Grief counselors and therapists in Merrillville, IN

You might feel alone in this struggle but you don’t have to be. My work, which has been shaped by my own experiences of suffering and clinical training, is more than a career, it is a calling. I help people move from surviving to living with intention, calm, and confidence.

I have an undergraduate degree in psychology, and a master’s in clinical social work. I specialize in treating OCD and other anxiety disorders with Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy. I use this therapy because I’ve seen it help people begin living the lives that they want to live without fear being the driving force.

I also have a background in working with parents who are experiencing challenging situations. Whenever I work with children, I work with the caregivers as well in order to improve family unity and create lasting change.

I am very trauma-aware in that I recognize the role that past experiences have had in shaping who we are today. My philosophy is that these experiences don’t have to hold us back, but that healing is a journey to be embraced.

Are you feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, carrying the emotional weight of motherhood, struggling in your relationships, or finding it difficult to navigate a major life transition? Perhaps you're constantly putting everyone else's needs first and have lost sight of yourself in the process. You may feel stuck, exhausted, disconnected, or uncertain about how to move forward.

I specialize in helping adults, parents, and families navigate anxiety, depression, stress, relationship challenges, family conflict, maternal mental health concerns, grief and loss, identity issues, and life transitions. As both a therapist and a mother of teenagers, I understand firsthand the joys and challenges that come with family life and the many roles we hold. I provide a compassionate, supportive space where you can slow down, feel understood, and begin making meaningful changes that align with the life you want to create.

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.

Life is full of traumatic events and we all have been traumatized to a certain degree. We are the only ones who can define it and we are all impacted differently by it. For many of us, our trauma negatively impacts our beliefs about ourselves and our worth. Having a negative core belief system often leads to substance abuse and other maladaptive behavior as a means to numb our pain and drown our shame. I have spent years working with individuals who struggle with substance use and addiction and have come to learn that the majority of them have suffered from trauma. You do not have to continue to suffer. I am here to help.