Family therapy and counseling in Indiana

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.

I received my Master’s and LSW in Social Work in 2012 and my Clinician Licensure in 2015. I also have a bachelors in education. I practiced in an adult outpatient hospital setting for 10 years. During my tenure there, I used the following modalities when treating clients: Solution Focused Brief Therapy, CBT, Motivational interviewing, Narrative therapy, Strengths based therapy, Problem solving therapy, mindfulness, crisis and suicide prevention, Grief and Loss, and provided countless hours in coaching individuals on disease prevention, chronic conditions and life solutions. I believe education empowers people to make informed choices and include this is most sessions to enhance therapy. I am also trained in all therapies listed in my bio and use these regularly. I use modalities separately and together according to what is needed and how you are progressing, but my base construct is CBT. Emotion Freedom Technique is a new way to approach trauma which I have been using over several months for people with trauma and have seen fantastic results.

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.

Hello! I am glad to meet you and look forward to being part of your personal journey. First, a little about me and who you will be meeting.

I am a native of Southeastern North Carolina and graduated from Campbell University in Buies Creek, NC with a Bachelors of Science in Psychology. I transplanted to Louisville, KY in 1991 and pursued my Masters in Social Work Degree at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. Between my early education, continued training and lived experiences, I am able to guide you to explore the mind, body, spirit connection.

I have experience working with all ages but most of my career has involved working with youth and their families.

I have a lot of experience addressing anxiety, depression, ADHD, LGBTQIA issues and parent/child problems and behavior issues. I have a growing interest in the area of women's health issues.

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