Female Therapists in Portage, MI

Our lives do not always go the way we planned. We all experience challenges and struggles and find ourselves searching for relief. I view therapy as a time to heal, grow, change, discover, and build. I have worked with clients to address such concerns as self-esteem, depression, anxiety, family and relationship issues, parenting, work and career concerns, life transitions, stress and coping, and grief and loss to name a few.

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.

Hello! Thank you for stopping by. I am a Social Worker and therapist with 20 years experience in the mental health field. What sets me apart though? I have a very passionate, upbeat personality that shines through in my practice. I work hard to help my clients see the strength they already have within and that I am just a facilitator to help them achieve any goal they set forth for themselves. I am honest and "real". I would be happy to chat with you about your goals and how we can work to achieve them together!

"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.

I approach therapy as a process of joining with my clients in dealing with difficult situations that they face. I will listen carefully and strive to provide an emotionally safe and nonjudgmental space to explore and work through your concerns. Experiencing a genuine connection in a relaxed atmosphere is an essential part of the therapy process. Whether you find yourself stuck in old patterns or life changes, I can provide support, discovery and insight that can help you move through painful issues to a life with more joy, meaning and peace.

Welcome! I have 2 core therapy philosophies: First, your thoughts will mislead you, if unexamined. Second: "Live Your Best Life" - not your diagnoses or issues. You're here because: 1. You're suffering from painful thoughts and overwhelming feelings; 2. Self-destructive habits are harming your progress and relationships; 3. You want to Safely collaborate with a warm, dynamic expert to solve confusing issues. I can help! I'm a Seasoned, Clinically-Licensed Therapist employing: CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy); DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy); S/A (Substance Abuse Therapy); MAT (Mindfulness Awareness Training) and TIP (Thought Inquiry Power).

Taking the first step towards therapy is often the most difficult. I strive to create a safe and comfortable atmosphere in which to build a caring and collaborative therapeutic relationship where the client and the therapist work as a team. In working with my clients, I practice a strength-based approach where helping my clients with wellness, self-growth, and exploration is vital and foremost. I am particularly interested in trying to help clients feel more like the authors of their own lives, so that they can achieve what they hope for in all areas of their life.

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.

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.

I am here to help you reach your goals. I connect with individuals and help them achieve goals such as "decrease anxiety," "create healthy boundaries," "forgive," "heal from past trauma", and "grieve." I am a supportive encourager and my therapy space is a safe and judgement free place for you to explore your goals and take the necessary steps to achieve the life you want.

Are you looking for a safe space to express yourself, explore your emotions, and navigate life's challenges? If so, I want you to know that you're not alone. As a compassionate and experienced counselor, my primary goal is to provide support and understanding to individuals just like you. I understand that reaching out for help can be difficult, and it takes courage to take that first step. That's why I strive to create a warm and non-judgmental environment where you can feel comfortable opening up about your experiences, thoughts, and feelings.

I am here to support you as you navigate life's challenges and transitions. My first goal is to create a safe, confidential and relaxed environment where you can share freely and be your genuine self. I focus on the whole person and use a mix of techniques including compassion, empathy, strengths-based, skill-building, mindfulness and creative expression to address a variety of issues. We will work together to set goals and create steps to achieve those goals based on what you want and need.

Our world is a busy and complicated place, full of impersonal demands and unrealistic expectations. Living our lives on full display in the digital age can make it even more difficult to find true authenticity, peace and fulfillment. What we really need is the opportunity to pause and take a look at what we truly want for ourselves, and whether our energy and gifts are being used in pursuit of our purpose and passion. Counseling offers this opportunity for self-examination, along with the chance to expand coping skills, develop personal strengths, and solidify and repair relationships.

Everyone experiences struggles and challenges in life. Whether it is divorce, job change, grief and loss, depression, anxiety, trauma, or relationship issues; therapy can help improve the outcome during these times. With my 25 years as a clinical social worker I have had the opportunity to work with individuals, couples and groups from all walks of life. I welcome everyone and strive to provide an environment that is open, welcoming, safe and supportive. My goal is to provide you with new skills and tools to help develop insight and resolution during these difficult times.

I am here to help you find the healthiest, most whole part of you. I believe recovery is EVERYWHERE. My primary purpose is to help you heal your whole self. Working under a philosophy based in compassion, acceptance and mindfulness, I want to partner with you to bring out your strengths and help find the joy that's waiting for you.

My goal is to help clients achieve improved functioning as quickly as possible. I believe the most powerful transformation comes from a combination of techniques to understand and reset non-adaptive patterns, including neurofeedback, other forms of biofeedback, such as heart rate variability, emotional freedom technique (EFT), and a personality assessment I use called the Enneagram, combined with behaviorally-based counseling, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). The combination of these techniques provide the foundation for holistically examining issues that stand in the way of a fuller life.

I strive to help people achieve their goals, whatever they might be. I provide a caring, comfortable, and safe environment where we can work together. I want people to be able to share their thoughts, feelings, and ideas and work diligently to create the setting that supports that. I hope to provide people with the resources and information necessary for them to make changes and improve their life. I am very passionate about my work and look forward to the opportunity of helping people with their struggles and difficulties. My ultimate goal is to help people lead healthy, productive, and fulfilling lives.

Even in the darkest of times hope can be found. There is always a reason to keep going! When your world is falling apart, and you feel that everything is stacked against you, a glimmer of hope can change your whole perspective. You are meant for more!

I believe that everyone struggles with life at times. I offer a supportive, caring, non-judgemental environment to work through any issues, struggles or concerns. I offer crisis, short term, and long term counseling. I work to get to know you and what you need. Together we will make a plan to address any struggles, concerns or issues that you may have. The hardest part of any journey is taking the first step. I am here to help and guide you on your journey.