Female Therapists in Hancock, MI

I have worked in the West Branch community since 2014. I earned a Master’s degree in Social Work from Michigan State University and a Bachelor's in Liberal Studies and Public Agency Service from Northern Arizona University. I offer 21 years of experience working in Community-Based Services and am dedicated to assisting individuals find healing, develop personal empowerment and recovery. My approach is person-centered, compassionate, psychodynamic, eclectic, and solution-focused. I have served in a variety of settings, including a domestic violence and homeless shelter, a substance abuse treatment center, and Community Mental Health.

It’s not easy to reach out for help. Many people feel they have to make it through life alone, especially after a loss. You may be experiencing depression, guilt, anger, or a mix of up and down emotions. I know these experiences can be overwhelming, and you don’t have to just tough it out. I admire anyone who takes the step to find the support they need. I help people who are suffering from all types of grief, whether that means losing a family member or friend, a pet, or the end of a relationship. I’m here to be a guide as you find your way back to yourself.

Are you a college student feeling overwhelmed, alone, and often putting others' needs before your own? Do you struggle with anxiety, self-esteem, or an eating disorder? Do you sometimes worry your problems aren’t “big enough” for therapy? If you're juggling school, work, & life, but deep down, you're also struggling, now is the time to connect with a therapist who understands. Let's work on building your confidence so you can stop criticizing yourself & start embracing your worthiness. Continue reading to learn how booking a session can help you break free from this cycle & allow yourself to start prioritizing your own wellbeing.

We all want a life of peace and ease; however, life includes challenges and struggles with painful experiences. Fortunately, contemporary, science-based mental health interventions help people reduce suffering and live life with more freedom and flexibility (and maybe even some fun). I can help you identify personal values, develop unique strengths, build coping skills, and experiment with behavior changes. Our work together will help connect you with who and what you most care about and help you build a meaningful and active life.

I believe in using a compassionate and non-judgmental approach to help you find solutions for ordinary and extraordinary life problems. It is my firm belief that any problem can be lessened or eliminated with creativity and a positive attitude towards change. Ultimately every person entering therapy has the ability to heal and thrive when guided towards their own unique solutions. I hope to offer this service to you and sincerely hope to hear from you.

My experience as a clinician has been about providing client centered care. I have worked with many diverse individuals and groups; and helped to support positive change in a vast number of issues for those I have worked with in treatment. I am a fully Licensed Professional Counselor and am a Certified Advance Alcohol and Drug Counselor. I believe in a client-counselor treatment modality that shares respect, empathy, and realness.

Throughout my career I've provided support & counseling to highly diverse students, faculty, and staff at a large university, in a large health care system, for a domestic violence center, and currently through virtual individual therapy. From growing up in a small town with a deep love for family and appreciation for nature to raising my own family and continuing my own personal journey, it has been my passion to support healthy self-development, secure and safe relationships, adjustment to life challenges, and optimal well-being.

It is a hard time to be a human being on this planet. We didn't choose our brains, our bodies, our upbringings; we can't control how other people behave; and yet we are still responsible for ourselves and our own emotions. If you're struggling to make sense of your emotions and behaviors, I provide a safe space to explore and understand your patterns while also finding ways to act more effectively, in alignment with your values.

Welcome! My name is Whitney Frakes, I’m a limited licensed clinical social worker. I recognize how much courage it takes to seek counseling and I value the opportunity to build trust with all my clients. I’m so glad you’re here!

As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community myself, I have a profound understanding of the unique challenges and celebrations that come along when navigating this wonderfully diverse spectrum of identities. Although I have only walked parts of this path myself, I am intentional at creating a safe, affirming, and judgment-free space where you can be your authentic self. Having worked extensively with populations struggling with loneliness and isolation, I’ve witnessed the transformative power of human connection.

Now Serving Michigan and Wisconsin, Evening and weekend hours available Life is hard, entering therapy is a brave step forward on your journey to health and happiness. I recognize it is not easy to share your concerns but opening up to a therapist is a safe way to help work through those concerns. I would be honored to partner with you on your journey of healing, self-acceptance, understanding, and growth. We will work together to identify what is important to you to focus on, and the steps to take to pursue the goals you have identified. There is hope and we can work together to find what best works for you.

I bring a holistic and somatic lens to assisting folks with processing through past and/or recent trauma, as well as just difficult feelings. There are a number of treatment modalities that I am trained in, but most importantly I believe in being client-centered. We are our own best expert, even if we don’t always feel like it!

I specialize in clients who have to keep it together on the outside but are falling apart on the inside. Suffering in silence is fuel for self-hatred, people-pleasing, self-sabotage, avoidance, anger, shutting down, addiction, detachment, perfectionism, imposter syndrome... If this feels familiar, I assume it’s been absolutely draining. If you have a career or environment that forces you to stay silently ablaze, it's downright hellish. Therapy provides insight into how to get out of the muck; my style of therapy is for the people who want to go deeper and find the way out of the pain, even when it scares them.

It takes a lot of courage to come to counseling and taking that first step can help you to achieve your personal goals. I enjoy working with clients from all life stages and helping them with whatever they are struggling with. Anyone can benefit from therapy at some point in their lives. I offer non-judgmental and confidential counseling services for children and adults.

Globally, we have been and are going through a massive growth period. We can all feel it. We can feel quite hopeless, lost and stuck at times… our next steps seem difficult to find. It seems like there is a calling in there for each of us, a way that we're being called to grow and deepen, an opportunity. It might be to have a kinder relationship with ourselves and others; or to open up to trust, surrender and letting go; or to go a different direction than we've previously been heading. We are all being called in some way. It's our job to listen. It takes courage to listen and make changes. You are not alone.