Former police officer Sara Shaw has launched a mental health therapy office in downtown Toledo. Her effort directs care toward workers who routinely handle emergency calls and public safety crises. Shaw spent more than 25 years with the Oregon Police Division.
Now retired, she uses that law enforcement career and her personal grief to guide the enterprise. Shaw described answering a new call to aid people in distress.
Shaw said parts of her police shifts already included unofficial counseling duties. She lacked the state license at that time.
“We go and we council people all the time when we’re on the job,” Shaw said. “Really giving people suggestions — ‘Hey, that might not be the best idea because of this.’ And we really help people think through some of their thoughts.”
Her operation, Ahava Mind, operates out of Ahava Spa and Wellness Center. The site sits along St. Clair Street in Toledo.
In 2020, her husband died by suicide. He served as a City of Sylvania police officer.
“I had the hard, hard conversations,” Shaw said. “I asked the questions. ‘Are you OK? Do you ever think of hurting yourself? Do you not want to be here?’ And I really felt like I was doing it right… and when that happened and he died, it was such a shock. To not just me and the family, but his professional family.”
That personal tragedy directs her therapy services. The business serves adults facing trauma, grief, anxiety and life transitions.
Core client groups include several service fields:
- First responders
- Veterans
- Educators
- Health care workers
- Legal professionals
“This is a space where officers, first responders, helping professionals can come in here and say it. Say how they feel. There’s no judgment because I get it. I get it. I’ve probably said the same thing you’ve wanted to say,” Shaw said.
Shaw listed warning signs that relatives and coworkers can monitor. Key indicators involve short tempers at home or disciplinary issues on the job. Others numb pain through alcohol or medicine, or pull away completely.
“We like to disappear when we don’t feel good,” Shaw said. She said individuals must look out for one another.
Shaw said she shaped the office for individuals who care for the public first. The office features a private entrance to safeguard client confidentiality.
Licensed professional counselors provide clinical mental health services across Ohio under state standards. Therapy practices often supply confidential spaces for specialized trauma care.
Shaw said clients can book in-person visits in Toledo or through secure telehealth across Ohio. She offers an initial free 15-minute consultation for new clients.
