Therapists in Kalamazoo, MI

We all have the need to be understood, valued, and supported just as we are right now. Healing comes from having a safe place to share your struggles and fears without judgment. I use compassion and empathy to support individuals, couples and families. I believe each person has a unique lived experience and a therapist is there to support and guide people to live a healthy, happy and fulfilling life. I have advanced training and specialize in attachment theory to support healing in people that have experienced trauma. I believe that our relationships are a central component in our health.

The first step towards healing and growth is often the hardest, and 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. As a Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Art Therapist, I give clients the choice to integrate art making with evidence based, psycho therapeutic practices as a supportive, nonjudgmental tool for communication and expression.

The way trauma, anxiety and stress manifest in the body and mind is different for every individual. Some people may develop coping mechanisms such as avoidance or hypervigilance, while others may lash out or mask their feelings with substance use, anger, unhealthy or codependent relationships. Building a strong understanding of how anxiety, stress, and trauma affect the brain is key to understanding why you feel overwhelmed or unable to cope with life's curveballs. Everyone experiences and processes life differently; self-awareness and a strong support system are they key to healthy coping.

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!

Imagine waking up every morning, your mind clouded with a heavy fog of doubt, sadness, and fear. The weight of the world feels like an anchor, making every step forward seem impossible. For many people, this is an all-too-familiar struggle. But you're not alone in this journey. I'm here to extend a compassionate hand to help you find your way out of the darkness. You are the expert of your own experiences and have the tools to work through the issues life throws at you. I believe that healing begins with understanding.

Most of my clients come to me with anxiety, obsessive compulsive, or trauma disorders. They find their worlds shrinking as a result and aren't sure how to break the cycle. For clients with anxiety and trauma disorders, I use exposure therapy to break cycles of fear, anxiety, and avoidance. I also see clients troubled by marginalization due to identity, relationship struggles, substance use, and psychotic disorders, and they too deal with pain that gets in the way of what's important in their lives. They often feel trapped or stuck and want to find a way through the barriers keeping them from meaning and purpose in their lives.

Are you experiencing anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, stress, isolation, sadness, trauma, grief, ineffective communication, people-pleasing, and struggling with transitions in life? Do you find it challenging to connect with a therapist who truly comprehends the intricate facets of your identity, as a Black & Brown person, member of the LGBTQIA+ community, and advocate? Our practice bridges the gap between marginalized communities and the therapists best equipped to guide healing. We invite you to lean into your journey toward growth and healing by taking the first step & scheduling with us.

I work with adolescents and adults with challenges, such as self-esteem, anxiety, trauma, relationship issues, sexuality, identity, and more. I consider your culture, identity, and worldview in every counseling session. Meeting you where you are currently in life is vital in building a therapeutic alliance. My goal is to create a therapeutic environment that provides unconditional support for you to feel heard in a non-judgmental approach. You are the expert in your journey to healing. Therefore, I trust that you will lead me to the most challenging areas of life.

Your mental health matters! I'm here to help! Taking the next step can be intimidating and difficult, but a different perspective may help you create balance and a renewed sense of stability. It is my intention to help you expand your life beyond the “couch,” where even the smallest of adjustments can make a huge impact. One of the most crucial parts of the therapeutic process is connection. I approach each session with warmth and an empathetic, listening ear to provide you a space where you feel heard, understood, and hopeful for your future.

I work with children (5+), teens and adults on processing traumatic experiences, regulating emotions, navigating sensitive nervous systems, and strengthening relationships through laughter, creativity, art, and play.

Therapy can be quite difficult. Having a safe environment to talk about and process life's difficulties is so very important. It takes courage to seek a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards change. If you are ready to take that step I'm here to support and empower you. You can expect me to patiently walk with you through whatever difficulties you are facing and help you learn more about yourself, respect your uniqueness, and invest in your emotional well-being. I will hold space for you. I believe in the power of creativity to help us heal and grow.

Nobody knows you like you know yourself. Your past decisions weigh on you and stop you from moving forward, to a place of peace and growth. Your past does not determine your future, each day is a new opportunity to start fresh. You may doubt who you are or what you want out of life, but you are the keeper of your story and do have power over your future. Your journey to finding the best life possible begins when you decide to make the change. I consider it an honor to walk down the path of exploration with you. No journey is too big or small, I believe in honoring all of life’s moments with my clients in a nonjudgmental environment.

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.

More than 35 years of counseling experience have taught me that within each of us is an inherent drive toward emotional health. As your therapist, I want to create a safe and caring relationship in which I serve as your companion on a journey toward self-understanding and healing at the level of heart, mind, body and spirit. I work to help people struggling with anxiety, depression, shame, grief, developmental trauma, difficult life transitions, issues of mid-life and aging, and career issues.

Life is not always easy, and everyone has struggles. Seeking help is a courageous first step. My goal for working with my clients is to create a safe, non-judgmental, and relaxed environment. I consider all aspects of a person, such as background, race/ethnicity, culture, sexual and gender identity. My approach is holistic and is tailored to meet the individual needs of my clients. My goal is to work together with my clients to help them learn and practice positive coping skills and create the life they desire. I have experience working with children, teenagers, as well as adults.

I enjoy working with clients with many different issues and backgrounds. I have many years of experience working with adolescents, the elderly, and everyone in-between. I have experience helping clients with behavior problems, assisting parents with managing behaviors of their children, helping couples work-out their issues, and assisting individuals with depression, anxiety, and OCD. I seek to understand my clients' challenges, and help them develop skills and strategies to overcome them.

My commitment is to support you in positive changes in an accepting environment. Through a collaborative approach, you will gain insight into maladaptive patterns that may be inhibiting you from creating the life you want to live.

Whether you are experiencing mental health issues, challenges that are overwhelming, or just need someone to talk with, I am here to support and be a person standing next to you through whatever challenges you may face by providing a safe, compassionate, and judgment-free environment. Experiencing anxiety, depression, PTSD, relationship conflict, family conflict, addiction, trauma, and mental health disorders can be hard to handle on your own. I am here to assist in creating a better understanding of yourself and accomplish the goals you want within your life and treatment.

Life can sneak up on you, often looking much different than you had intended. Sometimes these differences are hard to navigate and understand. As a clinician, it is my privilege and responsibility to help you learn how to navigate these situations. Most individuals are much stronger and more resilient than they give themselves credit for. We can work together using your own strengths to identify hopes and goals for treatment, and find realistic approaches to working toward these goals. You have the tools within yourself to achieve your goals; I will help guide and strengthen these tools.