Culturally Sensitive Therapists in Williamsburg, MI

My personal motto is "No mud. No lotus." To me, this means, without suffering there cannot be beauty. My entire life I have been fascinated with resilience- the ability to overcome. What makes people stronger when they they have faced so much adversity? I started my career focused on how to help people become more resilient, and along the way I have learned so much, not just about overcoming obstacles, but also about building up strengths.

Stress, life transitions, depression, anxiety, trauma; and that was all before breakfast! Finding the right therapist is important. My approach blends humor, compassion, and practical coping skills to improve mood, manage anxiety, enhance well-being, and rediscover meaning and purpose in your life. You are the expert in you; I bring a strengths-based, supportive, and solution-focused approach to empower you to reach your therapeutic goals.

Traverse Health Clinic provides behavioral health services to adults and adolescents ages 12 and up, even if you haven't established primary care with one of our medical providers. Our behavioral health services are provided by licensed therapists who are trained and qualified to help patients experiencing life stressors or mental health issues. Therapists are able to assist individuals in learning constructive ways to handle problems that interfere with everyday life. Services are usually time-limited and focused on specific goals that you, the patient, have identified.

My passion is helping people discover the goodness, strength, and wisdom that is already within them, helping them to grow those strengths so that they can ultimately “be their own therapist.” I have a special interest and focus on compulsive eating, emotional eating, and binge eating using evidence-based mindfulness approaches, such as DBT and Compassion-Focused Therapy. I seek to offer a warm, empathetic, non-judgmental space where we can collaboratively explore your needs and goals. We will walk this journey together!

Are you still struggling with feelings of not being enough, being too much, insecurity in relationships, rejection sensitivity, and fear of abandonment? Did you grow up in a dysfunctional family atmosphere? Did trauma(s) during crucial developmental years affect the way you connect with yourself and others? I focus on working with adults who are coping with the effects of developmental/complex PTSD (cPTSD) and/or growing up in a dysfunctional family environment. Trauma comes from an experience that overwhelms our ability to cope. As children a rupture (physical or emotional) in our primary attachment can cause traumatic effects.

I am a strength based therapist. You are the author of your story. I consider it an honor to help people on their journeys and reframe what keeps people from being their best selves. It isn't about surviving, it is about thriving. I work with many different people from age 18 to 60. I have worked with first responders, people that work in the healthcare field, and other therapists. I also work with families facing crisis and/or illnesses. When working with teens and their families, understanding what is normal behavior and what isn't while supporting everyone has worked with many families.

I work to support my clients through a variety of topics including: relationship choices, women's issues, anxiety, social anxiety, depression and life transitions retirement, job transition, divorce, sexual identity, moving, death, and infertility. I also have of 13 years experience working with youth ages 12-18 in a variety of topics. I believe that all people at some point in their life feel stuck, and therapy is a process to help a person feel unstuck through self-discovery, self-awareness, learning, and sometimes through practicing new ways of thinking and/or new behaviors.

A catalyst may be a person or a thing that precipitates a change. When you see the change, you can be the change! As a licensed clinical social worker I have worked with children, adolescents, adults, groups and families in the areas of trauma and resilience, anxiety, depression, as well as grief and loss. As a member of the gay community, a presenter and writer in this field, I have worked with folks that are moving toward being fully integrated in their lives. Matching what we know about our inner selves with our outer selves and celebrating ourselves within our communities, may require some assistance along the way.

A wise philosopher once said that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Small changes, even increasing self-awareness, can collect and snowball into life-changing transformations. These changes and transformations currently may be hard to imagine or fully believe, and we can still choose to bravely take that step. Whatever length your journey, I offer support along the road and a safe space for exploration, expression, insight, and transformation.

This Therapist Has Immediate Availability! Counseling has been a passion of mine for many years and I would love to see what kind of help I can offer you. I work with clients through compassion, humor, and unconditional positive regard. Whether it’s through straightforward honesty or easing through difficult topics and allowing a gentle approach, I can provide a style of therapy that best fits you and your personality.

Are you being bullied and feel the urge to harm yourself? Are you struggling with anxiety and self-esteem issues? Are you a member of the LGBTQIA2-S+ community and feel misunderstood? I can help you improve relationships, overcome challenges, cultivate personal growth and gain the self-confidence you need to thrive. I specialize in working with teens and LGBTQIA2-S+ individuals struggling with anxiety, trauma, sexuality or gender identity, as well as those who struggle with addiction and neurodivergent disorders. I make therapy a safe, comfortable, and productive place to be. No judgment. Just clear communication and understanding.

These last few years of the pandemic have been very difficult for most people. I have seen a surge in anxiety, depression, loneliness, stress on marriages and family relationships, health issues, and loads of despair and grief. The pandemic has seemed to push some of these issues to the front and center for people and they can no longer be avoided or dismissed. It is a sensitive time for people to begin addressing their need for help. It can be so overwhelming and difficult to know how to begin talking about it - especially with someone who is a stranger such as myself.

You want to feel better, increase self confidence and gain more coping skills. Life gets overwhelming, and you are tired of feeling stuck or living in survival mode. You desire support to help process emotions, parenting, family relationships or life changes. Talking with someone who will validate your experiences is important to you. Having a safe space to explore your emotions and strengthen coping skills matters, you want to prioritize yourself in this space. It’s time to feel confident again and challenge those thoughts keeping you stuck to help move you forward into the life that you want. The life that you deserve!

Similarly to many of you, the pandemic created an opportunity for me to re-evaluate my choices and to step out of that comfort zone and move towards something new. Exploring new paths can be intimidating but it is also exciting. What I hope to provide for each of my clients as we work together: a place where it is safe to be both vulnerable and brave as you work towards healing and towards your own goals. My professional mission is to help each person determine their goals and needs, then build on their strengths to reach them. This is never a linear process but I can provide an open, safe, and judgment free environment.

At Blue Thistle Therapy, I value holistic healing and authenticity. My practice is rooted in relationship-based counseling, and I dig deep in order to connect with the real you. I am not a “smile and nod” therapist. I believe that therapy should be challenging, and I’m here to partner with you in your journey toward positive growth.

In the heart of life's challenges, some experiences cut deeper, leaving lasting imprints that shape our perceptions, behaviors, and emotional landscape. If you find yourself navigating the aftermath of developmental trauma, PTSD, dissociative patterns, mood disorders, or seeking effective coping strategies, you've taken a courageous step by seeking support. My practice is dedicated to individuals like you, who are ready to engage in a transformative journey towards healing and self-discovery.

In today's world, parenting is challenging. In many cases, we are raising our children with little support from others. And, our children are faced with a great deal of stress and outside influence such as social media, high education standards, and reduced opportunity for success after graduation. As a parent, you want your children to be happy, self-confident, and contributing members of society.

Freedom! Ready to get unstuck? You're this far already, reading this. Seeking support proves you haven't given up. It shows you're strong. Heal with talking or spec.-acupuncture. Calm insomnia, ease your body, relieve fatigue or life dissatisfaction. Select TCM methods, or step-by-step techniques to quiet distress, process trauma, soothe anxiety/depression. Suffering alone isn't bravery; you DON'T have to live this way. Break free from diet-culture with intuitive, unconditional eating. Find your natural body size. Change your mood patterns/communication skill. Use a Professional Career Counselor for the job you deserve. Make a plan!