Depression Therapists in Valparaiso, IN

A positive relationship between you and your clinician is a foundational piece in your therapeutic journey. I believe in an unified body, mind and soul approach to equip people with the tools and skills to heal themselves. I believe you are the expert of your life and I want to help guide you in building on your strengths by using a client-centered, solution-focused, caring approach. My goal is to always provide an encouraging, empathetic and affirming environment that is warm and non-judgmental. I look forward to meeting with you and learning how I can help you reach your goals.”

I am known for my direct manner and skill building emphasis. I believe in human potential and orient myself toward teaching people how to manage their lives rather than assuming the role of managing their life for them. My principal professional affiliation is with the American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA) of which I am a Fellow. I have found that group psychotherapy provides an effective avenue for personal change and skills consolidation, especially for people who struggle with relationships. I enjoy working with adolescents, marital cases and individuals with long term mood disorders.

We are a family oriented group practice comprised of a group of skilled and experienced therapists with a variety of specialties. We offer in office and teletherapy sessions. We have therapists licensed in the following states: Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Utah. We work with children, teens, adults and elderly adults in individual, couples, and family counseling. Some of our specialties include marital issues, coparenting, substance abuse, addiction, trauma, grief, relationship issues, LGBTQ+, anxiety, depression, ADHD, and dealing with everyday issues and stress.

Do you often feel on edge, fatigued, or irritable? Do you feel like there are no other options or that no one is listening? Do you feel like you struggle to focus on the present because of so much thought on the past? Do you isolate or often feel down? These are all common for many of us at different parts of our lives. Many of us need support and struggle to discover who and what resources we have so that we may overcome life stressors. Therapy could be just what you need to tap into your best you! You have made a major step in your mental health journey just by searching for a therapist to fit your needs.

I graduated with a Bachelors from Indiana University Northwest and received my masters in Marriage and Family Therapy from Northcentral University. I have over 20 years experience working in mental health. I have a specialization in children and adolescents. I have an extensive background working with children, adolescents, adults and families in a variety of disciplines including acute care and residential settings with high behavioral and mental health needs as well as have worked extensively with children and adolescents from traumatic backgrounds in the foster care system. I believe that mental health is a personal journey.

Oftentimes, the origin of our individual emotional struggles are not always apparent to us. We can become alarmed when these struggles begin to impact on our day to day living and relationships. It is then that clients most often begin to reach out for therapy to gain further insight into their thoughts, actions, and feelings. Distorted thinking patterns can fuel low self esteem and affect every area in a persons life. A once used defense mechanism may no longer be useful or beneficial to your mental health and once identified can be discussed in therapy and clients can learn more adaptive ways of coping.

I have been a therapist for 20 years and have treated adult clients with mental health concerns, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and trauma, as well as dual diagnosis, substance abuse, and problem gambling. I have also seen adolescents in treatment for substance abuse and problem gambling issues. I believe it is important for the client to feel secure and at ease in a supportive therapeutic environment, without judgment, and that it is necessary to empower the client to resolve the issue and live his or her best life.

I work with clients consisting of a wide range of ages including adults, adolescents and children. My experience includes treating clients who struggle with ADHD, anxiety, depression, ODD, OCD, trauma and many more. I provide techniques that are Evidence-Based and utilize CBT and Motivational Interviewing, to help serve clients to achieve their needs while working with their strengths. I have extensive experience; including leadership roles, providing services within the community treating individuals that have been involved with the Department of Child Services and have high complex needs.

I have many years of experience in working with people from many different cultural backgrounds and I am very aware of the importance of how our cultures influence our mental health. I love working with individuals and families and have had many success in doing so. I love helping people to have the confidence to be authentically themselves.

I am passionate about empowering children, adolescents and adults to overcome the many struggles of life that may be impeding their personal success. My goal is to create a safe and accepting environment using a client-centered approach so that all clients are given the opportunity to explore, understand, and cope with life’s challenges, events, and relationships. I especially love working with members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and I have worked extensively with adolescents in an educational setting as well as individuals experiencing symptoms of anxiety, depression, trauma, and significant stress.

My ideal client is an individual who is ready and willing to explore the challenges and changes we face throughout life. I have worked with male and female clients from pre-adolescence up into adulthood with a range of presenting problems including anxiety, depression, stress, self-esteem, personality disorders, and family dynamics. Implementing a person-centered approach recognizes the client as the expert in their life while I support them along the way.

There are many reasons people seek out counseling, but the underlying reasons are that we are looking for change, meaning, or healing. Whatever your individual needs may be, I commend you for taking the first steps in addressing your situation head-on. Each client is unique, and therefore, there is no one right approach that may work best for everyone. Because of this, I use a trauma-informed integrative style to give you, the client, space to be yourself in an empathic and non-judgmental environment.

My passion is to help guide children, adolescents and adults during times of hopelessness and fear. I believe that your past does not determine your future. My practice emphasizes providing evidence-based therapeutic interventions proven to be effective and is facilitated in a safe, caring, confidential and non-judgmental environment. Over a decade of experience in mental health has embraced my passion in helping adolescents and adults heal. I have extensive training treating clients who experience a variety of distressing symptoms related to; PTSD/Trauma, Depression, Anxiety, Bi-Polar Disorder, Grief and Loss, Divorce-Related Issues, Stress and Anger Management, Codependency and many more.

I have worked with children, adolescents, veterans and adults in many settings including inpatient and outpatient settings with high acute behaviors. I hold a Master’s degree in social work from Indiana University. I specialize in substance use counseling, and motivational interviewing. I have experience in trauma informed care, and specialize in identifying the client’s strength to become a better version of you. I have worked extensively with those experiencing anxiety, depression, stress related disorders, PTSD, bipolar disorder, borderline personality, behavioral issues and life transitions.

It is not a coincidence that you are reading this right now. If you are, it is likely that you are deciphering whether or not to take the first step in reaching out for additional support. I commend you for taking the very first step towards change and control over your life. I believe each individual is unique; therefore, I use an integrative approach in session to best suit your personal needs. I am here to work with you in an affirmative, empathic, non-judgmental, and empowering space. You are not alone. You deserve to be heard.

Seeing others heal through different therapeutic approaches is one of my greatest accomplishments in life. My goal is to create an atmosphere where people can freely express themselves without judgement or ridicule from the therapist but to aide in being the best version of themselves. My target audience are adolescent teens and adults struggling with anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, and/or any social emotional impact one may be experiencing. Using a CBT approach, my goal is to assist the client in establishing and differentiating between negative and healthy thoughts as well as see the power of behavioral change.

We are accepting new clients and have in-person and remote availability. Whether you, or a loved one, are struggling with anxiety, depression, relationship issues or just need a place to talk, Pillars' holistic approach to health and wellness has a treatment option that can work for you. When we started Pillars we quickly realized that to best help our clients we needed to partner with clinicians with diverse backgrounds and skills. We have remained steadfast in our efforts to create a team of clinicians with a varied specializations, so that we can be sure to effectively serve our clients and our community.

I hold a Masters degree in Education from Purdue Calumet with a concentration in School and Mental Health Counseling. I have spent the last 10+ years working with children, adolescents and their families in many capacities including child welfare and as a guidance counselor in the local school systems. In the counseling field within the school systems, I provided support to families and counseling services to students in both the individual setting as well as group setting who are struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma-related disorders, grief, mood disorders, ADHD, behavioral disorders and many more.

I view it as an honor and a privilege to work with those who have the personal courage it takes to make changes in their lives. At any age, we all have potential for growth and change. "Finding the good and building on that" is a philosophy I strongly embrace. I see it as my job to listen carefully to you and then partner with you to help reach your identified goals. Together we can work toward your self-empowerment, rediscover your capacity to make peace with the past, live well in the present, and create the future you desire.