EMDR Therapists in Ann Arbor, MI

My approach is a collaborative one as I feel my my role is to help each individual find the strengths and skills already within them to manage their lives. Each individual determines their own needs, and goals while I help guide them to where they want to be.

Michael is a therapist with over 12 years experience working in the mental health field. He has been privileged to work with individuals, couples, and groups in a variety of settings ranging from community mental health, inpatient hospitalization, and outpatient practice. Michael specializes in working with adults struggling with trauma, mood disorders, anxiety, substance use, and relational issues, among others. No matter what you are working on, Michael offers a safe space to help develop and move toward your vision of a happy, meaningful life. He believes in the importance of compassion, humor, self-care, and self-determination.

Hello and welcome to Dreaming Tree Counseling. You are so courageous for considering the next step in your healing journey! My name is Jennifer (Jen) Towns (she/her). It is my personal and professional belief that everyone can discover their most authentic and successful self. I invite you to a safe space where you can learn to trust, speak your truth, and realize your potential for emotional growth and change. ​I practice trauma-informed holistic therapy - blending somatic body work, EMDR , IFS / ego-state parts work, and a general recognition of the impact of traumas and attachment wounds on ourselves and our relationships.

There are times life overwhelmingly challenged us and we somehow prevailed. However, for some of us, our thoughts, emotions, or bodies became stuck in the aftermath of it all. This may look like always feeling down, constantly on edge, or numbing life's pain away. Whether it's recent stress or a traumatic experience, the space for therapy is one where we explore the avenue that can help resolve old echoes from past experience.

Sometimes you need to tell the negative committee inside your head to just sit down & shut up. Or maybe you've experienced a significant loss & wonder how life will ever feel normal again. You are someone who is motivated to make change but still find yourself struggling, feeling overwhelmed, unsure, & in need of direction. You're ready & this is the time to make a change. Most of all, you're ready to take control of your thoughts & emotions.

I enjoy working with a wide variety of clients of various ages and from various cultures and backgrounds. I am particularly suited to help individuals cope with various physical, sensory, and learning challenges. My goal is to help my clients empower themselves and cope with many challenges including: anxiety disorders, mood disorders, various disabilities, trauma/PTSD, and LGBTQ+ challenges, to name a few. I am now trained to offer EMDR therapy for trauma. If you or someone you know is having difficulty coping with the many stressors life can throw at us, please give me reach out. I look forward to meeting you :)

At its core, therapy is about supporting a life lived with awareness and choice, which is not only the best way to honor it, but also to meet the suffering that comes with it. Jung says: "I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become". In a way both are true; the family we're born into, and life's events impact us deeply, and we can learn and grow through our experiences, the good and the bad, as opposed to letting them trap or control us. We can all lead lives consciously and choicefully.

I value the courage it takes for individuals to participate in a therapeutic relationship and create a non-judgmental environment where you are empowered to make the changes you want in your life. As a therapist I strive to build a collaborative relationship dynamic through providing validation and guidance. I have a special interest in working with young adults experiencing difficult transitions in their lives and couples/individuals struggling with infertility. My experience also includes working with individuals suffering from anxiety, depression, a history of trauma and/or managing borderline personality disorder.

Just as the body naturally moves toward physical health, the brain's natural tendency is to move toward mental health. But sometimes the brain can be blocked from its natural tendency due to disturbing life experiences. When this block occurs, we can experience ongoing symptoms and emotional distress. Disturbing life experiences can affect our ability to optimally function in the present. Memories, feelings, and beliefs that are associated with difficult events can cloud our perceptions and responses to people and situations in the current circumstances of our lives.

You're at a crossroads. Maybe you're ready to take your next steps, and seeking guidance. Maybe you're not sure you're ready, still doubting whether you could make the changes you know you need in your life, your identity, or your relationships. Either way, looking here is an expression of hope in the possibility of change. I believe anyone can change their life, heal, and grow, if you feel safe enough to be vulnerable, and you have the right support for your needs. What I offer is calm non-judgment, and navigation for healing pain, resolving ambivalence, finding joy, and facing hardships, grounded in your authentic self and values.

We provide a wide range of psychotherapy services: child, teen, trauma and EMDR , individual, addiction recovery, women's issues, major life transitions. We are located on the border of Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor, close to the freeway with plenty of parking. We provide an affirming, confidential, and judgement-free environment for clients to talk about their problems. We work with you to figure out what you need, what you want, and how to get there.

The foundation of effective and beneficial therapy is a good relationship. The relationship between therapist and client can provide an opportunity for working through difficult emotions and experiences, both past and present. I strive to develop a nonjudgmental partnership with each person I see in therapy, keeping in mind that every person and situation is unique. This allows us, together, to explore and understand the issues that bring you to therapy and how to begin to resolve them.

Can you relate to any of the following? You’re tired of the same repetitive relationship cycles. You’re searching for yourself, your identity, or a true “knowing” of who you are. You want to increase your self-confidence. Your childhood trauma continues to impact your emotions and behaviors. It often feels like your brain is in overdrive and has difficulty settling down. You experience nightmares or flashbacks from previous abuse or traumatic experiences. You’re ready to find peace, healing and a sense of safety.

You found me! I know it can be hard to take the steps to connect with a therapist. How can I help you? Do you find yourself having difficulty navigating your thoughts and feelings? Do you struggle with feelings of anxiety? Are you struggling to navigate day-to-day stressors, life transitions, challenging relationships, upsetting circumstances, or feel held back by past traumas? Past trauma can also lead to negative cognitions or unhelpful scripts we develop about ourselves (i.e. "I'm not good enough," "I'm not lovable," "I can't trust anyone," "I'm not safe," etc.). I am here to offer you support and develop effective coping skills.

I want people to get excited about who they are and what life holds for them. This paraphrased Virginia Satir quote aptly describes one of my aims for clients every day. Life can usher us in unanticipated directions. We may not want to go where it leads us and suffer as a result. Whether you are weighed down with small stressors or lifelong traumas, therapy can help you feel and cope better to find a new, healthier and more satisfying experience of life. One client who recently completed therapy said "Joan really listened to my goals for therapeutic care and let me take an active role in deciding what methods would be employed."