In Person Therapists in Downtown, Kalamazoo, MI

I am a licensed professional counselor and licensed marriage and family therapist. I specialize in relationship wellness and work with individuals, couples, & families. I earned my master's degree in community counseling with a focus on marriage and family therapy from Western Michigan University in 2010. I am focused on meeting you where you and helping you achieve your goals. My style is kind and non-judgmental. My focus is listening to you and facilitating an environment where you can make the changes in your life that you want. I also have a therapy dog, Rozy, who is available to you, if you would find that comforting.

I am a Limited Licensed Psychologist specializing in EMDR Therapy.  I use EMDR to treat the impacts of traumatic events, PTSD, grief, anger, and addictions including substance and sexual addictions. I primarily work with Veterans and First Responders, and individuals on the front lines of taking care of others. When you face the dangers of the world head-on on a daily basis, asking for help may feel counterintuitive. At the same time, avoiding problems, thinking they will get better on their own, or denial of their existance (despite the evidence) is a guaranteed path to less-than-ideal outcomes.

Making the steps towards healing and growth can be difficult. My hope is that we can work collaboratively together to embrace challenges, identify strengths and develop healthy coping skills to help you thrive. I have experience working with both individuals and couples navigating relational and sexual health related challenges. Many of us face difficulties related to sexuality and sexual identity. Whether you have experienced desire discrepancies within your partnership(s), sexual dysfunction, sexual trauma, or have questions related to your sexual/gender identity, it can be incredibly difficult to reach out for support.

Welcome to my profile. I applaud you for taking the first big step to seek out a therapist that you feel is the best fit. I believe that at some point in our lives, most people could benefit from receiving some additional support - especially from an outside perspective that focuses on only you. As beautiful and exciting as life can be, it can also be extremely challenging and overwhelming. There are many things in our lives that we cannot control, however, there are things that we do have control over which are the parts that I feel are important to work through together in therapy.

For some of us the world is a more difficult place that it is for others. It is not our fault and there is nothing wrong with us. For some of us the world is not safe, the people in our world have made it unsafe, and we have fought by ourselves for ourselves. It is not our fault, and we should be proud that we are still here, that we still love ourselves enough to fight, and to ask for help. If this describes you - I am here to help. I will believe in you, challenge you, speak truth to you, teach you skills and techniques, and help you help yourself. Together, we can discover how to make your world what you want it to be.

Beginning the process of change can be an intimidating and often stressful endeavor. My goal is to provide an encouraging and warm environment that promotes change and insight. I specialize in the treatment of depression, anxiety, trauma and addiction. From an integrated therapeutic approach that caters to a client’s specific needs, I help my clients to not only focus on reducing symptoms and identifying problematic thinking, but to also explore and heal the underlying issues, emotions, and origins of their presenting concerns. I truly believe in the therapeutic process and it’s ability to facilitate sustainable change.

"One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious" - C.G. Jung Over the past eight years while in private practice, I have been privileged to work with individuals and families with a vast array of concerns and suffering.

My main areas of practice include: alcohol and drug addiction, relational conflict, anxiety, depression, grief/loss, trauma and PTSD. I work with a client centered, interpersonal approach to confidentially support and respond to the individual uniqueness of each client. I focus on creating open and direct dialogue using an element of humor to create relational safety.The level of ongoing anxiety and stress accompanying addiction as well as from everyday life tends to be relentless, overwhelming and at times, traumatizing. My goal is to assist clients in building insight and personalized skills to reduce distress and experience meaningful, corrective, emotional experiences.

You deserve to live a life that leaves you excited to wake up every morning. Are you ready to make a change in your life? It takes courage to ask for help, but the rewards of doing so can lead to a lifetime of fulfillment. I understand and have experienced the emotional challenges life has to offer. In working together, we will cultivate growth by understanding the obstacles that you face and develop solutions that can help you gain control of your life and achieve your goals. Ultimately, therapy can lead you to greater self-awareness, self-esteem, and most importantly, a more fulfilling life. Evenings and Weekends work great!

I have experience working with children and adults with PTSD, complex trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, parenting, ADHD, child welfare issues, and suicidal ideation. I have specialty training in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and the practice and use of mindfulness strategies. I have seen and experienced the process of trauma recovery and can understand the various levels trauma can impact people's lives. Nurturing a healthy thought-life is a helpful tool towards building resilience and strength in trauma and various other mental health needs.

Are you feeling overwhelmed? Do you feel irritated or angry for no apparent reason? Are you a married or single mother that can't seem to get it right when it comes to raising happy and well adjusted kids? Do you resort to unhealthy coping behaviors in times of high stress? It's time to get those feelings, unhealthy choices, and all the negative energy turned around. I can help.

As your therapist, I hope to set the foundation for courage, creating a space to be open to vulnerability. In sessions we will reflect on your ability to navigate uncertainty, taking risks, and emotional exposure. Perhaps we will spend time developing healthier boundaries, developing stronger accountability, or engaging with the simple notion of owning our truths.

I have experience working with people who are facing challenges in their lives. Whether it be mental health, adjusting to a difficult time or stressful life transition, chronic illness and/or chronic pain, processing trauma and grief, work stress, or caregiver stress/burnout I provide a safe and comfortable environment for you to explore and resolve the issues you are dealing with.

Immediate evening openings for new clients. Are you looking for couples counseling, family therapy, or help for yourself to improve your relationships? Couples counseling can be a great avenue to improve and grow in a relationship; even before serious issues arise. Every family has challenges; through the therapeutic process, families can learn new techniques and skills to better support their loved ones.

Life experiences can impact us in surprising, often difficult and traumatic ways, leaving us feeling out of touch with ourselves and those around us. With over twenty (20) years of experience working alongside individuals and families in a variety of clinical settings, my clinical approach begins with meeting you where you are at, without judgement or preconceived notions. Listening to better understand your story while also creating space for self-reflection and commitment. I share the sentiment of a traveling journalist, who once said, "life begins where our comfort zone ends".

In our highly pressured and complicated lives, so many of us experience work issues, relationship problems, low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, grief, and/or the stress of daily life. It can feel so exhausting and frustrating. You may even feel stuck but know that you deserve more. Through the therapeutic process, we will work together to prioritize your goals so that we knock down the barriers and challenges that you may be facing and restore joy and peace in your life.

Everyone struggles with life at times and the first step towards healing and growth is often the hardest. I am honored to be able to walk alongside my clients through this work. I embrace differences of all kinds in my practice and aim to create a space where we will collaborate towards goals, develop resiliency skills, and identify strengths to highlight what makes you who you are.

I'm happy you're here! I hope to walk alongside you and provide the support you need to make changes in your life. I enjoy helping older adolescents and adults with anxiety, depression, panic attacks, stress management, boundary setting, and difficult life transitions. I utilize a holistic approach, helping you explore your physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health in a safe space. I believe that therapy is a collaborative process where we can seek a deeper understanding of ourselves and find a path to healing.

I know from personal experience how helpful and impactful therapy can be which is what ultimately led me to becoming a therapist. I use empathy and compassion to support children, teens and adults throughout the treatment process. My goal as a therapist is to ensure I am providing a safe and comfortable environment that my clients enjoy coming to. The types of techniques, tools and methods I use vary and are tailored to the client's specific needs.