Sandplay Therapists in Charlevoix County, MI

There are many reasons that people seek behavioral health services. I will work with you to provide an assessment of your needs, to set goals to assist in your healing and personal growth, and be available to walk with you through you or your child's healing journey.

Life is full of challenges. Any child can benefit from extra support to navigate these. Many children struggle to cope with their mental health. Serving clients under the age of 18, my goal is to help fulfill the goals that you and your child have. I believe that seeking therapy at a young age is the first step in having a positive and fulfilling future. Whether it be the stressors of every day life, behavior concerns, anxiety, depression, trauma, or other mental health related needs, I am here to help you and your child navigate through this.

As a highly skilled outpatient therapist, it is my mission to improve life quality for all of my clients by leveraging my dedication with over 25 years of experience. I concentrate on understanding the needs of each client, engaging in a trusting professional relationship, administering advanced therapy techniques, and empowering each individual to reach his/her wellness goals. I specialize in the treatment of trauma, grief, medical issues, PTSD, anxiety, life stressors, depression, family conflicts, and more.

Welcome! Are you ready to unburden from ingrained patterns, heal trauma wounds, and welcome joy, connectedness, and wonderment into your life? I can help. I'm an attachment-focused and trauma-informed psychotherapist with a curious mind, open heart, and hearty sense of humor. I believe that therapy should feel nourishing and meaningful - and the effects should be transformative. As a Narrative, Mindfulness, Sandtray, and IFS trained therapist, I helps clients “re-author” their lives — often using experiential and expressive arts activities or guided ‘parts’ exercises in order to make space for new ways of thinking and understanding.

I enjoy counseling children, adolescents & adults in addressing their cognitive, behavioral & emotional challenges. I support my clients through individualized therapeutic approaches to help them understand & express their emotions in developmentally appropriate & healthy ways. I provide therapy for children, adolescents & their families experiencing challenges such as divorce, adoption, anxiety, depression, bullying, self-esteem, medical procedures, domestic violence, abuse & neglect, grief & loss, self-harm, trauma and PTSD. I also offer counseling for military families and understand the unique stress they face. I utilize a strengths-based approach to counsel children, teens & adults to help them gain confidence in their abilities to face challenges head on.

My clients are children from infancy through age 10 (and their parents and caregivers) who want to improve their relationships and the ways they function in this difficult world. I help them understand each other, communicate, process their emotions, deal with life’s problems, and heal from past wounds, especially from trauma. Trauma can affect children’s behaviors and emotions in ways that may be surprising. They may seem withdrawn or angry or highly emotional or defiant ... and sometimes all of these in one day! Children who have not been traumatized may also run this gamut, leaving parents confused.

As a passionate and positive therapist, I will strive to meet you wherever you may be in your life journey. Using your unique story as our guide, we will work together to identify triggers, foster healthy coping skills, develop self-compassion, and heal trauma. I believe that safety and connection are essential for individuals to grow and heal, and I will strive to cultivate that type of environment for you and your loved ones.

Do you find yourself struggling with depression, anxiety, grief, or adjusting to challenging life circumstances? As your therapist with nearly two decades of experience, I am here to provide dedicated support tailored to your unique needs. My specialization lies in assisting women of all ages, particularly those navigating issues related to feeling they have lost themselves somewhere along their journey. I help individuals like you discover strength, resilience, and fulfillment because we all want to look back without regrets.

Life is seldom easy. Sometimes our own thoughts get in the way and make things more difficult for us. My goal, as your therapist, is to help you sort through those thoughts, find out why they are stuck there and then decide if you want to keep them or change them. Once we decide to make those changes, we can begin to see and celebrate the personal growth and transitions that come with those changes. I am anxious to travel this journey with you, using different clinical approaches, intuition, and humor. Schedule a free 15 minute phone consult and lets talk about your vision for your ideal self and how to get you there.

If you are looking for a therapist, you may be feeling hurt, lost, or stuck and aren't quite sure what will help. When our most important connections are ruptured through stress, trauma, and broken relationships, life becomes overwhelming, unmanageable and isolated. Finding a therapist who will listen with intention and compassion can help you feel understood and more connected to yourself and your world. I use a relational-style focused on increasing your awareness and insight so that you feel empowered to move forward.

Life can just be downright hard as we are thrown challenges that we must maneuver in life. Discovering the source of the challenge and recognizing it is the first step. Then the journey begins. I like to refer to the journey as a river. Life can be smooth at times and calm and peaceful, but at other times you may feel like you are on a whitewater rapid. It is in those times, when you may feel like you are losing control that it is helpful to have someone help you navigate the waters. Together we can create a plan to break down barriers, maneuver the rapids or high current times and strive to meet the desired outcome.

Need some help? I did too. No one has it all together. I work with frustrated parents, kids & teens with behavioral/mood issues, searching young adults, & individuals dissatisfied with their life. Life is a journey, at times through the journey we can lose our sense of direction, hope, and purpose. I would like to come along side of you on your journey, & help you find solutions so you can move forward!

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor who has been working with adults, adolescents, and children in northern Michigan for more than 30 years. I believe it's possible to redefine one's potential by understanding each person's unique strengths and limitations, and incorporating these into attainable goals. My focus is to help clients of all ages cope with challenging issues such as divorce, abuse, trauma, depression, self-image, grief and anxiety. I have specialized training in EMDR, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and am a Registered Play Therapist.

Are you struggling with increased emotional or physical difficulties due to the impact of isolation, covid 19, life transitions? Are you feeling increased Depression and Anxiety? Are you struggling with relationship issues? Has someone you love died or is in the process of dying? Are you struggling with other issues of grief or loss? Do you have medical issues that are impacting your emotional well being? Maybe you are needing help managing responses to past or current trauma? I am here for you. I will listen, support and encourage you. We will explore the difficult issues and create your unique healing plan together.

A.C.E.S. stands for Attitude, Compassion, Education and Supports. These are the core attributes and values I use to help my clients and their families find answers, serenity, and balance. I have been helping families, frustrated parents and students who are struggling for well over a decade. My practice includes individual & family therapy, communication skills, education, modification of "behaviors" and helping families understand more of the “why” behind how we act and a deeper understanding of what we feel and how to make appropriate changes