LGBT therapists in Fort Wayne, IN

Great to meet you. If you have been carrying more than most people realize, therapy can be a place to finally feel seen, supported, and understood. You may be navigating PTSD that still impacts your daily life, anxiety that fills every quiet moment, mood shifts that feel difficult to predict, anger that rises before you can stop it, depression, panic, grief, relationship stress, family issues, ADHD, OCD, substance use concerns, or the emotional toll of a chronic health condition. I work with adults, children, and seniors who want more than someone simply listening from a distance. My goal is to walk beside you with honesty, skill, practical tools, and a therapeutic relationship built on transparency and trust. Whether you are working through trauma, identity concerns, cultural stressors, women’s issues, LGBTQIA+ experiences, transgender issues, or major life stress, you deserve support that meets you where you are and helps you move forward.

I am a Mental Health Counselor, licensed in NY, MA, NJ, NH, RI, KS, UT, WI, IN, AR, and OR, with over 20 years experience in the counseling field. I have had experience assisting clients with a wide range of concerns, such as, parenting issues, family/personal relationships, grief/loss, depression, anxiety, and anger management.

Hello! My name is Zachary! I am happy you visited my profile. Before you begin browsing, I just want to say you are strong and you have incredible power in you to journey towards healing. I believe in your success and your potential.

I received my Bachelor of Arts at Goshen College and my Master of Social Work at Andrews University. I am a LCSW in Indiana, LISW in Ohio, and a LSCSW in Kansas.

I have experience in care management and facilitation, providing counseling to juveniles on probation, delivering therapy to those who have been court ordered, doing home-based clinical services, implementing and administering Family Centered Treatment© to families, hospice social work, community mental health, certified clinical behavioral health clinics, conducting counseling to geriatric and SPMI populations, as well as telehealth.

If you find yourself in a place where, by all appearances, you should be happy or fulfilled, yet something still feels missing, you are not alone. Sometimes, understanding ourselves requires us to look beyond what is happening on the surface. The experiences we have survived often shape the ways we think, feel, and move through the world. While those patterns may have once helped protect us, they can sometimes keep us from living the life we truly want today.

Together, we will explore your past, navigate your present, and envision the future you hope to create.

Empathetic, but will challenge one to become the best version of themselves. My years of experience afford me a good insight into various mental health disorders. I have a vast background in working with couples, families, and court ordered cases regarding divorce and coparenting. I have worked with diverse populations extensively. I utilize humor to help make the counseling environment warm, fun and engaging.

I did not stumble into this work — I chose it, and I choose it every day. I am Bianca Gist, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Illinois and Indiana.

I am also a former collegiate athlete, and that background shapes how I show up — I know what it feels like to carry a lot and still need someone genuinely in your corner. My experience is rooted in the spaces where people need the most and are often given the least — Chicago Public Schools, foster care, home-based services, and community mental health. Through my private practice, Her Sole Purpose LLC, I work with children, adolescents, student-athletes, and families using CBT, ACT, and trauma-informed care. I use what works for the person in front of me, not a one-size-fits-all approach. I work well with people navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, and the weight of environments that were not built for them. Therapy with me is honest, grounded, and focused on what actually helps you move forward — not just cope.

If any of this resonates, I would love to connect.

I’m Lisa, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who blends humor, compassion, and curiosity to create a safe space for growth. I serve adults navigating anxiety, ADHD, trauma, or identity questions. My goal is to help you work with your brain—not against it—so you can dig deeper, embrace self-acceptance, and move toward a more authentic, balanced life.

I’m Dr. Michelle S. McBride, DNP, PMHNP-BC, MBA, a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner dedicated to providing compassionate and comprehensive mental health care. I earned my Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from Rush University in Chicago, IL. Before obtaining my doctorate, I was a board-certified psychiatric registered nurse, gaining extensive experience across various clinical settings, including inpatient psychiatry, psychiatric emergency services, community behavioral health, and forensic psychiatry (jail-based care).

I am experienced, confident in treating a wide range of mental health conditions, including:

• Schizophrenia & Schizoaffective Disorder
• Eating Disorders
• Psychosis
• Major Depressive Disorder
• Personality Disorders
• ADHD
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• PTSD
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
• Bipolar Disorders
• Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD)
• Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED)

For more than 20 years, I’ve had the privilege of walking alongside individuals, couples, and families as they work toward healing, growth, and change. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Clinical Addiction Counselor, and Substance Abuse Professional, I bring both deep clinical knowledge and a compassionate, down-to-earth approach to therapy.

I specialize in helping clients navigate life’s most personal challenges—including relationship and intimacy concerns, life transitions, grief and loss, trauma, and mental health struggles. I also provide substance abuse treatment, DOT/SAP evaluations, and recovery support using evidence-based approaches such as CBT, DBT, Motivational Interviewing, Reality Therapy, Trauma-Focused CBT, the Duluth Model, and the Matrix Model.

I have a special commitment to serving Black communities, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people living with HIV, re-entry populations, sex workers, and youth facing challenges. I understand how personal, cultural, and systemic factors shape each person’s story, and I create a safe, affirming space where clients feel truly seen and heard.

In our sessions, you can expect a respectful, judgment-free environment where your voice matters. I believe therapy works best as a partnership—we’ll set goals together, explore what’s holding you back, and develop practical strategies you can use in daily life a more fulfilling life. Whether you’re seeking support for a specific issue or simply want to invest in your personal growth, I’m here to help you take that next step.

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I am passionate about inspiring people on along their change journey. Hearing the words, “you can’t”, “you will never amount to anything”, or believing that your circumstances define your future can be daunting and make you feel worthless. I am here to tell you that none of that is true. Change is attainable! I can help! Let me assist you with navigating through those difficult emotions by learning healthy coping skills designed to create a positive image built on self-love, self-worth which will aid in fulfilling and meaningful relationships. Once the layer of trauma has been peeled back, you will develop insight into patterns that no longer serve you and begin the journey of rediscovering You!

Clients should know that I’m a real person first and a therapist second. I actually started my career in sports management, but life had other plans — and a series of lived experiences pulled me toward social work in a way that felt impossible to ignore. I went on to complete my MSW at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, IN, and I’ve spent the last ten years working in child protection, community health, and hospital social work in a Level 1 trauma facility.

I also spent years as a caregiver, which made me especially comfortable working with older adults and taught me that humor, patience, and a good cup of coffee can get you through almost anything. I’m nearing completion of my PST therapy certification, which adds a structured, problem‐solving lens to the work we do.

I take therapy seriously, but I don’t take myself too seriously — so you can expect warmth, honesty, and the occasional well‐timed laugh when life hands us something so absurd it deserves one.

As a licensed mental health counselor, I believe everyone deserves a kind space to feel better and grow stronger. Taking the step to reach out is brave, so I’m proud of you for being here! I earned my master’s at Indiana State University and bring three years of caring experience to Ember Life Counseling. I specialize in helping kids with play-based support, trauma recovery, anxiety, relationships, and life changes in ways that feel right for you. I’m warm and energetic, and I’d love to welcome you!

I am a BIPOC and queer-affirming licensed psychologist who is still in love with this work, 20 years in!

I want to join you in building a world full of connected, alive, brave people. With over 10 years experience as a therapist, and a constant curiosity about the world, I can support you in a way that honors your worldview, provides grounded support, and clears a path for unshakable healing. I will diligently advocate for open connection with the vital parts of yourself. I am here to help you feel fully connected.