Relational Therapists in Cascade, MI

Are life's challenges getting in the way of you living fulfilled and satisfied? Do anxious thoughts, stress, or past hurts control your life? Whatever is holding you back, Diane believes you don't have to stay that way - healing and growth are possible! Diane is a skilled problem solver who can help you figure out what's happening and collaborate with you to make change. She will strategize with you to put together a unique, customized plan (which may include Neurofeedback Brain Training), focused entirely on your specific situation and story.

Most of us have seasons of distress or relational stress in which we need new perspectives and support. Sometimes old hurts play into the immediate conflict. We may try to work everything out on our own, but often that is just not happening or not even possible. That is where talk therapy comes in. It is all about support for the present and hope for the future as clients deconstruct and reconstruct the pieces of their story. The renewal and redemption of that story is very often a key to successful therapy.

I specialize in working with individuals who experience symptoms related to complex trauma, with a special focus on First Responders—including on-duty and retired Law Enforcement Officers, Firefighters, Paramedics, Dispatchers, Forensic personnel as well as Military veterans and personnel. I provide somatically informed psychotherapy for people who experience psycho-biological symptoms and challenges including anxiety, depression, insomnia, relationship problems, chronic pain, physical health problems, parenting challenges, grief and loss, self-harm behaviors and more.

I approach play therapy with curiosity and warmth. I want to support children as they work through their emotions and learn new skills through the safety of play. As a play therapist, I provide flexibility and choice for children to decide how they wish to play. Using play, children learn crucial relationships skills, problem solving, socializing, communication, boundaries, and limits. Because parents are key in the therapeutic process; therefore, I prioritize building a collaborative relationship with parents. I earned a master’s in Counseling Psychology from WMU in 2017.

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”― Maya Angelou. I believe one of the bravest things you can do is begin to understand your own story. I will work with you to explore your story so you may gain insight, healing, and growth towards authentic wholeness.

While life can bring great joy and success - it can also bring sadness and worry. It is in these times that a counselor can be most beneficial. I would be glad to provide you with a safe place to open up and explore the challenges you've faced. I believe that healing is possible and that life really can get better. Together, we can process how difficult life has been and we can begin to build hope and healing for your future.

I work well with people who are curious about their thoughts and feelings. I do not tell my patients what to do, and I don't pretend to know how they should live their lives. I explore possibilities with my patients, while sometimes offering my thoughts if they are welcome. I also enjoy helping men understand their emotions and relationships on a deeper level, especially since men have so few spaces in which they can talk about the deepest parts of themselves.

My passion is serving others through a relational style of therapy that is meant to help people repair emotional wounds, restore relationships, and develop a greater sense of wholeness within their lives. I seek to create a warm, supportive, and genuine climate where clients feel comfortable and safe working on problems and making progress towards life goals.

I believe that we all need safe, supportive relationships in order to not only survive, but to thrive. As a therapist, I aim to serve as that sense of stability amongst whatever chaos my clients may be feeling or facing. In our work, I won't tell you what to do or how to fix your problems - I wholeheartedly believe that you already hold those answers somewhere within you. With that being said, I do believe that it is fully my job to collaborate & explore with you, to bring you my honest experience & thoughts, and to work with you to help you uncover & find your own unique answers & truths that work best for you & for your healing.

I enjoy working with individuals struggling with chronic illness, eating disorders, weight loss, anxiety, depression, interpersonal concerns, and general life stress. I understand that it can be extremely stressful to manage emotional or physical health concerns in our fast paced, high pressure society. Throughout my training, I have admired the people I have worked with who are making transitions and want to examine themselves, their past, and their interpersonal environment to make changes that work for them.

As relational beings, we are instinctively wired for connection. It is within the context of relationship that we discover our potential for transformative change. Therapy is a collaborative process of uncovering this potential by cultivating a deep, trusting relationship. I believe it's imperative to provide therapy that goes beyond merely treating symptoms. This is why I take a depth-oriented approach in order for us to discover the root causes & work through barriers. I also believe in the importance of honoring the developmental, biological, sociocultural, and interpersonal parts of yourself to assist in the healing process.

Are you feeling stuck? Perhaps you're grieving a loss, feeling hopeless, wrestling with the effects of traumatic experiences, frozen by anxiety, or boxed in by shame. If this resonates with you, please know that you are not alone. Unraveling your story in the context of a therapeutic relationship can often be the experience needed to move forward. Being met right where you are by a safe, curious, and experienced therapist can restore hope, cultivate insight, heal wounds, build positive momentum, and lead to lasting transformation.

Currently scheduling new clients, immediate openings available. I look forward to working together to identify and address your concerns in a safe, compassionate, and non-judgmental manner. Whether you are seeking short-term or long-term therapy, I will collaborate with you to process your feelings, find solutions, or identify helpful coping skills. I have experience providing a wide range of psychological services for adults in outpatient therapy and medical rehabilitation settings. Areas I specialize in include anxiety, depression, sleep, grief, trauma, and coping with major life transitions (e.g. adjustment to disability).

Do you long to experience change in your life? Maybe you're feeling defeated in life, seeking freedom from a shaming voice inside, longing for greater connection in relationships, or facing a significant transition or loss. Whatever you're experiencing, I believe there is no cookie cutter approach to addressing the complex problems of life. I view psychotherapy as a coming alongside journey that creates an open, safe space where you as a whole person and the particulars of your story (including those places where you feel most stuck) can be explored, understood, and worked through to cultivate hope and transformation.