About
Why come in for therapy?
Perhaps your life is 100% fulfilling and satisfying, and you feel peace about all areas of your life. If you do, you are probably NOT reading this page!
If your life is challenging at times, filled with normal human struggles plus some issues that you can’t seem to conquer, or patterns that you can’t seem to escape from, then therapy is VERY likely to benefit you.
In our own lives, we only have one vantage point, and there are many dynamics affecting us which we often cannot see without the help of a ‘magnifying glass,’ so to speak.
Here is an illustration of what brought me into therapy; maybe you can relate to parts.
Lynne Stevens – how I became who I am
The school of life has taught me well.
I first had the inclination to become a counselor when I was a teenager, wishing I had a counselor better than the ones at school. At that time of my life, I looked really good from the outside looking in: I was popular (-ish), a good student, a cheerleader, had friends and boyfriends, stayed out of trouble (at least I didn’t get caught).
There was no abuse, we weren’t poor, I had nothing to complain about and was reminded of that every time I complained. My parents were both teachers, I had one brother, and lived across the street from the lake in a modest house with, I kid you not, a white picket fence. And I had a white picket fence mentality – It was all good! (You know where this is going)
And then the internal struggle
My internal life was another story, although I didn’t realize it at the time. When I met my biological mother at 25 years of age, I wrote to her in my first letter that ‘my life was so good growing up.’
This was the narrative I learned, and I used it as a coping strategy to survive and fit in with the world around me. People wanted me to be ‘all good’… maybe even needed me to be ‘all good.’ The only problem was (ready for this?) I was fat. If you saw photos of me then, I was not at all fat; but the fat in my head was so big, it was an obsession.
My obsession with ‘fat’ brought me to counseling
That’s what brought me into counseling. My first go of it, in my first session, my therapist wanted to know about my relationship with my parents. I said it was “all good” and wondered to myself why she was asking about my childhood. She pressed on, which was annoying, and I continued to repeat that it was “all good” as tears began to leak from my eyes (which also annoyed me).
The compassionate therapist pointed out that my tears were suggesting that it wasn’t “all good,” which I didn’t appreciate. The next week, I went back in and told her I felt so much better (I was cured) and thanked her for her service. I was determined to hang on to the narrative of “all good” for a while longer.
Little ‘t’ trauma
Fast forward five years; I’m still struggling with my fat head weight issue. I was now realizing that maybe, just maybe, things weren’t all perfect. And maybe that had something to do with why I was binge eating. Thus, began the long journey of learning about the hidden feelings I had because of what I perceived as a non-traumatic childhood. I learned about “little t” trauma, the kind that you don’t see as well.
Feelings? What are they?
This second therapist had to teach me how to do feelings. The only feelings I knew were HAPPY and FAT (translate to good and bad). She would ask me how my life was, and I’d start talking about other people. I went to therapy that year every week, Friday mornings at 8 am, often hung over. It was free to college kids. I would have NEVER paid for it since I was not that bad, and I grew up with parents from the Depression and learned well not to spend unnecessary money.
I have since added up the cost of what that weekly counseling would have been and weighed it out with how it changed my life – and all I can say is PRICELESS.
Therapy taught me how to feel, how to tune in, how to have a self without feeling selfish (one of the deadly sins, in my opinion, at that time). While this initial year of therapy by no means cured me of all my deeply imbedded issues, it did set me on course with a two-degree shift, which changed the trajectory of my life.
Don’t waste the crisis
My own journey has been the best teacher in my life, which is how I stay grateful for all the struggles I’ve been through. I don’t usually enjoy the struggle, or even appreciate it while it’s happening, but I have learned to remember that it is only through the struggle that we grow and evolve. I believe that God gave me the gifts of these struggles, not only for myself but for my therapy practice.
I’m constantly telling my clients not to waste the crisis, because it is only our dis-ease that prompts us to make changes, to learn and grow and heal. Therapy truly helped me find the value and purpose of all the struggles.
About Lynne
My experience led me to realize that therapy is indeed a life-changer. I knew that my calling was to help others find healing and help to create the lives they want and deserve. We are NOT meant to go through life alone. We are wounded in relationship, feeling alone, but healing happens in safe relationships.
My bachelor’s in Interpersonal Communication and master’s in Counseling Education and Counseling Psychology are both from Western Michigan University. I have a license in Psychology in the state of Michigan.
I spend my free time with my three children and my new kitty from India. We are pet lovers and have owned so many pets at times that I thought about charging admission for our petting zoo! I also enjoy beach combing, snorkeling, yoga, gardening, photography, and am a life-long learner of people.
About Lauren
In the Beginning…
My journey to become a counselor began long before I ever knew I wanted to be one. Even as a child, I was a helper and an advocate, whether it was with my friends, family, or random acquaintances, I strived to make a difference in their lives. I believed in being down to earth and real with people, which meant despite my imperfections, living my life as authentically and honest as possible.
I have always wanted people to know the real ‘me’ and I firmly believe in being human first and therapist second. My passion to help people fits well into my career, but in reality, it’s who I am as a person, inside and outside the office.
Turning my Passion into a Reality
One day in high school, I landed myself in a Psychology class and became fascinated with how the brain works and why we do the things we do — especially in our formative years. It was at this point I made the determination to become a therapist and went on to receive my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Family Studies from Cornerstone University. I then obtained my Master’s degree in Counseling at Oakland University.
At the end of my Master’s program, I spent close to a year interning at Macomb County Care House and began specializing in children’s therapy and trauma-focused treatment. I went on to launch the therapy program at The Child Advocacy Center of Lapeer County in 2016 and worked as the Clinical Coordinator and Therapist for two years. Since that time, I have worked extensively with individuals who have experienced abuse, along with their immediate family members.
Therapy is About You…
The counseling process should be about you and your needs. I view my clients as the experts on themselves, and while I believe in educating my clients on my areas of expertise, I more strongly believe in teaming up with you to work together to reach a common goal. My job isn’t to tell you who you are or what to do, but to assist you in those discoveries.
…and Your Child Too
I am here to help you and your child learn how to navigate together through the unknowns, and through all the uncertainty. One of the most helpless feelings is seeing your child cry, yell, scream or act out and not know what is wrong or how to help! I use kid-friendly counseling techniques, including play, sand, games, etc. to teach kids how to recognize those feelings in their body, put words to the emotions, and to communicate them appropriately. I also work with you, as the parent, to empower you to respond to the challenging moments. You are the expert on your child, and I’ll collaborate with you and your child to create the best possible outcomes.
I truly am an authentic person and try to carry as much of my personality into my role as a therapist. I have highs and lows, strengths and challenges, tears and smiles, and yes I even like pizza and ice cream…and pickles (I absolutely love pickles). If you ever want to know more, check out my blog posts Meet the Therapist (Part 1 or Part 2).
About Amy
Reflecting…
When I reflect back into the early years of my life, I now know that much of my training to become a counselor started in childhood as “the middle child”. Some theories suggest that middle children become peacemakers as a result of their role between their older and younger siblings. I would say that was true for me. Middle children can be known for being more patient (having to wait a lot), empathy (knowing what is like to not feel “special” like the older and younger), good listeners (many times you don’t often feel heard or feel that you have a voice). It is possible that these traits developed, as a result of birth order, have prepared me for a career that completely lines up with my authentic self.
Being authentic…is necessary for me in my role as a therapist. It allows me to hold space for you. In this safe space you can speak freely, express all emotions and know that there will be no judgement. I graciously walk with you, at your pace, on your timeline.
Listening…to your story will help me to understand where you have been and where you would like to be. Together, we will unravel your story and look for lessons along the way. I will assist in noticing opportunities to choose peace over anxiety and love over fear. Perhaps gain a better perspective of situations that have happened for you, not to you.
Curiosity…is what comes natural to me. Using this trait helps me to ask meaningful questions that will allow you to recognize your own strengths and solutions. You may begin to understand the role that symptoms of anxiety and depression have played, perhaps to serve you or protect in some way.
Trust…sets the stage for real change to manifest. I value the trust you have in me as your therapist. I honor the courage it takes to open the window allowing a glimpse into your soul.
I look forward to taking a walk, with you, on your path toward uncovering the “YOU” you are meant to be.
Feel free to check out my website: amymoorecounselor.com for more information.
About Ellen
About Jamie
A Little About What Got Me Here
I grew up in a family environment of secrecy. On the outside, it was about perfection and status, both religiously and monetarily. Inside, secret pain and abuse was happening within our extended family unit. I knew from the a young age that things weren’t right. I didn’t belong in the family. I was small, but felt so much bigger than everyone in my family. I felt exposed, as if people could see inside of me.
I knew to keep quiet and stay out of the way when problems arose. I learned codependency in the forms of people pleasing, reading the energy of a room to know how to manage adult emotions, and I knew not to be a burden. I knew when I decided to tell the truth about sexual abuse that was happening inside the family that I would be blowing our worlds’ apart. I was labeled as brainwashed, dramatic, confused. It was lonely. I carried my secret for years and when I spoke out, things became so much worse. These are some of the issues that got me here, and while I used to wonder why these things ever happened, I can now say I feel my own purpose and calling in spite of them.
Where I am Today
I have gone from being meek, people pleasing, and having irrational fears to feeling confident and secure within myself. I went from feeling everyone else’s feelings except my own, to living in my centered self, actually embracing my feelings. The shame that was not even mine slowly crumbled over time. I exchanged using substances to cope, with therapy where I was able to find my voice, discover my boundaries, a grow love for myself and the little girl in me that I had once despised. I now love and feel deserving of safe affection with safe people. I have honestly forgiven those who hurt me; not because it was the right thing to do, other people wanted me to, or because ‘forgiveness is for self, not the offender.’ I forgave because my body actually needed to be taught and needed its own time to release from that hurt. All of me deserved it. We all do.
How I want to Serve You
As a trauma recovery specialist and graduate from the International Association of Trauma Recovery Coaching, I take a holistic approach. In addition to sharing your story, we explore how your story has affected your mind, body, nervous system, and spirit as a whole. My goal is not to pathologize or label you, but instead, to normalize how trauma affects our whole being, and how other’s perceive us as well. Together, we evaluate how past coping skills protected us, and explore how they may no longer be serving us.
I believe that trauma is the source of many of our issues. It can become part of our identity, leaving us feeling stuck with an extra dose of undeserving shame!
I am here to listen to you, validate your experience, and to help you see that you already have the keys within for healing. Trauma is lonely; connecting is healing, and vital to the human experience. I look forward to connecting with you!
Please call 248-214-3986 for a free 15 minute consult, where you will have a chance to see if Trauma Recovery Coaching with me is a good fit for you.