Cortney Kramer

I'm a therapist based in Bay City, Michigan with a background working directly with children, teens, and families in the community - not just in a clinical setting, but in the real, messy middle of people's lives. I know this area. I know how hard it can be to find support here that actually fits your schedule, your insurance, and your life.

I work with adults, kids, and families who are dealing with big transitions - divorce, single parenting, raising a kid who's struggling, anxiety that won't quit, depression that makes daily life feel heavy. I'm practical and direct, but I listen more than I talk. I'm not going to hand you a worksheet and call it therapy.

I accept Aetna, Cigna, Ascension Smart Health, and more so that more people in the Great Lakes Bay Region can access care without cost being the barrier.

I don't believe in a one-size-fits-all approach - and I think anyone who tells you there is one isn't being honest. What works for a seven-year-old who's been through a traumatic family event is different from what works for a 40-year-old who's rebuilding their life after divorce.

My approach is collaborative. I'll draw on cognitive-behavioral techniques, trauma-informed practices, and family systems work depending on what you actually need - not just what fits neatly into a framework. I ask a lot of questions. I challenge you when I think it'll help, and I give you real space when you just need to be heard.

For kids and teens, I work to understand what's going on in the family system, at school, and in their inner world - and I work with parents to make sure the home environment supports the work we're doing in sessions. Therapy is most effective when it doesn't stop at the therapy room door.

It'll feel a lot like a real conversation - because that's what it is. I'll ask you what brought you in, what's been going on, and what you're hoping to get out of working together. You don't need to have it figured out - a lot of people come in not entirely sure what they need, and that's okay. We'll figure it out together.

The first session is also a chance for you to feel out whether I'm the right fit. I want you to leave feeling like you were heard, and with at least one clearer thought than you walked in with. I have an office in Bay City, and offer both in-person and telehealth sessions to fit your schedule.