Family Therapy in Houghton Lake, MI

Balance Mental Health & Wellness provides mental health services for children, adolescents and adults. Our brick and mortar business is based out of Houghton Lake, Michigan and we also provide virtual services throughout Michigan.

Now accepting virtual clients! I can see you next week!

Life often teaches many of us that personal growth and change can be a struggle. Oftentimes circumstance finds us taking two steps forward and then one step back. If you're tired of lacking discipline and could benefit from some motivation I can create a partnership with you. I will work with you to increase your self-determination, self-awareness, and self-acceptance. I will help you understand how our current ways of thinking, feeling, behaving, and relating are tied to our family of origin and the programming we received as a child.

As a clinical psychologist, my mission is simple: to help you to identify your goals and provide warm, empowering support while you work toward them. My focus is helping teens and adults navigate anxiety, depression and life changes such as divorce, work/school struggles, illness, and loss. Women's issues- the challenges of motherhood and the pressure to "do it all", especially- are of particular interest to me.

I hope to help my clients to live their 'best life possible,' progressively, soon! We will incorporate all of your unique life experiences, your unique areas of needed healing, and will take therapy at your pace.

In my work with couples and families, I provide a warm, non-judgmental presence to help you share your story, make discoveries, and meet your goals. I have a particular passion for helping couples, and I also work with individuals of all ages. I see family members as part of a connected system, and I honor each person's need for belonging and independence within their closest relationships. My background in education and love for the natural world shape my connection with clients.

I have several years of experience working with mental health and behavioral health. I have helped individuals and couples recover from trauma related to physical, sexual, verbal, and emotional abuse. Trauma can manifest itself in several ways, including: relationship issues, professional issues, that allow the inability to live in peace and harmony. It can also manifest body image, self-sabotage, and a lack of self-confidence. Some of the modalities I use include Brain Spotting (BSP), Collaborative Therapy and Structural Therapy. Life, financial and other coaching is available from Ramona R Durso, EdD., MBA.

Are you struggling with anxiety or feeling depressed? Are family or life difficulties leaving you stressed? Are you feeling burned out? Have you experienced trauma? I believe we all need a supportive space to be open without judgement as we talk through our thoughts and feelings and process stress. I'd love to help support you with these or other concerns such as relationship issues, job stresses and faith related difficulties. Working together we will work toward peace and personal growth for a more vibrant life through mental wellness, stress management and healthy boundaries.

I have found that everyone can hit a bump in the road. The hardest part of this experience is to walk in the door and ask for help. I value the therapeutic process between my clients and myself, and enjoy as well am honored in getting you into a healthier place. Everyone comes with a different story and event, and I can help you with this. Together we will forge through whatever it is you are struggling with, and I look forward to empowering you on this non judgmental journey. My office is a safe place to land. I look forward to helping you be a healthier you.

As a therapist, my role is to provide a confidential and safe environment in which you experience empathy, authenticity, and respect. I provide therapy services primarily for adults, meeting with clients in a one-on-one setting. My typical clients are those who are experiencing a variety of personal concerns, such as healing from traumatic experiences, working through relationship problems or family stress, grappling with negative experiences from a religious community, coming to terms with identity issues or mental health concerns, engaged in adoption or foster care, and much more.

You have been sitting with your thoughts and seem to recycle your memories. You are excellent at suppressing your hurt and stay busy with work and life as a distraction. You no longer connect with others the way you used to and keep friends and family at a distance. The Pandemic may have increased your anxiety and depression and you are uncertain where to begin. Your worry and fear come out as; anger, sadness and controlling behaviors, due to questioning your worth and self esteem. Will I ever feel truly happy? Will I feel truly loved? Will I find my life path and the career that makes my soul soar? Will I learn to forgive?

I am committed to and understand transformation processes – at the individual, family , group, organizational, and community levels. I have a strong foundation in the theoretical and practical elements of the change process, and tend to ground my work in trauma-focused, critical, and person-centered approaches. Relationship-building, authenticity, empathy, and explicitly anti-oppressive frameworks are at the core of my personal and professional identity, while a commitment to the values of social justice, dignity and worth of all people, service, integrity, and the centrality of human relationships really frames my professional work.

I know that seeking out therapy can feel overwhelming and uncomfortable, so I’m glad you’re here! I believe counseling is a collaborative process based on honesty, respect, and empowerment in which we work together toward the change you desire. I also believe in authenticity, flexibility, and meeting you where you are. So, please come as you are – there are no expectations here! Additionally, I believe that YOU drive the bus in this therapeutic journey. I recognize that you are the expert of your own experience. My role as a guide is to help you gain long-term, life-changing tools so you can shape your life into the one you desire.

When you pull back the curtain a bit in this world, you will find deep and ongoing pain in many of us. Suppressing this pain through medications and coping strategies can bring about temporary relief but not everlasting internal peace. Helping you confront and heal the root cause of your anxiety, depression, addiction, anger or other difficulties is my goal.

The power to have the quality life and relationships that you desire is in your hands. It just takes courage to take the first step. If you feel lost in a maze that keeps ending up where you started, maybe you need a good guide who can help you arrive at a more satisfying destination. I can help you navigate through the challenges in life so that you end up with more positive results. ( PLEASE NOTE: I only work with individuals 20yrs+ old.)

No matter how hard you try to move forward, you feel like your taking one step back. You’re a high performer with perfectionism tendencies and always put on a smile, which helps you forget your pain. You feel you will never be fully happy and never be able to fully enjoy life how others do, because of your many losses, attributing to your decreased self esteem. You may keep friends and family at a distance, to protect yourself from yet another inevitable loss. You may have stopped exercising and taking care of yourself the way you used to, since it takes too much work and you're just surviving at the end of another long day.