Rev. Peggy Ann "Serena" Hemmer

Rev. Peggy Ann “Serena” Hemmer prefers to be called Serena and brings a creative, holistic approach to clinical counseling. She has provided therapy for children ages 3 and up, adults, couples, and families since 2004, after spending 10 years working with county and state departments of mental health and substance abuse.

Serena integrates mind, body, and spirit into her work, drawing on a range of holistic practices and life philosophies. She uses Expressive Arts and play-based methods with young people and their families, and she established an Expressive Arts Clinical Program at a behavioral health residential center for youth. Certified in Rational Hypnotherapy, she offers techniques to address anxiety, phobias, and addictions.

She holds a Bachelor of Social Work degree, earned Summa Cum Laude from Capital University, and a Master of Social Work from The Ohio State University. In Florida she is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (FL LCSW SW14761) and holds certifications in Rational Hypnotherapy, Gottman Couples Counseling, and Spiritual Life Coaching. As an ordained metaphysical New Thought minister and a certified Spiritual Life Coach, she supports clients who wish to explore and expand their values, spirituality, and faith.

Serena blends formal training, clinical experience, and intuition with movement and the arts. Her background in dance, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, drama, visual arts, and pottery has shaped her work with children, adults, and couples. She is a Reiki Master Teacher, an Advanced Theta Healing practitioner, an Access Bars Practitioner, and has taught Qi Gong and Tai Chi for State of Ohio employees. Her private practice began in 2006 in Worthington, Ohio, later moved to Westerville, Ohio, and is currently located in Saint Petersburg, Florida.

Throughout her career she has developed and presented workshops for families and providers, including presentations for the Ohio Department of Health Birth to Three Conference, the Ohio Department of Aging Governor’s Conference on Aging, the Ohio Department of Mental Health Millennium Conference, and other professional gatherings addressing topics such as expressive arts in youth counseling, bullying, attachment and placement, and distress screening. Her publications include I Am Me, I Am, A Pearl’s Wisdom Book (2020) and articles such as “I Don’t Need Counseling.”