About Stacy
I have been a social worker for 20 years. After earning my BSW from Hope College, I began my career working in a relational ministry with teens. I learned the value of meeting students in the place they were at, at the right moment. I also learned a great deal about building trust in professional relationships.
After completing my MSW degree from Western Michigan University, I worked as a therapist at Bethany Christian Services. I also have extensive experience in end of life issues and bereavement counseling. My passion is clinical work, engaging in a counseling relationship with clients who are seeking change for themselves. I am a licensed social worker in Michigan and a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers. I have experience and training working with adolescents, adults, children, couples and families.
My areas of expertise include grief and loss, anxiety, depression, stress management, faith-based issues, special needs and medical issues, sexual abuse and trauma and women’s issues.
I believe counseling is one of the best choices we can make for ourselves. Sometimes it can be difficult to take care of ourselves this way. I will do my best to meet you where you are, to listen and provide support and offer new information. We will approach your goals for counseling together. I work from a strengths based approach and have a variety of perspectives to offer. Through counseling I believe you can be kinder to yourself, learn new skills and lead a richer life.
Areas of Focus
Depression and Anxiety
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based practice that has proven to yield measurable clinical results in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety. CBT is based on the idea that our thoughts cause our feelings and our actions. The benefit of this fact is that we can change the way we think and feel even if the people and circumstances in our life do not change. This idea gives us power to live the life we want to live without the need to control or change the people or circumstances around us.
Premarital and Couples Counseling
Healthy relationships are built on sound principles and skills. Unfortunately, statistics show that a majority of couples do not spend the time, energy, or money to learn these principles and skills. Why not invest in what you hope will last longer than any car, house, vacation, or career? Through couples counseling you can learn to remove destructive habits and unrealistic expectations that erode your relationship. You can learn how to connect emotionally, build trust, heal betrayals, communicate openly, and find the rewards of a loving, respectful, healthy relationship.
Life Coaching and Goal Setting
Everyone needs a cheerleader or a counselor from time to time. Even the strongest and smartest among us get stuck in a difficult situation, feel the pressure of life’s stress, or need a new compass to navigate a change in our phase of life. Asking for help in these situations is a mark of wisdom. Life coaching can include personality testing, self-esteem building, identifying personal barriers, environmental assessments, and clarification of life values. This approach is designed to help you set goals that allow you to be productive, happy, and thriving in your environment.
Anger Management
Behavioral modification theory allows us to learn and practice specific skills and habits that affect our behaviors in positive ways. Learning to experience and express anger without negative consequences is the focus of this approach. Through the four-step process of “Notice, Stop, Lower, and Resolve”, you can get control over your anger and learn to express it in appropriate ways that do not harm you, the ones you love, or your stuff!