Men's Issues Therapists in Grand Rapids, MI

Do you fit in? Your silent thoughts to yourself question whether others really understand you. It’s tough because you’ve tried so hard to reach out and be friendly and even demonstrate care and compassion for others. Nevertheless, you wonder if that same care get’s directed back at you. Sometimes it feels like you don’t fit in. Do you have questions about whether this means that there is something wrong with you? Probably not! In life, striving to fit in can be an empty pursuit. What if you could switch that and really feel that you belonged instead of just fitting in.

With 28 years of experience, helping others is not just my job; it is my nature. Life can be stressful at times, leaving you feeling overwhelmed and lost in your own thoughts. In my practice, you will find a warm and empathetic environment so you may share your feelings and your story. I offer coping skills, ways to understand your emotions, and help you find real solutions to daily problems. These tools can help to restore a sense of calm in your life and guide you in finding your way back to yourself.

Have you ever found yourself unable to feel better, despite past attempts to think your way out and move forward? Have you found that the same types of hardships keep happening over and over with your behaviors, family, friends, work, school, or partners, like a cycle you can't seem to escape? Maybe you've seen talk therapists or doctors for your symptoms before but didn't seem to get better for long. Or maybe you hold pain that's difficult to talk about. Are you tired of feeling stuck? Are you looking to get to the root of these challenges and heal them for good?

Asking for help can be hard. Working through basic life issues can be hard too. But working through them with someone you trust can shed a little hope on life’s more difficult days. The amount of people seeking mental health services has been steadily increasing as the stigma surrounding asking for help slowly fades away. There is no shame in asking for help; it could change your life for the better.

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.

People often seek therapy following life changes where customary ways of coping are no longer sufficient to meet the demands of their world. I consider the focus of my work as a therapist the development of a safe and trusting relationship where I can help a person discuss difficult feelings as well as identify problematic interpersonal patterns that may be getting in the way of personal goals and successful relationships. I then work closely and collaboratively with my client to develop creative and effective ways to move past these roadblocks.

My work consists of providing a welcoming, profoundly non-judgmental atmosphere where one can experience the safety that human relationships may offer. I truly believe people first need the basics. We connect and flourish in therapy when provided with acceptance, respect and dignity in a non-shaming relationship. I take a holistic approach and incorporate foundational needs that are often overlooked. Sometimes the simplest solution may be most effective, while other situations may call for a deeper dive that will uncover a path to healing. Regardless, I leave the direction and pacing up to my clients to preserve autonomy.

What would you do tomorrow if you woke up free from that little voice of doubt, anxiety, and self-loathing? As a therapist, I love to explore the answer to that question with you. It’s my belief that we all are deserving of living into our greatest selves, but that this voice and its irrational nature prevent us from doing so. In an effort to change its narrative, we work together to explore, challenge, and reframe the negative core beliefs at the root of your suffering. It is the dual process of building self-awareness through empathetic exploration of blind-spots and the development of a strong therapeutic connection.

I am a licensed psychologist and the clinical director of Sollars and Associates Integrative Counseling and Psychological Services. I have been providing counseling and psychotherapy for over 30 years in the Metro Detroit area and our group practice spans across the state of Michigan. With support, encouragement, and expert insight many people begin to feel better after their first session. Our therapists possess a great deal of experience in evaluating and working with children, adolescents, and families dealing with a variety of issues.

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I provide a nonjudgmental and safe therapeutic environment for my clients and I value client-therapist alliance above anything else. I have a direct yet empathetic therapy style, collaborating with my clients to help achieve their goals. I love working with couples who struggle with communication and connection, who want to learn how to reconnect or "fight better". I also love empowering partners to find their voice and express their needs in a relationship.

I strive to take a holistic approach, looking at all aspects of your life and the person you are and want to become ranging from diet and nutrition, exercise, and finances to substance use and mental health concerns. I will work with you to overcome challenges and help you become a better, stronger, and more resilient person. I believe that a good therapeutic relationship is a key to success, and building the relationship is something that we will work on together. My goal is to help push you slightly further than what you thought you were capable of and to help whoever walks into my office to find the answers they are looking for.

My mission is to provide evidence-based mental health services, education and advocacy in an integrative and holistic way (Biopsychosocial and spiritual) in order to bring about healing and transformation in individuals, families and communities. My career emphasis is on anxiety, depression, substance abuse issues, sexual addictions, sexual trauma, co-occurring disorders, and mid-life issues. I am a cross-culturally competent counselor who highly values and respects cultural differences. I am also committed to life-long learning and being able to make sound ethical decisions within diverse cultural contexts.

Life can be difficult to navigate. Often we are indoctrinated by others beliefs and don't truly know who we are let alone how to live our lives. When energy gets stuck in the body and mind, whether it's from trauma, painful experiences or everyday stimuli in our lives, it causes patterns of unhealthy thoughts and behaviors.

Do you feel stuck, unable to move forward despite your best efforts? Perhaps you're feeling weighed down by sadness and lack of motivation, or paralyzed by fear and uncertainty. It's a frustrating and overwhelming experience, especially when you know what you should be doing but can't seem to take action. And to make matters worse, your mind can be your own worst enemy, criticizing and berating you for not being able to overcome these challenges. It's a cycle that can be difficult to break without support.

I like to the heart of the matter quickly and then work with my clients to co-creative solutions tailored to their specific needs. My clients describe being in therapy with me as being involved in 'deeper work.' The deeper work may be related to the past, but it also could be doing a deeper dive into your current life and finding healthier ways to cope. I am trained in leadership assessment and coaching and I consult with family-owned businesses. In addition, to my psychology license in Michigan, I also am approved to provide telehealth services in Florida

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.

Life has a way of knocking us down, doesn’t it? It can be tough to create a life that feels fulfilling. We can find ourselves dissatisfied in our relationships, career, or life, and it can be difficult to shake the nagging sense that life has not turned out how we expected or hoped. Perhaps, you are struggling with a difficult boss or a job that doesn’t quite seem to fit your skill set. Or perhaps, no matter matter how hard you try you cannot seem to make progress with your relationships (whether that be your spouse, significant other, family, or friends), and it continues to be distant, disconnected, or conflicted.

Openings for New Couple and Individual Clients! You want a therapist who is both relatable and professional, who keeps the focus on you, but won’t make you feel like you are talking into empty space. You want to feel confident that your therapist can actually help you get to where you want to go. My clients appreciate my balance of expertise and authenticity, knowing we have a plan and aren’t winging it, and value action as much as talking. We’ll complete a specialized assessment to determine your strengths and needs, and use resources I’ve gathered or created to give you a step-by-step guide to work towards your end goals.

Life can throw us some curve balls. We can have extended stress and trauma that leads to depression and anxiety. There is treatment available to assist with these issues. Therapy can also relieve and possibly eliminate some somatic issues that include; chronic pain, migraines, and fatigue that often accompanies stress. Those who also suffer from traumatic injuries who now have chronic pain or phantom pain could benefit from EMDR therapy. First Responders and those in helping professions such as Teachers, Nurses, Doctors, and Therapists (To name just a few) can experience stress from being on the job. There is hope and healing!