Therapists in Indianapolis, IN

My name is Mercedes Carey, and I'm a licensed social worker. I'm interested in assisting people in discovering new ways to live a lifestyle that promotes healing on a mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual level. I use somatic approaches, such as mindfulness and movement, to treat the mind and body together. As a queer masculine-presenting woman of color, I know what it’s like to belong to multiple marginalized identities and navigate spaces where your entire self is not acknowledged or welcomed. I am deeply committed to providing a safe therapeutic environment that recognizes and honors individuals as a whole person.

Do you find yourself unable to shut your mind off? Replaying past events or chronically worrying? Is your inner critic keeping you from finding confidence in yourself and security with your place in the world? Have you experienced emotional pain and confusion that keeps your past in the present? Are you struggling to build self-esteem or find self-worth? Has the stress from daily responsibilities compounded existing problems with depression, anxiety, or loss?

In today's world, people often find ourselves going from one day to the next by going through the motions, leaving them feeling unfulfilled and overwhelmed. When we encounter life's hurdles, we have difficulty understanding why or how to deal with them. Choosing a therapist to help you navigate obstacles is a personal and courageous choice. The therapy process is where you and I come together to help you on a journey of relief from distress and increased personal growth and happiness. I strive to build authentic, trusting, and long-lasting relationships with my clients.

I believe people are full of inherent strengths, waiting to be unlocked. My goal is to help you become the best version of yourself and accomplish your goals. By identifying your strengths, we can work together to overcome issues in your life. I don't fix people, and I don't tell them what to do. I believe in a therapeutic relationship that is built on empathy and equity. Whether you are working through a substance use disorder, anxiety, depression, relationships conflicts, grief, or low self-esteem, I'd love to be part of your healing journey.

Do you feel empty, sad or unfulfilled? Are you trying to make changes but get stuck and default back to old habits? We are here to assist and guide you through your journey of mental health recovery and renovation. I enjoy working alongside clients to identify strengths, realize goals and then utilize therapy to break down maladaptive patterns to start living a meaningful and thriving life. I also teach varied skills such as mindfulness and tapping to increase your resources and therefore your own resilience to take with you once therapy has been completed.

We often find ourselves repeating patterns in our thoughts and our ways of relating that keep us stuck and unable to move forward in life, preventing us from fully experiencing all that we would like. Past relationships and early experiences impact our current perceptions of our self, others, and the world. Therapy provides an opportunity to gain insight and understanding, as well as a space to explore and work through these patterns and places in life in the hope of gaining a greater sense of freedom and aliveness.

During the 20+ years I have been in practice, I have served clients with a wide range of presenting concerns. My personal approach is supportive and non-judgmental. I work earnestly to help clients improve the quality of their lives, and utilize a variety of therapeutic interventions to maximize the effectiveness of the services I provide.

You are embarking the journey of therapy, a decision of strength and courage. I am an EMDR Consultant, and I specialize in treating trauma, generalized anxiety, panic, obsessive and/or negative thinking, depression, decreased self esteem and other associated conditions. I enjoy working alongside clients experiencing a variety of life transitions, adults seeking to gain a deeper understanding of family dynamics and themselves or are transitioning into new adult roles or within their family, and those who are seeking goals of finding meaning and purpose, as well as clients with general stressors

A client who desires to accept partnership and engage in being open to change is the most ideal client. I prefer to work with adults and older adolescents struggling with addictions, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and trauma. I have a vast amount of experience working in the field of trauma. Due to my experience working in community mental health, I also work well with those with intense mental health and substance abuse treatment needs. I have worked both inpatient and outpatient experiences, resulting in my flexibility to help stabilize in a crisis and to work with individuals at any level.

My ideal candidate has struggled with self-esteem based on past experiences and wants to change the story and move ahead with confidence. They want to gain insight into why things have happened that are troubling and know how to change things so it can be better.

Do you have thoughts, behaviors, or maladaptive patterns that have become a hinderance in your life? Have they become a barrier to creating and maintaining healthy relationships? Is this interfering with your sense of self, causing growing self-doubt or poor self-esteem? It is likely that these patterns were formed as defense mechanisms, uniquely designed in response to early experiences and environments, but now they no longer fit into the context of your life. Often these patterns are so entrenched in us that we’re not sure where they came from or how to stop them, which may produce feelings of anxiety, depression, fear, or grief.

"Because you are alive, everything is possible"- Thich Nhat Han. I believe that we all have the ability to change and the potential to be our best selves. As a therapist, I actively encourage, support and challenge you to define what you want in life. I feel that my role in counseling is to help empower you to create balance in your life and feel at peace and content. Using a variety of therapeutic techniques, I can help you challenge your thinking, let go of anxiety and fears, and find comfort and support.

I enjoy working with anyone age 13 or older with struggles in the area of self-esteem, setting healthy boundaries with others, learning how to be self-respectful in words, thoughts & feelings, stress & managing anxiety as well as anyone who is healing from loss of either a loved one or pet(s). I also enjoy helping people during seasons of transition whether in young adulthood to increase independence or later years to adjust to decrease in independence resulting from illness, injury or the aging process. I especially enjoy working to provide faith-based struggles.

Are you feeling drained, stressed, fatigued, or depressed? Do you face challenges maintaining positive relationships with healthy boundaries? Have you experienced a traumatic past that you are trying to heal from? Are you a perfectionist who leaves no room for error for themself? Do you need to build your self-esteem and discover your own identity? Are you a parent who needs a safe space to express their emotions and thoughts surrounding parenting? Do you need support through one of life's many transitions? If you answered "yes" to any of these, you are in the right place!

Having someone listen who can reflect your thoughts and feelings and help your perspective be heard is the start of our therapeutic relationship. I am here to assist in your understanding as you seek solutions and balance in managing challenges, big or small, affecting daily life functions. My areas of interest include children, young adults, depression, anxiety, self-esteem, faith/spiritual concerns, career transitions, and family relations. My life experiences in education, career counseling, and the arts enrich and support helping families and children seeking mental wellness. I provide in person and telehealth services.

I am so glad that our paths have crossed. Seeking help takes courage and we all need it from time to time. I view counseling as a relatively short term investment that yields a lifetime of value. In my personal and professional experience I have found that it usually takes a third party to help identify and challenge problematic patterns that keep us hurting and stuck. In this way, counseling helps you to develop new ways of thinking about and responding to life's inevitable challenges. Please feel free to browse www.threestonescounseling.com to find out more.

I never thought of it like that... This a phrase I often hear from my clients as I challenge them to think outside the box and embrace different perspectives and approaches. It's essential to ensure your unique story is known, seen, and heard. . I help children, adolescents, and adults learn to identify and express their feelings and develop coping strategies to deal with difficult situations. Also, if interested, I offer animal therapy with the adorable ICAN therapy dog, Levi (see pic below), providing unique support in our healing work together. "Healing is an art. It takes time, it takes practice. It takes love." - Maza Dohta

As a licensed clinical social worker, I have a passion for working with individuals wherever they may be in their own personal journey. I have spent much of my professional career working with children, adolescents and young adults as a therapist and an educator. I understand the challenges and rewards as they relate to school, family, social stressors and life transitions. I also work closely with families as they navigate these areas as a parent, guardian or sibling.

“There is a disconnect between who I am and who I want to be" "I am ready to turn over a new leaf!". Let me help you take control of your life, thoughts, self-esteem, and motivation. We can work together to help you get back to a life of joy and a passion to live again. My ideal client is ready for growth, self-exploration, and inspiration! You have already made the important first step by searching what possibilities might be out there. If you are ready to do some work, give me a call! I am a structured clinician and my motto is "I don't waste your time".