Therapists in 49008

It's easy to get swept away by the daily struggle and getting back on track can be difficult. Something doesn’t feel right. Maybe you feel like you’re going through the motions or maybe you feel more on edge lately. You want to feel better, but you don’t know where or how to start. Whether you’re overwhelmed, suffering from a loss, or simply trying to make sense of life, I’m here to help.

Life is complicated and, at times, stressful. It's completely understandable to want to improve things in our life and it is hard to take that first step. By seeking counseling, you are taking that step and it's a journey that I would love to help you begin. Together, we can help figure out ways for you to empower yourself, challenge some negative beliefs about yourself, manage the various sources of stress that we experience daily, and overall help create the circumstances for a happier life.

I strive to provide the space for clients to feel empowered, identify ways to heal from the past, and work toward a future of prioritizing mental health and overall well-being.

I have been in practice in Kalamazoo for over 10 years. I am certified in Trauma Informed Assessment and Intervention, as well as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, play therapy, and have expertise in several parenting approaches. In addition to clinical practice, I am a school social worker, and proud father of 8 children. I use a person-centered approach, allowing clients to set their goals, providing a safe space and supportive environment to move them in the direction of their goals.

I am here to support you as you navigate life's challenges and transitions. My first goal is to create a safe, confidential and relaxed environment where you can share freely and be your genuine self. I focus on the whole person and use a mix of techniques including compassion, empathy, strengths-based, skill-building, mindfulness and creative expression to address a variety of issues. We will work together to set goals and create steps to achieve those goals based on what you want and need.

My goal as a therapist is to create a warm, safe, collaborative, authentic, and trusting environment for my clients. I am passionate about working with those who are experiencing challenges with their sexuality/gender identity, sexual self, relationships, self-esteem, and trauma. My clients can expect a genuine therapeutic relationship where all parts of them are welcome.

I believe in the wisdom within each of us and work to instill in each person a deep sense of self-respect and compassion. My work includes cognitive, psycho-spiritual, and expressive approaches. I use emotional release techniques for deep change in thinking and feeling patterns that interfere with current well-being and functioning. For addiction issues, I provide ear acupuncture and help people assess the extent of the problem and stop the harm. We then work through the recovery stages. For PTSD from childhood trauma or from military service I use several approaches, including Prolonged Exposure Therapy.

Therapy is hard. My job is to make you feel confident with your decision to reach out for help while guiding you through your own personal growth and healing. Healing from trauma will be the hardest and most worthwhile decision of your life, and you do not have to go through it alone. I offer individual therapy for adolescents and adults in a LGBTQ+ open and affirming practice. Please reach out if you would like to connect about the therapy process.

Life can change in a flash. Transitions are not always expected. Job loss, chronic illness, death of a loved one, a pandemic - not to mention those we do plan, such as moving, empty nest, retirement, and others. We often try to avoid transitions because change can be hard. Even a positive change can cause feelings of loss, anxiety, overwhelmed and often leads to anxiety or depression. The good news is those suffering from emotional instability, a trauma & loss, or other mental health illnesses can learn new tools and skills to maneuver their way to a new calm and peace.

Sometimes life challenges us with difficult circumstances and painful emotions. At these times we may not be able to see our way out with any clarity. A compassionate guide can be helpful. I have a deep respect for one's capacity to heal and I invite the integration of mind, body, spirit and emotions into this process. I explore with you the themes in your life that create blocks to feeling centered and fulfilled. While it is important to hear what you are saying, it is also important to hear what you are not saying, providing a deeper kind of listening.

I enjoy helping people find and use their strengths to work toward building a life worth living.

Hello, my name is Gretchen and I am a compassionate and caring Limited Licensed Psychologist dedicated to helping you achieve health and wholeness in your spirit, soul and body. I am proud of you for taking a first step in exploring how counseling may benefit you. If you choose to work with me and include me in your journey towards wellness, you should know that creating a safe, honest and productive environment for you to grow is my top priority. This requires great vulnerability on your part and I am honored to step into this work with you.

Starting therapy can be a tough choice to make. I am here to provide support, empathy, and a safe space as you take this journey into healing and self-growth.I believe that therapy is a collaborative process where you and I work together to explore your thoughts, feelings, experiences, and goals. My approach is client-centered, meaning that your concerns and needs come first in sessions. I provide a non-judgmental space where you can express yourself freely and work towards the changes you seek in your life.

Everyone experiences struggles and challenges in life. Whether it is divorce, job change, grief and loss, depression, anxiety, trauma, or relationship issues; therapy can help improve the outcome during these times. With my 25 years as a clinical social worker I have had the opportunity to work with individuals, couples and groups from all walks of life. I welcome everyone and strive to provide an environment that is open, welcoming, safe and supportive. My goal is to provide you with new skills and tools to help develop insight and resolution during these difficult times.

I work to support people through depression and anxiety, difficult relationships, trauma and loss, PTSD, sexual orientation concerns, grief, and other challenging life transitions. Together we explore ways to shape a life rich with purpose and meaning. While I believe each of us carries the wisdom to create authentic and lasting change in our own lives, often access to this intuitive knowing is blocked or damaged. My goal to help you cultivate, restore, and strengthen the connection to your own inner knowing.

Counseling can serve many different purposes--it can help us gain understanding into ourselves, gain understanding in how we navigate our world and relationships, it can help us heal from past hurts. I strive to offer a therapeutic setting where clients feel welcome and safe to process challenges in life and to gain perspective. For some clients building skills and tools can be helpful in overcoming struggles. I provide an avenue to equip clients in this way. I have been a counselor for over 30 years, and believe people are uniquely created with God given potential to live a victorious life.

Life is often really tough. My goal is to provide a safe space for my clients to share their story, their struggles, their victories and their goals so they can feel less alone and also have a therapeutic partner to sort through what they'd like to understand better about themselves in order to take new steps towards wellness and growth. Being understood by a compassionate person is strengthening, and so is having a therapeutic partner to help you think about what you're thinking about and what you'd rather be focusing on.

Do you have a behaviorally challenging child whose struggling to follow directions. I help children with behavior problems, unresolved trauma and attachment/relationship problems. I help adopted and foster children connect and form meaningful relationships with caregivers. I use a variety of methods to help children and their family, predominantly though I use play therapy, parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT) and cognitive behavioral therapy (trauma-focused when needed).

Hey there, I'm really glad you're here. Let me tell you a bit about why therapy is so meaningful to me. I began my own journey into therapy when I was younger, facing similar struggles to what you might be experiencing now. It wasn't easy, but therapy became my anchor during those tough times. It showed me that even in the midst of darkness, there's hope and room for joy. Now, I'm here to offer you that same support and guidance. If you're ready to take that step, I'm here to walk alongside you, helping you find the tools you need to feel better.