Obsessive-compulsive disorder therapists & psychiatrists in South Bend, IN

Hi there, my name’s Ephraim and I'm a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 20+ years of experience. My specialties consist of relationships, men’s issues, career counseling, and psychosomatic illnesses.

Whether it's individuals or couples, I'm happy to get to work with whomever comes my way. I do my best to facilitate a warm, trusting environment. I received my Bachelors degree in Child Psychology, working initially with the adolescent population before transitioning over to adults. I then received my Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy. Looking forward to meeting with you soon!

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'm an LCSW practicing in Indiana, Florida, New Mexico, Ohio, Alabama, and Illinois. I specialize prenatal, childhood, and adolescent trauma, OCD, eating disorers, and ARFID. I currently see clients from age 2y through adulthood. I'm available for telehealth services and offer virtual psychotherapy and play therapy sessions.

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.

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.