Blue Cross Therapists in Kalamazoo, MI

***Accepting New Clients*** Are you feeling anxious or struggling to cope with many of life’s issues? Are you looking for help, support, or guidance? As a counseling therapist I strive to give my clients the best care possible. I value diversity & inclusion and I welcome clients exactly as they are. As individuals we all walk down different paths and it is my goal to walk beside those in their journey. I want to help create a safe and welcoming environment that allows growth and room for transformation.

I consider being a therapist a unique privilege. For someone to meet a complete stranger, feel safe enough to take risks, and disclose very personal details of one's life takes great courage and commitment to one's self. I believe in creating a safe, confidential environment free of judgment and one of trust and acceptance. My mission is to help individuals, couples, and families achieve the goals they set for themselves as they seek to be healthier, happier, and create a new life path and, perhaps, a new life story.

Has your adolescent been experiencing overwhelming sadness? Does your child feel worried a lot? Are these worries negatively impacting your child's relationships and academic performance? Have recent or ongoing stressors decreased your child's ability to cope with or adjust to change? You want hope and healing for your child so they can feel normal again. You want your child to find relief from the constant worrying. You want your child to be successful at adapting to change. You have found the place your child needs to be to improve their life.

Join me and jump in! My job is to guide and support you as you build a life worth living. I work with motivated individuals, couples, and families to go after their dreams, make life's difficult decisions, and move forward. I work with clients holistically and collaboratively. I believe that the core of therapy should be the relationship that we form during our work together. I will work hard to know and understand you. Using evidence-based techniques and therapies, I hope to help you make a difference in your life.

For the past five years my focus has been on delivering evidenced-based family therapy to families within our communities. Within this time frame, I have worked with families and individuals to alleviate the various stressors that plague our lives on a daily basis. My focus revolves around empowering those I work with using a strength-based focus and addressing the individuals or families most pressing issues using a collaborative approach.

Everyone goes through challenging situations in their life. I am here to help you find the healthiest way to navigate difficult situations, achieve personal goals and work toward getting you where you want to be in a mindful and meaningful way. I use evidenced based therapies to provide effective treatments for a variety of issues and situations.

On our journey through life we sometimes face challenges that lead us to seek out additional support. Life is messy and I am here to help you be intentional with your approach to treatment and pull on your strengths to get through the challenges you are facing. I work to create a safe, non-judgemental, and caring environment for you to process your struggles. Together we will work to find strategies and coping skills to decrease distress and work towards healing.

In my work as a therapist, I guide my clients toward a self-awareness journey that is centered in sustained wellness. The majority of my recent work has involved clients whose mental health is impacted by systems of oppression. It is important to me, as a mental health professional, to cultivate deep attunement to the unique needs of individuals who identify themselves as belonging to historically excluded communities. I am committed to staying engaged with liberation efforts that amplify my scope of practice in the interest of consciousness expansion and healing.

As a holistic-minded therapist who works with both individuals and couples, I see the counseling process as an opportunity to examine old ways of relating to oneself and explore new ways of interacting. I use a whole-body approach to guide clients in becoming more self-aware and finding the strength to initiate long-term positive change for themselves. With couples, my goal is to improve intimacy and commitment using a research-based approach that identifies your strengths, and models healthy relationship patterns. I will walk with you as we navigate creating new interactions and a happier, stronger partnership.

I am here to help you navigate difficult situations going on in your life. My goal is for you to feel safe and understood. I enjoy helping people from all backgrounds. My specialty areas include anxiety, depression, trauma, substance abuse, chronic pain, adjustment, and stress management. I believe therapy should take place in a safe, supportive, empowering, and confidential environment. Clients are active in the process, exploring areas including feelings, beliefs, and behaviors while working through personal history and identifying aspects of their lives they wish to change.

I provide individual psychotherapy to clients who are experiencing distress in their lives. This includes children, adolescents, adults, and families struggling with issues such as depression, anxiety, mood disorders, life changes, and a wide range of psychosocial stressors. I am a graduate of University of Central Florida, Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, a top ten program in the nation. I have experience working in private practice and residential facilities treating severe and persistent mental illnesses. We will work together in defining your goals and figuring out how to approach obstacles you may be facing.

*Accepting new patients Everyone needs a little extra support from time to time; finding the right professional can be a trying, anxiety provoking task. As a therapist, my responsibility and pledge to those I serve is to holistically attend to each individual. Through strengthening your inner healthy self-talk, affirming your values and beliefs, and walking alongside you to further develop your "true" self, we can build a bond of trust and hope.

Welcome! I have 2 core therapy philosophies: First, your thoughts will mislead you, if unexamined. Second: "Live Your Best Life" - not your diagnoses or issues. You're here because: 1. You're suffering from painful thoughts and overwhelming feelings; 2. Self-destructive habits are harming your progress and relationships; 3. You want to Safely collaborate with a warm, dynamic expert to solve confusing issues. I can help! I'm a Seasoned, Clinically-Licensed Therapist employing: CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy); DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy); S/A (Substance Abuse Therapy); MAT (Mindfulness Awareness Training) and TIP (Thought Inquiry Power).

Having a passion for working from a relationship related perspective, I specialize in working with couples to help them identify and communicate their needs and expectations. I understand that relationships play a role in day to day life for many people, so I also see individuals experiencing relationship related issues and life transitions. In and out of sessions, my clients are encouraged to gain self-awareness to work toward the goal of improving their relationship with themselves and others.

In a relationship with a partner that leaves you despairing or giving up? Trying to raise a child who melts down over what seems like nothing? Feeling that parts of yourself won't let you move on and experience life as you'd like? How we connect with others, ourselves, or even our spiritual resources can be life-giving or exasperating. I specialize in attachment---the way we connect with those most important to us. I will meet you where you are. I'll work hard to understand what you are experiencing.

Sometimes we find ourselves in a whirlwind, looking for a place that is safe to express ourselves and our needs. Here is that place...a place where you can find peace to resolve the crushing feelings of hurt, pain, and being misunderstood. Imagine a day when you are able to navigate through life effectively, communicate your needs, and accomplish your goals with less anxiety, less depression, and less anger. Awesome right? It is my intent to help guide adolescents, families, and individuals in learning healthy communication and healthy coping skills to incorporate into their daily lives. Let's learn together.

I have over ten years of experience providing psychological and counseling services in outpatient and residential treatment settings. I have had the privilege to work with many individuals, couples and families struggling with a variety of challenges, and have specialized training in a range of psychological treatment options. An initial phone conversation is welcomed.

My goal with anyone interested in counseling is to "meet you where you are at ". Feeling comfortable with your counseling experience is very important to me. With therapy, it is essential to provide non-judgmental feedback with an understanding that everyone is unique regarding their therapeutic needs. I am here to offer you a multidisciplinary approach regarding your concerns, rather than a "one size fits all approach". We investigate together the concerns that brought you into counseling with the idea of working together to sort out the important details. Bringing yourself to the origin of your concerns is the goal.

People get Stuck. We all have times in our lives where we need that additional support. I am here to help you pull yourself out of your box and into a life with more fulfillment and purpose. I enjoy helping people find that inspiration by incorporating a wide range of interventions based on your unique needs. I am here to inspire you as a Mental health professional by helping you rewrite your story. I am honored to walk with you in your journey as you take those next steps fully empowered.