Therapists

Therapists

Joe Martino, LPC
Owner, Director of Interns

Finding healthy ways to communicate is what I strive to teach each of my clients. I specialize in relationship therapy, which may involve couples, parent/child, friends, or co-workers. I want to help each client strengthen any relationship they may have. Relationships can be hard. You can care about someone and still have destructive patterns of communication.

I strive to make each client feel heard, valued and safe. When we can achieve this, he or she will be on a path to mental wellness. I want to help each person learn new and better ways to communicate. Sometimes, we just need to be heard by someone. I want to hear from each client by listening deeply to what they are saying. I believe that by listening to each person and helping them uncover the potential consequences to each decision they are considering I can help them to make choices that are right for them. I believe each person's situation is unique and should be treated on its own merit.

Joe is the author of the book, The Emotionally Secure Couple, which can be purchased on his webpage, Amazon or wherever quality books are sold.

You can find his personal webpage by clicking here.

Erica Martino MA, LLPC

Owner, Director Of Operations

I have worked with individuals, couples, and children in a non-therapist role for the past 20 years. In the past year, working as a therapist, clients have found me to be warm, friendly and engaging. My desire is that every person feels safe and comfortable in my presence so that together we can navigate the troubles of life. I believe in empowering clients to be the best person they can be! I will be your biggest fan, your best listener and maybe the only person in your life that believes in you or your relationship.

My area of expertise is helping clients who are struggling with anxiety, depression or relationship issues. I have a special interest in trauma and how it affects your self-perception, your marriage and even the way you interact with co-workers, peers or your own children.

Our office has a warm and friendly atmosphere to help you feel relaxed and comfortable. The therapy rooms are designed to feel like your living room. My goal is that you will feel safe, valued, and heard in my presence while I cultivate a relaxing environment for that to happen.

Sarah Bulthuis, MA, LPC

Counseling is a unique experience for each person. Finding someone who makes you feel comfortable and listened too is one of the most important pieces of your journey. My goal is to build a trusting relationship while helping you work through any barriers that you may be facing.

My desire is that you will feel safe and valued. Together we can navigate life’s stressors and help you reshape your future.

I have worked in the mental health field for the past 21 years with adults and children. For the past 5 years, I have been blessed to be able to walk alongside many people in a variety of settings. Some areas that I have experience in are trauma, domestic violence, autism, working with families as well as individuals and couples.

Tricia Eid, MA, LLPC

I believe that each person, each couple, and each family has a unique and meaningful story to tell. I enjoy walking with my clients as we build a genuine relationship and I learn about your dreams, passions, desires, and challenges. I believe in building on strengths; acknowledging and doing more of what we do well builds confidence to navigate life’s challenges. I look forward to learning how I can be of service to you, whether it’s easing stress, improving communication, getting your marriage back on track, addressing trauma, or helping you develop healthy thinking patterns. I have a passion for helping people create the lives they long to live through improving relationships (including the one you have with yourself). I have lived with depression, experienced loss and domestic abuse, and therefore understand how trauma impacts our perspectives, our self-esteem, and our relationships. We can change the narrative of our story and build a support system and . I love working with couples and families and believe that we are shaped by our interactions, learning about ourselves through our relationships. I have worked with children, teens, and adults of all ages and celebrate diversity. Congratulations on taking the first step to improve your life and your relationships! I can’t wait to get to know you.

Ashley Hanberry MA, LPC
It seems like it’s way too easy to get lost or stuck in life. Sometimes it can be a slow build-up over time, or a major life event can quickly bring life crashing down. Whatever it is that’s gotten you here, I would love to work with you to help you live the life you want.

I believe in taking the time to get to know each client's uniqueness and what they are going through. It's very important that each client feel valued and respected throughout the counseling process. My goal in every session is to provide a compassionate and encouraging environment to help people gain confidence in the choices they make.

I have helped people struggling with anxiety, relationships issues, trauma, identity development, and life transitions. I am passionate about helping those who feel lost, stuck, overwhelmed, or afraid. I believe it's important to have a relaxed and positive environment where we can work together to create changes and growth. We’ll work together to find a way to help you work through your unique struggle.

Ryan Hanberry, LLPC

Human suffering is our common shared experience in this life and let's be honest, it's probably not going anywhere anytime soon. How many of us have felt the sting of loss, disappointment, broken relationships and families? Trauma? Abuse? Depression? Suicidal thoughts or attempts? Emotional chaos and racing thoughts? Distraction? My passion is to help people understand their suffering and learn to free themselves from it by getting to its root.

I work with children, tweens, teens, adults, individually, as a family, or in groups. My areas of interest are ADHD, Bullying, depression, PTSD, anxiety, divorce recovery, parenting, trauma, family reunification, and borderline personality disorder. I have a patient-first philosophy to counseling and use methods that are simple, effective, and direct. I highly value keeping up on current research into the human brain, neuroscience, and the most effective psychotherapy techniques to make sure I can provide the best counseling services possible.

I'm a survivor of severe depression, have struggled with anxiety, ADHD, and am living proof that these things can be overcome. I specialize in attention, mindfulness-based treatment, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (a powerful, and highly effective therapy on the cutting edge of mental health treatment). I've also weathered the storm of divorce and have dedicated a portion of my practice to helping families heal from this wound.

Heather Hess, Ph.D.

The decision to work with a mental health professional can seem overwhelming. My purpose as a psychologist is to help you feel as comfortable and safe as possible so that you are empowered to initiate the changes you want for your life. In a collaborative environment, I strive to help you navigate hurts of the past, deal with stressors of the present, and outline your future goals. Whether you are dealing with addiction, trauma, feelings of hopelessness, racing thoughts, social fears, difficulty concentrating, relationship issues, or other concerns, I provide a trusting relationship in a judgment-free atmosphere that can help you achieve wellness.

I have experience working with individuals of all ages, families, and couples in a therapeutic setting. Aside from therapy, I also specialize in providing psychological assessments to help provide you and/or your family with a more concise picture of what is contributing to various difficulties in your life. Psychological testing is valuable in lending meaningful insight into possible effective interventions. If you are concerned that you or your child may have a barrier that is contributing to academic, social, or occupational difficulties, I can help!

Kevin Oliver, LLPC

I enjoy learning each client’s story and meeting them where they are in life. We can find ourselves in dire straits and hardships either from poor choices, unhealthy relationships, or from other external circumstances. It is understandable that setbacks, grief, toxic people, and other various trials can easily trip up people be leading them into depression, anxiety, including a variety of other unhealthy mindsets and habits. I know that during these times, it is crucial to have someone to meet with that will not cast judgement, but will listen, accept, uplift, and encourage during this chapter in life. Personally, I have learned who have been helpful during these times, as well as those who are not helpful. As your therapist, I will come along side of you and will walk with you through your journey, as well as helping you with any goals you may have.

Taylor Petitt, LMSW

Making the call to begin counseling is a huge first step and is a testament to a person's strength and resilience. My aim as a counselor is to highlight and then build upon an individual's strengths to help them meet their goals. It is my hope that, by working together as a team, each person will learn the skills to manage their current life stressors. These skills can then be utilized to manage future stressors, even long after our work together is finished. Throughout my time as a counselor, I have had the sincere pleasure of working with individuals from many walks of life looking to manage various challenges. Some of these challenges include depression, anxiety, trauma, substance use, relationship difficulties, grief and loss, and chronic illness. I look forward to making new connections and assisting individuals to manage the stressors of life.

Karrie Quintino MA, LLPC
Sometimes life can seem overwhelming and the thought of seeking counseling can be daunting. Taking that first step can be hard but the results of taking that step could make life that much easier for you. As your counselor I will take the time to get to know you, meet you where you are on your journey and walk alongside you. Together we will figure out how you can become the best you.

I specialize in trauma but I also have experience helping individuals suffering from anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and relationship issues. My goal is to make you feel valued, safe and heard while cultivating a relationship of trust and mutual understanding that is free of judgment.

I believe each person's life and circumstance is unique and should be treated as such. With that in mind, I will focus on you, not try to fit you into someone else’s mold. We all have the ability to change and as your counselor, I will help you see that ability more clearly. It would be an honor to guide you as you learn how to lead a happier and more fulfilling life.

Erica Sehling MA, LPC

I have a passion for helping adults and adolescents. I have helped those who have struggled with anxiety, depression, identity, loss, sexuality, intimacy, relationship issues, suicidal ideations, self-esteem, abuse, and life change adjustments. Every individual is an expert of their own their own life story. Together we can navigate the path and utilize your strengths in overcoming obstacles and achieving your counseling goals

Every individual should celebrate in their uniqueness, finding happiness and solace in who they are and what they bring to the world. Sometimes life can present us with reasons and situations that can make this difficult to achieve. Making that first step can be hard, as changes are often needed to be made but aren’t often easy. Together we can overcome the obstacles of change together. I believe every person has an innate inclination to strive towards self-actualization and self-fulfillment. I strive to maintain a relationship of comfort, trust, understanding, and emotional support in a counseling session. I provide an atmosphere free of judgment and full of acceptance no matter the individual or situation.

Jonathan Swiftney, LLMSW

I think one of the strongest things any person can do is admit that they need a little help. For me, I believe therapy can be a learning experience, a place of trust, and most importantly, somewhere we can seek healing.

My goal is to help each person to feel listened to, valued, encouraged, and motivated. Therapy to me is a vulnerable place where we can explore hurt, tough emotions, and difficult decisions- all while growing and learning. I firmly believe that each person has the power to change and grow; my job is to help teach some tools and help someone practice new behaviors that will help uncover that potential within them. Together, I want to help each person accomplish the goals they want to accomplish, as well as openly discuss whatever is most important to their life.

I specialize in clients seeking help for: depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, addictions, faith, relationship trouble, and family issues.

Joshua Twiest, MA LLPC

My purpose in counseling is to help people find peace and hope in difficult circumstances. I enjoy helping my clients find their own solutions to their problems based on the strengths they have. I challenge clients to develop strong thinking habits to be better prepared for the future.

I excel at working with families and children going through hard transitions such as military deployments, divorce, and grieving using. I have also been very successful in helping people who are experiencing anxiety and depression, especially when the symptoms are associated with trauma.

I have served with the Army National Guard for almost 15 years as holding both enlisted and officer ranks. Currently, I am in the Chaplain program and teach Military marriage and family resiliency training as part of the Strong Bonds program. During my time in the Army, I have been certified in Master Resiliency Training, ASIST suicide first aid, and the PREP marriage and family training curriculum.

Jenny Vander Wilp MA, LLPC
Life can be unpredictable and sometimes we lose sight of hope. I would love the opportunity to come alongside you and help you rediscover hope.

Jennifer is a Limited Licensed Professional Counselor. She has experience working primarily with women, ages 10-100, who are struggling with issues such as anxiety, depression, and other areas of concern. Jennifer believes the counseling relationship between the client and counselor should be one that is genuine, safe, and comfortable; and she seeks to provide that to her clients. Jennifer has over 3 years of experience and understands that life’s struggles can hide the evidence that there can be hope for a change. It is Jennifer’s passion to encourage and help direct you back to your resources of hope, tap into them, and help you begin to live life to the fullest once again.

She is considered an eclectic therapist and she uses many different theories to meet each client’s individual need. She understands that a positive, client-directed atmosphere fosters growth and change.

Key areas Jennifer has experience working with: Anxiety, depression, self-concept strengthening, biblical counseling, spiritual abuse, social anxiety, PTSD, Bi-Polar Disorder, and many other concerns.

Stephanie West, MA, LLPC

Relationships matter, and when they begin to break down – family relationships, work relationships, friendships, organizational relationships – a lot of pain, confusion, and anger can result. Things that are broken in relationships can also be restored and healed with time, effort, and a desire for change. Therapy can be a piece of that change.

I am drawn to working with those who are struggling in their relationships for whatever reason: peer conflict, marital struggles, dating and friendship issues, bullying, and more. Working with women is a particular area of interest. My experiences as a middle school and high school teacher over the past decade have also led me to working with adolescents and young adults on school-related frustrations including ADHD, bullying issues, learning struggles, and conflict resolution. What is damaged in community can be better restored in community. Together, we can work through strategies that help support change and healing in the areas that are most important to you!

Dorman And Associates, Independent Contractor

Dean Dorman Ed.D, Licensed Psychologist

I am a licensed psychologist and hold a doctorate from Western Michigan University. I have been a therapist in private practice specializing in couples counseling for over twenty years. Currently, I reside with my family in West Michigan. I am considered an expert in the areas of couples counseling, depression, anger management, and Attention Deficit Disorder.

In Loving Memory

On April 2, 2018, Marissa passed away after a long battle with cancer. Marissa was a phenomenal therapist! She joined our practice in 2014 and learned every aspect of the business. She was known around the office for her wisdom, love for life, and finding joy in the journey. She would choose joy many days, even when she did not feel the best. She saw clients up until her final days here on earth. Marissa is missed dearly and will always be a part of us. You can learn more about her life, and the reason for her joy by watching this documentary of her life. https://www.rightnowmedia.org/Content/Series/199050

Marissa Freyling MA, LLPC

Her Bio:

Have you ever had a pair of sunglasses with the perfect lens to look through? Then one day, you lose them. The task of finding a new pair that has a similar feel, comparable look, and the same perspective can seem quite daunting. It may be a silly analogy, but I believe counseling can often have the same effect.

Life is a journey of ups and downs, roadblocks and detours, times of sorrow, and moments of joy. Often times we look at each area in our lives through the same perspective, the same lens. My goal is to help you gain new perspectives, to guide you in taking a fresh look at life through a new lens. To see the beauty in the broken, to choose joy in the midst of sadness, to find courage in the face of fear, and to have patience in times of longing.

I consider it an honor to walk alongside someone wherever they find themselves within the journey of life. I have a passion for helping children blossom into their personalities and illuminating their emotions, for building a safe and trusting relationship with teenagers who are discovering themselves and their purpose in life, and for adults who are struggling to find balance and value among the pressures of life.

Interns

Alexa Bates, Western Michigan University.