Therapists in Kalamazoo, MI

I am a licensed psychologist whose experience involves working with individuals and couples with a variety of concerns since 2005. My approach to counseling focuses on facilitating healing and growth by integrating the many important aspects of the whole person, including thoughts, feelings, behaviors, relationships, and spiritual beliefs. I integrate techniques from cognitive-behavioral and humanistic theories of psychotherapy and work with people on optimizing their relationships.

Welcome, I’m glad you are here. Deciding to make changes in your life and asking for help is a big and sometimes scary step. I am here to help you with that. We are here to explore your uniquely you story. Counseling is a journey. Like all journeys, it is unique and special. Some paths may be tougher than others. Some people may encounter some bad weather along the way. However, more often than not, the view is always worth the journey. My goal as a therapist is to walk the path with you as a guide, not as an expert. You get to determine the path; I help navigate the tough times.

I am experienced in providing Marital Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Emotional Freedom Techniques and Internal Family Systems, among others. I provide therapy for individuals (children ages 4-12, adolescents and adults), groups, families and couples.

What situation qualifies for counseling? My answer to that is being human. Many believe that counseling is only necessary for major life events. The truth is you do not have to be on the high end of the stress spectrum to seek professional support. Life can be hard. Counseling provides a supportive and nonjudgmental space to process all circumstances.

I have more than eighteen (18) years of experience, working with children and adolescents struggling in school. I have helped numerous children and adolescents who suffer from severe behavior issues. My passion is helping a child learn the skills that they need to communicate and get along more effectively with others. I believe with the right tools any child can be more successful in school and their community. I enjoy helping children learn to better control their emotions and improve relationships within their families.

Are you grieving? Or facing cancer, other health issues, or life after treatment? Or are you tired of feeling anxious, frustrated, overwhelmed, or stressed? Maybe you're dealing with adult child or elderly parent issues, or having relationship problems. Or maybe you long to make changes in your life but feel stuck, unable to move forward. I have training and over 20 years of experience helping people with these and other issues. I'd like to help you find what you need to experience yourself and your life in a way that feels more centered, confident, and satisfying.

Counseling can offer support to make real life changes. I guide individuals to acknowledging conflicts and the ability to work through them. I believe that counseling can benefit anyone. I strive to empower clients to cultivate greater self-esteem and to assist them in developing skills to manage the stress of everyday life.

I have been in practice in Kalamazoo for over 10 years. I am certified in Trauma Informed Assessment and Intervention, as well as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, play therapy, and have expertise in several parenting approaches. In addition to clinical practice, I am a school social worker, and proud father of 8 children. I use a person-centered approach, allowing clients to set their goals, providing a safe space and supportive environment to move them in the direction of their goals.

I have been working in the mental health field for over 20 years and I have worked in a variety of settings including psychiatric hospitals, community mental health, employee assistance, and now private practice. What I love most about what I do is learning and understanding my clients' individual histories and current life situations. Therapy is not a "one size fits all" treatment plan, everyone's story is unique and their story has to be heard. My clients and I work as a team to figure out what the goals of therapy are and to try to reach those goals as best as we can. My job is to guide, not lead, a client on their journey.

I am a compassionate therapist specializing in counseling for teens and adults. My approach combines Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and a person-centered perspective to help young individuals navigate school, friendships, family, and self-esteem issues. I am dedicated to fostering collaboration and creating a safe space for clients facing stress, anxiety, and depression.In addition to my work with adolescents, I have a special focus on supporting patients dealing with cancer. Also, for adults seeking an empathetic listener, I offer guidance in navigating life transitions, managing stress, and addressing anxiety and depression.

Starting or returning to counseling often means that you are facing a challenge that does not have a simple solution. Sharing what is on your mind may be a relief, but for many people, it is also anxiety provoking. Whether your concerns are present-focused or have roots in the past, we can create a space where you can process and grow through the obstacles you are facing. Areas in which I have special knowledge include trauma and anxiety. I currently offer talk therapy, EMDR, and EMDR intensives. During sessions, you can expect me to express empathetic understanding, unconditional positive regard, and genuineness.

I am passionate about helping clients discover their goals for themselves and learn healthy new coping skills and behavioral techniques to reach those goals. I will join you in your journey of change and personal growth while providing you with support, encouragement, compassion and empathy. My goal is to help all who step into my office to build resilience and improve their mental health. There is strength in realizing we can do hard things, and encouragement in seeing ourselves do them with support!

I believe therapy should take place in a safe, supportive, empowering, and confidential environment. Clients are active in the process, exploring areas including feelings, beliefs, and behaviors while working through personal history and identifying aspects of their lives they wish to change. Clients take a journey to better understanding of themselves and others. We will set personal goals, and work together toward desired change through reflection, processing and skill building. When working with children I work with the child individually and also invite parents/guardians into session to learn skills to utilize at home to support the child with change.

Life can be challenging at times. Trying to make sense and work through painful and difficult life experiences can often seem like a daunting task. Whether you are struggling with day to day stress, anxiety, depression, relationship issues or behaviors that interfere with you living the life that you desire, my practice provides a safe and warm environment where you can identify personal goals, engage in meaningful therapy and find resolution and healing. Empathy and sensitivity to your struggles are key components of my work. This first step towards change solidifies your courage and innate potential toward intentional living.

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.

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.

We are living in a changing world, often creating stress, anxiety, hopelessness, and grief. My role is to walk alongside you to provide support and perspective, not to tell you how to lead your life, but to listen and understand the changes you want for yourself.

I believe that clients have within themselves an amazing ability to self-heal, and the role of the counselor is to find and tap into that ability. I also believe it is important to learn about each client's world and to develop a relationship where clients can feel understood and supported while learning about themselves. This creates the space for exploring the choices they have and any changes they may want to make toward more personal fulfillment. Therapy for children may involve consultation with parents who need support meeting their child's challenges. Play therapy is used with children.

Hello! As a therapist, I strive to support individuals in reaching their fullest potential in any areas of life that may be unsatisfactory. I will create a safe space to share conversations and together we will work to reconcile any discomfort. I am humbled to be chosen to walk beside you on this journey and I commend you for taking the first step towards healing. I believe everyone can use extra support at various points in life and therapy can provide a method to learn new tools to have in your arsenal.