Trauma and PTSD therapists & psychiatrists in Merrillville, IN

Hello! My Name is Olivia and I am so honored to be experiencing this journey with you! You have taken the first step just by browsing to see who is a great match for you! I would love to get to know you more and help you navigate life's struggles by working together on a deeper level!

I have been a MSSW since 1998 with a host of experience with children, adults, geriatrics, and families. I also have two other graduate degrees and real-life experiences that contribute to my value as a therapist. I love to help others overcome challenges and blossom into the best version of themselves!

When emotional challenges begin affecting your relationships, confidence, or daily life, it can be difficult to know where to start. You may be feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, depression, stress, or the impact of difficult experiences. For children and adolescents, these struggles may show up through behavioral changes, emotional outbursts, school difficulties, or challenges connecting with others. Therapy offers a supportive space to better understand what is happening beneath the surface and begin creating meaningful change.

With nearly 10 years of experience providing therapy, I believe meaningful change happens when you feel both deeply understood and gently challenged. My style is warm, human, and occasionally sprinkled with humor- because therapy doesn't have to feel cold, clinical, or intimidating to be effective.

I specialize in working with OCD and anxiety, helping clients understand intrusive thoughts, compulsions, and the anxiety cycles that keep them going. Together, we focus on building tolerance for uncertainty, reducing compulsive behaviors, and increasing emotional flexibility.

I also have specialized training and experience in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), and evidence-based therapy approach that helps people process trauma, reduce emotional intensity, and shift long-standing beliefs that no longer serve them.

In addition, I work with individuals navigating major life changes, including high-conflict divorce and the painful realities of parental alienation. These experiences can be isolating, overwhelming, and deeply destabilizing. My approach centers on helping clients regain a sense of grounding, clarity, and agency, while learning practical tools to cope with ongoing stress, grief, and complex family dynamics.

My calling as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker allows me to partner with clients in their places of greatest need, with a focus on complex post-traumatic stress. I employ a combination of talk, somatic and non-verbal eye movement based therapies. We will do deep trauma work while still making room for safety, warmth, and even a little playfulness. Because healing doesn’t have to happen in cold, serious rooms. Sometimes it happens barefoot, holding a fidget, with a sloth nearby and someone beside you who truly sees you.

I’ve been working in the mental health field since earning my Masters of Science in Social Work degree with a specialization in Alcohol and Drug Counseling from the University of Louisville in 2011. Over the years, I’ve worked in both inpatient and outpatient settings, supporting adults through challenges with mental health and substance use. Those experiences have given me the privilege of walking alongside people in some of the hardest and most transformative moments of their lives.

I am a compassionate, open-minded therapist who values direct communication and builds genuine connections through honesty. I work effectively with teens and adults navigating identity, life transitions, anxiety, depression, and trauma.