Therapists in Michgan Oaks, Grand Rapids, MI

Depression and anxiety can feel like a heavy fog that won't lift. I am here to walk with you through the fog, helping you to find clarity and relief from emotional pain. I offer a safe and supportive therapeutic environment that respects your emotional journey, helps you to feel more authentically yourself, and releases you from the fog of depression and anxiety.

My goal is to provide a safe and supportive environment for children and adults, in order for them to process individual difficulties, devise a plan of action, and facilitate emotional health and well-being. My client base includes those experiencing trauma, anxiety, depression, behavioral problems, sexual and physical abuse, parenting difficulties, relationship issues, and family discord. I view myself as a coach to help identify strengths, determine what might be hindering progress, and pave the way for moving forward.

Are you looking for a non-judgemental space to decompress and process through life's tough stuff? Are you seeking tools and tips for when things just feel too messy? When we are experiencing anxiety, depression, or any other intolerable feeling, it can be difficult to manage on our own. I offer a comfortable, non-assuming space to sort through any of life's complexities you or your family is experiencing.

I am a clinician at Grounded in Growth, a Grand Rapids-based practice specializing in trauma-informed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance Commitment Therapy and Mindfulness. I work with young-adult and adult individual clients on issues, including anxiety disorders, depression, grief and loss, life transitions, self-esteem, stress, and more. I help clients uncover deeply rooted beliefs that prohibit them from living how they desire. My style of therapy is compassionate, accepting, and mindful. My clients and I work together to enhance awareness and explore the interconnectedness between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Each person is on a unique life journey. We look forward to learning where you are on your journey and how we can help you create the life you desire. It is not about dwelling on the past but about using life lessons to move forward in a positive way. Even our most difficult life experiences bring us wisdom, character and integrity.

It is my belief that we all need a supportive ear to hear us and guide us. It is my goal as your therapist to create a safe environment for you to share your story. I will be there to meet you where you are at; whether that is to lead and encourage you, walk beside you, or congratulate you for your success.

I have worked with children and families for over 20 years. I consider it a privilege to work alongside families, helping them utilize their strengths. While we could all use counseling from time to time to help navigate life's obstacles, I believe childhood can bring some of the most unpredictable challenges.

The choice to seek therapy is often complicated and forming a relationship with your therapist is an important part of the process. I create a collaborative space where you can discuss your concerns, identities and story. Together we can identify where you would like therapy to take you, build on day-to-day techniques and explore deeper patterns and experiences that may create barriers. My approach is integrative and incorporates skills, narrative processing, metaphor, and intentional decision making. I hope that through our work you will feel empowered to make changes and feel more secure, stable, an sync with your values.

Thank you for being here! I strive to be authentic, compassionate, and insightful in the therapy space. I'm a real human being and partner with clients to make sure you feel fully comfortable and seen. I primarily work with adults experiencing anxiety, depression, stress, self-esteem, and interpersonal relationship problems. Together, we can improve your coping to effectively manage symptoms and life stressors, learn how to express emotions that may be challenging to face, and explore the roots of who you are and what you desire. Our work will help move you towards where you want to go.

My ideal client is neurodivergent on some level, perhaps they have sensory issues, communication issues, and relational issues. Their goals might be to find help making the world a more tolerable place for themselves and to increase their skills emotionally/verbally. This client is ready to get into it and is insightful.

Client diversity is my favorite part of being a therapist. I am open to working with anyone, no matter what issues, needs, and goals they bring to our relationship. My ideal client is simply motivated by a desire for change and has a strong commitment to the process of self-discovery. Navigating change requires a measure of courage, and some episodes of self-discovery may be uncomfortable. My ideal client will understand that each new challenge is simply a part of the overall discovery and growth process. Clients who strive to “face the fear and do it anyway” are usually a good fit with me.

I want to help clients with varied concerns feel empowered to enact change in their life.

I believe that building a strong therapeutic relationship is the most important thing when starting therapy. I work diligently to provide a safe and comfortable space for my clients. It is important to me that my clients experience an atmosphere of trust and empathy in building the therapeutic alliance. Through deep processing, my hope is that the unconscious may come forward and bring new realizations to help in growth, healing, and understanding while navigating your life circumstances. I believe that growth comes in the uncomfortable circumstances that we face in life.

Thank you for visiting my page, I specialize in anxiety, depression and communication, especially about interpersonal, marital, and premarital relationships. My faith is grounded in the Catholic church and many of my clientele appreciate and benefit from a shared belief, but my professional religious framework does welcome and include other faiths. God willing, I will be ordained a Catholic Deacon in April, so this is the lens through which I see and interact with the world.

My therapeutic philosophy encourages individuals to take the initial step in becoming introspective and engaged in the wellbeing of their mental health. Everyone has unique perceptions of their mental health that require personalized approaches to accomplish their goals.

My ideal client is any individual recognizing, through themselves or someone close to them, that some aspects of their life can be improved. You may be ready for change, change got thrown on you, or you want to get back some of those old pieces of your lifestyle that made you who you are. I want to focus on your strengths and show you how capable you are of tackling all of life's difficulties. Each person is unique and together we can focus on how to make sure you are continuously growing into the person you want to be.

An ideal client would be someone willing to put in the effort to change for themselves. During my internship experience, I had the opportunity to work with individuals who dealt with issues ranging from anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and much more. As everyone's journey is different, their goals and needs can be similar. Everyone craves a sense of belonging, and the path to finding a place where one belongs can be tough, but with the help of a caring and compassionate clinician, the journey can become clearer.

I use an eclectic method of therapy, going to where the client is and has been, helping them have insight, awareness and behavioral and/or response changes as I help them unfold and address issues in their life story. Let the change begin.....supported and guided with accountability and love. I have been doing therapy for over 30 years.