Trauma Focused Therapists in Ann Arbor, MI

While many choose to focus on treating the symptoms, Watson focuses on identifying and resolving the root cause of concern. Her unique ability to tailor therapy to the individual needs of each client means that no session looks or works the exact same way. Like the ever-popular Painting with a Twist, her creative art therapy session allows clientele to paint a canvas while enjoying healthy snacks and expressing themselves openly. Working diligently to create and maintain an authentic, non-judgmental atmospheere, Watson realizes that one can only experience true, complete healing through in-depth root cause analysis.

Immediate openings! Sometimes we get caught up in the messiness of life and forget to enjoy it. I get it, life can be stressful. All of our feelings are normal but sometimes we feel them more intense and they might even make our day to day lives extra challenging (anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, motivation, trauma, ADHD...sound familiar?) You are deserving of a life that you enjoy living and I am here to help you get back to your best, authentic self.

You've been taking care of others for as long as you can remember. You’ve always sacrificed your own well-being to help those around you. A friend broke up with her partner, so you’re the shoulder to cry on. There was a problem with a client at work, so you fixed it. Your husband and kids rely on you for everything from getting dressed to eating meals. “As long as everyone else is happy,” you tell yourself, “Then I’m fine.” But you’re not fine. You’ve completely lost touch with yourself and don’t have the time or energy to find your way back. You’re filled with guilt whenever you try to take a moment for yourself. It feels hopeless.

As a mental health professional with extensive experience in education, I recognize the complex social, emotional, and cognitive challenges faced by today’s young people and, by extension, those who care for them. With social media, civil discord, education policy, the 24 hour news cycle, etc. everything is simply harder now. While I specialize in kids, families, and educators, a combination of lived experience and formal training allows me insight into the differing needs across the lifespan.

I am accepting new clients. Please verify you have insurance that I accept. We all have some form of inner strength or resilience, but that can be hard to access when we’re feeling overwhelmed or stressed or in crisis. Life changes, anxiety, depression, chronic illness, college, work (to name a few) are all factors in our life that can be difficult to navigate at one time or another. Whatever it is that’s motivating you to seek help; you don’t have to go it alone. I provide an emotionally safe, caring, and non-judgmental space where we can work together to find your unique path forward.

As a dedicated and compassionate therapist since 2006, I specialize in working with teens and adults, providing a safe and supportive environment for healing and growth. With extensive experience and credentials as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CAADC), Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS), Certified Clinical Trauma Professional II (CCTP II), and Registered Play Therapist, I am equipped to address a variety of mental health and substance use concerns. In my practice, I strive to foster a therapeutic relationship built on trust and empathy.

Over the years of being a therapist, I have had the honor of walking alongside adults facing different challenges and I remain amazed by the strength and goodness of people. I would be honored to join you in your journey to enjoying a life that is in sync with your values. Whether depression, anxiety, traumas, or using strategies that are no longer in line with the life you desire, together we can develop a greater understanding and create paths forward.

My main focus is to provide effective, individualized, and evidence-based treatment for children, adolescents, and adults. I work with individuals across the lifespan from ages 5 years through older adults. I emphasize trust and autonomy in my treatment approach. We will work together to empower you to lead treatment toward fostering confidence in yourself to gain awareness and skillful resources throughout the therapeutic process. Common concerns I work with are anxiety, OCD, depression, self-esteem, trauma, mood disorders, interpersonal conflicts, ADHD, adjustment-related concerns, parent coaching, and general life stressors.

*Not currently taking new clients* Being a human is hard, and for most of us, no one has guided us how to navigate through the messiness of life. At some point in our lives, we might find ourselves lost and stuck. It takes a lot of courage to reflect inwards and work on ourselves. I'm committed to understanding your story in the full context of your experiences and helping you make the changes you want to see. Humor is also important to me, and I hope we can find ways to laugh together. I strive to create a therapeutic space with you that supports healing, resolution, and where you can practice skills that you can use everyday.

Amy Pershing is the President of the Center for Eating Disorders and Founding Director of "Bodywise," the first comprehensive treatment program for binge eating disorder (BED) in the United States. Pershing lectures internationally on the treatment of BED and her own recovery journey and has been featured on numerous radio and television programs speaking about BED treatment and recovery. Pershing is the author of Binge Eating Disorder: The Journey to Recovery and Beyond (Routledge, 2018), and "Emotional Eating, Chronic Dieting, Bingeing And Body Image: A Trauma-Informed Workbook ", with co-authors Judith Matz and Christy Harrison.

Are you finding that you are experiencing increased anxiety in certain situations? Or do you blame yourself or have feelings of guilt regarding a traumatic event? Do you find that sadness is causing a loss of interest in things you used to enjoy?

I work with clients who have experienced childhood trauma, have been or are in a relationship with a narcissistic parent or spouse, are experiencing job-related stress, are grieving the loss of a parent or spouse, and are struggling with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and have obsessive-com I also have extensive experience working with individuals on the autism spectrum. Therapy is a collaboration between the therapist and the client. Creating a sense of safety is paramount in building trust and a solid therapeutic foundation. As a therapist, I'm highly intuitive, compassionate, empathetic, and caring about my clients.

Have you reached a point in your life where something just needs to give? Would you like to change your way of thinking and feeling for the better? Does setting and reaching long sought-after goals sound good to you? Would it be nice to pinpoint what you really want and need in your life and let go of negative patterns and messages from the past?

Life is full of challenges, and we as humans were not meant to face them alone. Whether you struggle with unresolved trauma, depression, anxiety, difficulty making meaningful connections, or simply coping with the everyday stresses of life, it can feel overwhelming to try and face it alone. The goods news? You don’t have to! I am passionate about helping people such as yourself work through painful life experiences, learn to tolerate painful emotions, develop a deep sense of connectedness, and discover a life of fulfillment they may have never thought possible. Whatever difficult journey you’re facing, let’s walk it together.

As a therapist my goal is to meet you exactly where you and not to leave you there alone. Looking for someone to process the ups of downs of life can be challenging. Here at 1st Step Referral Services, I look to provide a safe and non judgmental space where healing and resilience can blossom.

I have worked with numerous populations including adolescents, adults and families. I have been working in the field of addiction treatment for several years, with other specialties including domestic violence, trauma, women’s issues, anxiety and depression. I am also an EMDR therapist, trained through the EMDR Institute.

Life is full of many different seasons, highs and lows, challenging and difficult, and we can often get lost in the flow of it all. I want to offer a space of authenticity where people feel safe to be their truest and most congruent selves. With compassion and empathy, I assist clients in learning effective coping skills, setting healthy boundaries, implementing positive lifestyle choices, enhancing communication skills as well as processing disturbing events. I specialize in working with trauma, life transitions, anxiety, and depression.

I help clients who are struggling with anxiety, trauma, disordered eating, relationship struggles and more.My therapeutic style utilizes judgement free curiosity and compassion to promote awareness, growth, and healing. I am an eternal learner in the field, and life in general. My therapeutic approach utilizes both insight oriented and skill based techniques that are research and data driven, to empower you to make sustainable changes. Therapy is helpful both when we are in crisis, and when we are working to avoid crisis. You don’t have to live in your struggles or stay stuck in old patterns, effective change and help are available.

As a relentlessly compassionate experiential psychotherapist, I want to provide you a new experience, an experience that is good and allows you to experience yourself in a new way that feels connected, seen, heard, and understood. If talk therapy hasn't been sufficient in the past for anxiety, trauma, self-esteem/self-concept concerns, or difficulties in your relationships. Consider calling me. The specialty populations I serve are other therapists, physicians and medical professionals, college-age students and emerging adults, the LQBTQIA+ community, and those dealing with grief and relationship problems.