Addiction therapists & psychiatrists in Merrillville, IN

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

With 30 + years of experience as a psychotherapist, I will do everything possible to help you get the most out of your counseling sessions. Being in therapy should be a meaningful and transformative experience. It takes courage to face emotional, mental health, relationship, behavioral, abuse and addiction issues. It is necessary to feel comfortable, safe, and heard in your therapy relationship, as it is feelings of fear, anxiety, anger, guilt, and resentment that motivate us to seek change. I provide a safe, welcoming, discrete, and professional environment where you can explore your needs for personal growth and recovery.

Many of the individuals I work with come to therapy feeling emotionally drained, overwhelmed, and trapped in patterns of survival rather than truly living. They may find themselves constantly overthinking, struggling to relax, carrying the weight of past experiences, feeling disconnected from their emotions, or wondering why they no longer feel like themselves. Others may be experiencing relationship challenges, difficulty trusting others, or feeling stuck despite their best efforts to move forward.

Using a person-centered, trauma-informed approach, I provide a compassionate, nonjudgmental space where you can safely explore your experiences, gain deeper self-understanding, and begin healing at a pace that feels comfortable for you. Together, we will identify the patterns that may be keeping you stuck, develop healthier coping strategies, and work toward creating meaningful and lasting change.

I believe that healing happens within the context of a strong therapeutic relationship. My approach is grounded in empathy, authenticity, and genuine connection, allowing you to feel heard, understood, and supported throughout your journey. Whether you are processing trauma, navigating anxiety or depression, struggling in your relationships, or facing a major life transition, our work together will focus on helping you reconnect with your strengths, build self-confidence, improve emotional well-being, and create a more fulfilling and balanced life.

With 18 years of experience in the mental health field and 7 years as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, I specialize in working with adolescents, and adults experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship difficulties, emotional overwhelm, and life transitions. My passion is helping clients move beyond merely surviving and toward living with greater peace, resilience, connection, and purpose.

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.

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 live by a this motto: When you love what you do and do what you love, you never work a day in your life! My 36+ years as a psychotherapist has never been experienced as 'work' because it is both my vocation (a job) AND my avocation (something about which I am passionate). I consider it a privilege to journey along side my clients, to encourage and provide insight into how and why life is unfolding as it is.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with extensive experience supporting adolescents, adults, and older adults through life’s most challenging transitions. My background spans mental health therapy, crisis intervention, trauma recovery, child welfare, and geriatric care, which allows me to work with clients from a holistic, compassionate, and well-rounded perspective.

I use a strength-based, trauma-informed, and person-centered approach, meeting each client where they are and honoring their unique experiences. My clinical work integrates evidence-based modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), DBT-informed skills, Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy, and mindfulness-based practices. I work collaboratively with clients to set meaningful goals, build coping skills, and create sustainable change.

I have experience helping clients navigate anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, stress, emotional regulation, self-esteem, relationship challenges, and major life transitions. I also bring a strong background in crisis support and safety planning, ensuring clients feel supported, grounded, and safe throughout the therapeutic process.

Above all, I strive to provide a warm, non-judgmental, and culturally responsive space where clients feel heard, respected, and empowered. Therapy with me is collaborative and paced to your needs, with a focus on helping you reconnect with your strengths and move forward with greater clarity and confidence.

I've spent over a decade working with people who are fighting battles most people don't talk about — addiction, eating disorders, dual diagnosis, and the anxiety and depression that come along for the ride. I'm not here to give you a five-step plan. I'm here to be the person who genuinely gives a damn about what you're carrying. I've learned a lot from the great therapists, yoga teachers, and people in recovery who shaped my own life — and my whole purpose is giving that back. I also teach yoga, which means I don't just talk about mindfulness — I live it. Morning, evening, and weekend slots available. Aetna, Anthem, Cigna, and Carelon accepted.