

Mental wellness support is available throughout Merrillville with Headway's network of 834 licensed providers. Whether you're in nearby communities or the heart of the city, connect with warm, affirming therapists via virtual or in-person sessions. Many patients pay as low as $0 per session with insurance coverage.
My name is Doug L. Watson, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, RN, and I’m a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with three years of experience treating clients across the lifespan. While I’m trained to work with individuals of all ages, about 85% of my practice has been focused on pediatrics and adolescents—a population I’m truly passionate about serving. I see children as young as five years old through Telehealth up to ages 75 or higher if needed. I earned both my BSN and MSN from Indiana Wesleyan University, completing my graduate degree in October 2022.
I genuinely love what I do and have always felt called to the field of psychiatry. Becoming a Psych/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner has been one of the most fulfilling decisions of my life. I’m excited to be on my own, building a lasting career. I’m committed to providing compassionate, evidence-based care and making a positive difference in the lives of my clients and their families.
When life looks “fine” from the outside but feels overwhelming on the inside, therapy can help you slow down and find your footing again. I’m an LCSW with nearly 30 years of experience in the mental health field and over 20 years providing therapy to adults navigating anxiety, burnout, chronic stress, emotional overwhelm, work-life imbalance, and major life transitions. I especially enjoy working with high-functioning professionals who are used to carrying a lot for others while quietly struggling with pressure, perfectionism, or exhaustion themselves.
Clients often describe my style as calm, steady, practical, and deeply supportive. I help you make sense of what is driving your stress, understand the patterns underneath your anxiety or burnout, and build realistic steps that help you feel more grounded, clear, and in control. I draw from CBT, solution-focused therapy, and mindfulness-based strategies, but I tailor the work to your pace, needs, and goals. If you’re feeling stuck, drained, or ready for something to shift, I offer a space where you can breathe, regroup, and move forward with greater confidence.
Hi! My name is Maggie Peters and I have been a Mental Health Counselor for about 10 years. I have worked with a wide variety of populations and do my best to create a welcoming, open minded and creative environment for my clients to feel comfortable and grow. I have a Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and have worked as an outpatient therapist/mental health counselor in many settings. I am also experienced in crisis intervention, as I used to work for the 988 suicide prevention hotline. I work with a wide variety of ages and populations, including children and adults experiencing depression, anxiety, bipolar, ADHD, trauma and suicide/self harm. I enjoy exploring coping strategies, implementing healthy, daily practices and processing stressors. I am a proud member of the LGBTQ community and have a lot of experience surrounding gender identity, acceptance and positive self esteem/self worth.
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.
As a trauma therapist who specializes in working with adults recovering from eating disorders and disordered eating, I am here to support you in moving towards a nourishing relationship with food and body. I have extensive experience working with survivors of sexual violence and intimate partner violence as well as those navigating their relationship to a current or former faith.
I have over 38 years of experience helping children, adults, and families navigate complex emotional and relational challenges. I work from a family-systems and strength-based perspective, focusing on understanding patterns that contribute to ongoing stress and disconnection.
I am direct, thoughtful, and collaborative in my approach. I work with ADHD, anxiety, depression, school concerns, divorce, and family relationship challenges. When working with children, I believe caregiver involvement is essential for meaningful and lasting change.
Audrena Kelley, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and founder/owner of For You I Will Services & Consulting, PLLC who is also entering her final year of her Doctorate of Social Work program. As a social work professional, I've worked with adolescents, adults, couples, and families from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and socioeconomic status. Individuals ages 18 and older are only being accepted at this time.
I enjoy working with people of color and others of diverse backgrounds to help them navigate through the life events that contribute to depression, anxiety, adjustment challenges, or any other emotional irregularities that affect their ability to function the way they want to.











Headway makes it easy to find support for your mental health — from finding the right provider, to understanding costs, to scheduling with ease.
Finding the right therapist in Merrillville starts with getting clear on what you're looking for. Consider the concerns you want to address — whether that's anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, trauma, or something else — and look for a licensed provider with experience in that area. Common license types in Indiana include LMHC, LCSW, LMFT, and psychologists, and each is qualified to provide talk therapy. If you think you may need medication management, a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner can help.
Merrillville is centrally located in Lake County, which means you can also consider providers in surrounding areas like Crown Point, Hobart, Griffith, and Hammond. Virtual sessions expand your options further, giving you access to Indiana-licensed providers regardless of where in the state they practice. Reading a provider's bio before booking can help you understand their approach, specialties, and what a session with them looks like.
Therapy can be a significant expense, but using your in-network insurance benefits is one of the most reliable ways to reduce what you pay out of pocket. On Headway, you can enter your insurance details to see estimated session costs before you book, and many patients pay as low as $0 per visit. Nationally, Headway partners with over 100 insurance plans, making it easier to find a provider in Merrillville who fits both your clinical needs and your budget.
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