kristi enjoys snuggling her two large pups and working, with her husband, on making their empty nest into something beautiful.
Chase Weatherbee, CT
Email: cweatherbee@cstoneohio.org
Phone: 614-459-3003, ext. 830
Areas of Focus: Anger, Anxiety, Career Counseling, College, Depression, Grief, Spiritual Issues, Sexual Integrity/Addiction
Chase Weatherbee is a counselor trainee currently under the supervision of Tracy Whiteside, LPCC-S. He is pursuing his master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling at Ashland Theological Seminary and is a member of the American Counseling Association. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Actuarial Science from The Ohio State University in 2022. For the past five years, Chase has been serving in various capacities at his church, walking alongside others in their spiritual journeys.
Professional Focus:
Chase transitioned into the field of counseling after starting his career as an actuary. Although his work in the actuarial field was rooted in numbers and analysis, it was his growing passion for connecting with people and supporting their emotional well-being that ultimately led him to pursue counseling. Chase’s desire to help others navigate life’s challenges and uncover their inner strength has driven him to make this meaningful shift.
Personal Info:
Chase is from northeast Ohio and met his wife in college at Ohio State. He is regularly playing soccer, disc golf, and pickleball, and watches the Browns in the fall. Recently he has picked up some indoor hobbies as well such as learning the piano and baking. He also loves to spend time with friends, play games, and watch TV with his wife and dog.
Maddie Ziamba, CT
Email: mziamba@cstoneohio.org
Phone: 614-459-3003, ext. 832
Areas of Focus: Adolescents, Anxiety, Depression, Grief, Life Transitions, Spiritual Issues, Trauma
Maddie Ziamba is a counselor trainee currently under the supervision of Tracy Whiteside, LPCC-S. She is pursuing her Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Ashland Theological Seminary and is a member of the American Counseling Association. Maddie graduated from Ohio University in 2020 with a BA in psychology.
Professional Focus:
Maddie has witnessed firsthand the transformation that can take place in the counseling space. She is committed to providing a safe and accepting environment for her clients to process and heal. Maddie desires to empower her clients by highlighting strengths, identifying values, and confronting difficult emotions. Maddie is eager to serve adolescents, adults, and groups as a counselor trainee.
Personal Info:
Maddie enjoys baking, hiking, running, and spending time with friends and family. In her spare time, Maddie is usually chasing around her energetic toddler or doing house projects with her husband.