Mindfulness-Based (MBCT) Therapists in Michigan

My vision is to help clients get away from dysfunction to full potential, to help them live a life worth living. I enjoy clients who do not feel "in-tune" with themselves because of past experiences & it is important to me to help realign their lives in order to be intentional about who they want to be, what boundaries they want for life, & also to help them take care of themselves. Whether your struggles are a result of past trauma, divorce/broken relationships, life transitions & changes, or whether it is just a little bit of adjustments needing to be made, set aside the politics/pressure of the world, I want to help YOU!

The concerns that life brings us vary widely, but I often see people struggle with stress management, anxiety, depression, school or work-related concerns, relationship difficulties, parenting concerns, and the uncertainty of life's transitions. My approach is both collaborative and person-centered, while always rooted in evidence-based practices. Therapy is a place to unpack suffering in order to find understanding, balance, peace, hope, and joy.

As a therapist, I am a guide and facilitator who supports clients by listening, asking questions and offering tools and processes tailored to the client's unique needs and circumstances. Client come to therapy for a variety of reasons including relationship conflict, family issues, grief and loss, coping skills and life transitions. My role is to create a safe and welcoming place for client's that is accepting, non judgmental and calming. Through mindful communication, clients can find the path forward that is consistent with their values, beliefs and goals.

After 42 years of practice, I've learned there is no one-size fits all-everyone is unique. The best psychotherapists are creative, flexible, and harvest wisdom and techniques from many different models. I believe this approach is most helpful and apply my many years of experience in psychology, integrative medicine, mindfulness, and nutrition towards a compassionate style of healing. I try to educate, inspire, explain, and guide. Feeling safe is the most important aspect in creating a close connection.. My unusual background and training helps me to treat a broad range of emotional problems including illness and life stress.

With mindfulness- and compassion-based therapy, I support clients through grief & loss, relationship issues, healing from trauma, and searching for meaning & purpose. So many of the issues that bring people to therapy are natural responses to the challenges we face as human beings. Through the process of therapy, we bring curiosity and compassion to our inner experience; and in the safety of a non-judgmental space, we explore options for understanding and growth.

Counseling is an opportunity to explore the beautiful, but often messy experience of being human. Suffering is an unavoidable part of life, made much harder by the stories we tell ourselves about who we are. We are bombarded on all sides with messages that we are somehow less than. It is my sincere desire to create a safe space where you are genuinely accepted. A space where you can explore what you would like to change and discover new possibilities.

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.

Hello, I am Sheena Olave. I know that seeking treatment is often a difficult step - please know, you do not have to do it alone. Your story is important, you are important. I am ready to meet you where you are at. I am here to help support you on your journey. I want to help you process and work through those difficult and painful thoughts and emotions. You have already done the hardest part by looking for support. This step speaks to the fact that you are ready to make some changes. And change is for the taking!

As a Therapist, my goal is to work with Children, Adolescents and Adults. I use a variety of therapeutic modalities and apply research based techniques.My counseling philosophy can best be described as Eclectic. I work on awareness, relationship and integration to encourage personal growth and wholeness. The goals and techniques used in therapy will be based on the individual needs of the client. With a Eclectic approach, I draw from a variety of techniques such as Child- Centered Play Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy ,Mindfulness, Hypnotherapy, Auricular Acupuncture and Solution Focused Principles.

My name is Ilene Vallance, LMSW, ACSW and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LMSW) in the State of Michigan. I am a member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW). I have over 30 years of professional experience providing mental health services and psychotherapy in the public and private sector. I have specialized training in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution Focused Therapy, Mindfulness Therapy, Positive Psychology, conflict resolution, and interpersonal communication skills.

My practice specializes in the application of evidence-based therapy for a range of behavioral, emotional and relational concerns. I am an integrative practitioner, which means that I commonly work by combining a number of evidence-based therapeutic approaches which are tailored to an individual’s specific needs. My work primarily draws from Cognitive-behavioral Therapy (CBT) which is an approach to therapy supported by research and has been shown to be effective for a number of problems, including depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), insomnia, and relationship problems.

My clinical approach is integrative, although my interventions often focus on acceptance and self-compassion while empowering my clients to make the changes they would like to see in their lives. I firmly believe that therapy should be focused on helping you become the best version of yourself, as YOU understand it. In keeping with that goal, I take great care to ensure that therapy is affirming of all aspects of diversity and identity.

**Update: In-office appointments are now available** We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are" ~Anaïs Nin... Anybody can get stuck. We all have blind spots and darkness, but we don't have to live there. The first step is asking for help. I believe that we're wired for love and belonging, for connection, but that as a culture we've never been more disconnected: from ourselves, from our lives, and from each other. And in disconnection we shut down. Asking for help isn't weakness, it's an acknowledgement that we just need some relief.

I provide a warm, accepting and nonjudgmental approach, emphasizing the use of evidence-based treatments such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT). In addition, I have received training and experience with Radically Open Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (RO-DBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). I focus on applying mindfulness and related behavioral skills to help clients learn to tolerate distress, manage emotions, and increase their overall coping ability and quality of life.

Hello and welcome! I am so glad you’ve taken this important step in your journey. Much of my experience includes trauma work stemming from events such as domestic violence, sexual assault, unexpected deaths, and chaotic childhood experiences. My passion is to help my clients regain a sense of self, a sense of empowerment, and discover new ways to experience their lives. My goal is to help you find a space in which you are heard, seen, and safe. My ideal client is anyone who has a desire to feel better and takes the important step of researching options and reaching out. It looks like this could be you!

I provide individual and group psychotherapy to adolescents and adults. My work with children is specific to gender identity. My clinical work is focused on eating disorders, gender identity, LGBTQQ+ concerns, multicultural counseling, survivors of sexualized violence and trauma. I work with clients through a social justice and holistic health lens that emphasizes the inseparable connection between our mind, body, and environment. My approach to therapy is strength-based and client centered rooted in cultural humility. I incorporate mindfulness, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and other evidence-based techniques depending upon the goals of each client.

My passion is helping people discover the goodness, strength, and wisdom that is already within them, helping them to grow those strengths so that they can ultimately “be their own therapist.” I have a special interest and focus on compulsive eating, emotional eating, and binge eating using evidence-based mindfulness approaches, such as DBT and Compassion-Focused Therapy. I seek to offer a warm, empathetic, non-judgmental space where we can collaboratively explore your needs and goals. We will walk this journey together!

The key to a better future is you. Accept yourself. Love yourself..You are good enough. Open yourself up to the possibilities starting now. Whether you have lost yourself, are uncertain about the future, unsettled due to life challenges, depressed, anxious, having relationship/parenting troubles, needing to set boundaries, or just simply feeling stuck and do not know what to do, you have taken the first step towards improving your life. What changes are you looking for? You will learn more about yourself and others around you and will have strategies that will assist you in creating a better future, a clean slate, a fresh start.

Hello. I have a passion for transforming challenging life issues with compassion, self-awareness and self love. My primary areas of interest include adolescents and adults who have difficulties with depression, anxiety, self-esteem and managing day to day stress. I also have experience working with adults who have a history of substance abuse. I believe that therapy is an influential journey that requires a partnership between both client and therapist. I incorporate a mindfulness approach to treatment and utilize acceptance and change strategies to help you reach your goals.