Family Therapists in Kalamazoo, MI

Life can be hard and crisis happens without notice. You have taken the first step toward being well! I believe that you are the expert on your own life and that we will work together to find the life and balance that you seek. I am here to help. I work with individuals, couples and families as well as first responders, font line workers, and groups.

Taking the first step towards therapy is often the most difficult. I strive to create a safe and comfortable atmosphere in which to build a caring and collaborative therapeutic relationship where the client and the therapist work as a team. In working with my clients, I practice a strength-based approach where helping my clients with wellness, self-growth, and exploration is vital and foremost. I am particularly interested in trying to help clients feel more like the authors of their own lives, so that they can achieve what they hope for in all areas of their life.

Are you feeling stuck, and unsure how to move forward? Whether it be one big event or many smaller things piling up over time, it can be hard trying to figure out where to start. Everyone could use some extra support from time to time, and it takes a lot of courage to take the first step and talking about the struggles in your life. My specialty is working with individuals and couples in creating a supportive environment to process troubling areas and provide opportunities to improve communication skills and achieve your goals. I look forward to working alongside you as you work to achieve your goals!

It's about relationships . . . We're here to provide guidance in building and strengthening relationships between family members, friends, and even, with yourself. Caring and comprehensive counseling services for: Adults, teens and children of all ages, Individual, couples, family and group counseling.

Life experiences can impact us in surprising, often difficult and even traumatic ways leaving us feeling out of touch with ourselves and those around us. With over sixteen (16) years of experience working alongside individuals and families in a variety of clinical settings, my clinical approach begins with meeting you where you are at, without judgement or preconceived notions, to help create a safe, warm and welcoming environment for change. Combining my experience as a clinical social worker and as a parent, my aim is to provide resources and tools that can be used to breakdown the barriers that may exist in your life.

It is my belief that people need truth to be emotionally and spiritually healthy. The Bible is the primary source of truth and directs the counseling services that I provide. My hope is that the loving compassion of Christ is evident in my counsel, whether I am visiting with a troubled married couple or an 8 year-old child who has been the victim of abuse. The identified desire of the client is the target of the counseling sessions and my goal to help each individual, couple or family experience freedom.

As counselor, I see therapy for adults involving a very individual, 'person centered' approach. "I believe that every person has the internal resources they need for growth & healing, and to find their direction and progress in the therapy process." I support the client on their path to success, providing empathy, acceptance for who they are and where they are, while offering a non-judgmental orientation. I encourage the client with the freedom to explore thoughts, feelings, and life experiences in our time together.

I believe in the power of therapy to be a catalyst for growth, to gain new perspectives for tackling challenges, and to improve dynamics between individuals and within families. However, it all starts with relationship. I am committed to creating an inviting, safe space for my clients. My sixteen years as a progressive educator provide the roots of my growth-oriented approach and are the foundation on which I work to collaborate with clients when learning new skills, new perspectives or processing painful life events.

My main areas of practice include: alcohol and drug addiction, relational conflict, anxiety, depression, grief/loss, trauma and PTSD. I work with a client centered, interpersonal approach to confidentially support and respond to the individual uniqueness of each client. I focus on creating open and direct dialogue using an element of humor to create relational safety.The level of ongoing anxiety and stress accompanying addiction as well as from everyday life tends to be relentless, overwhelming and at times, traumatizing. My goal is to assist clients in building insight and personalized skills to reduce distress and experience meaningful, corrective, emotional experiences.

Are you in search of an experienced therapist like myself? I will create a safe space for you to step away from your everyday routines and distractions and focus on you, your family , and or your marriage. I am available to help your heart heal and assist you and or your family navigate your life journey in a healthy way. Together we can address any of the following barriers to healthy living: communication, infidelity, intimacy, financial strains, stress, anxiety, depression, blended families, and career conflicts.

**Accepting New Client's** Are you struggling with a loss of interest in normal activities or with a feeling of hopelessness, do you feel consumed with grief, struggle meeting goals, maybe you find it difficult to communicate effectively with family , coworkers, or friends. Life has many transitions and you may need help coping with them (new or loss of a job, college, empty nest, etc). I offer you a safe nonjudgmental space to assist you with finding solutions to your concerns. I am a Limited Licensed Professional Counselor & Limited Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist & I can't wait to help you through your therapeutic journey.

Our lives do not always go the way we planned. We all experience challenges and struggles and find ourselves searching for relief. I view therapy as a time to heal, grow, change, discover, and build. I have worked with clients to address such concerns as self-esteem, depression, anxiety, family and relationship issues, parenting, work and career concerns, life transitions, stress and coping, and grief and loss to name a few.

Transformation from depression, anxiety, personal problems, grief, life transitions and other issues can be challenging. It is important to have the right support and a strong, positive relationship with your counselor. I work to provide an environment that is both safe and non-judgmental. I will help you identify the things you want to be different in your life and develop skills and a plan for reaching your desired goals.

Do you feel like you don't fit in or that you are living as a fraud? Are you vacillating between burying your head in the sand and obsessing about what's going on around you? Are you impatient with family and co-workers? Do you struggle with worry or have difficulty focusing? Using a cutting edge understanding of the Mind, I will help you uncover your resilience to address these issues. I work with adults and older adolescents.

I completed my Master's degree in Counseling Psychology from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan and hold a B.A. in Psychology and Anthropology/Sociology from Kalamazoo College. My diverse work, education, and training experiences have provided the opportunity to work with female and male adults and adolescents in individual and group therapeutic settings. My therapeutic approach derives from a relational perspective and I utilize cognitive behavioral, psychodynamic, person-centered, and holistic health approaches in our session.

We all have times when we could use extra support, for one reason or another. If you're ready to explore therapy, I would be honored to be apart of that journey, and provide support for you, your child or your family . I believe you are the expert on your life, so we will work together on setting goals and finding ways to meet them, that work for you and your family . My goal as a therapist is to create a safe, non-judgmental space where you can feel heard, be vulnerable, and gain confidence to use your strengths to improve your daily living and achieve your goals.

I am happy to work with people who are looking to strive toward their own personal strength, passion, and peace through counseling. I can provide support for an individual, couple, or entire family . I have completed Gottman Level 1 Couples Therapy Training, and enjoy helping to restore harmony to couples of all kinds. I am more than happy to make accommodations for fees based upon income for those who are uninsured, under-insured, or wish to not use their plan benefits. I look forward to developing a therapeutic alliance with clients while working toward resilience, independence, decision-making, and life competence.

I believe that counseling helps you to discover who you are, and who you want to become. As a counselor, I will assist you, your family , your children to explore through life challenges. I will help you find which self-care techniques work best for you as an individual. Together we will discover what your success looks like and how to find the path that feels comfortable for you to get there. I have worked with individuals and families in a variety of settings for more than 10 years using various treatment models that promote individual strengths. I have worked with children, adolescents, and families in different stages of life.

I believe that people do have the ability to change but often need a little help to reach their goals. I have been successful working with clients who are struggling with addictions, interactions with the legal system, family issues, as well as childhood trauma. I have a common sense, reality based approach that is easy for clients to relate to and am flexible by using several therapeutic theories to help my clients achieve their goals.