HELLO
I'm Margaret (she/hers), and I want you to know that, just like you, I am looking for the best ways to live happily in my own life. Though I can’t know exactly what you are going through, I deeply understand what it is like to wake up and wonder, “I should be happy...so why aren’t I?” or “What’s wrong with my kid?” or “Why did I eat all of the pizza last night?”. I've made mistakes, been hurt, and definitely don't have it all figured out. But this I do know: that by being open to all the parts of ourselves (even the messiest parts), we create an environment that allows life to flow and flux and grow rather than get stuck and stagnant.
HOW I HELP
I view clients holistically, which for me means that I do not see you as a diagnosis or problem waiting to be solved. You are a person, living in multiple contexts that are constantly shaping who you think you are and how you act. I draw techniques from mindfulness- and compassion-based approaches, particularly Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and process-based theories, like Gestalt, that foster in-the-moment presence, self-compassion, and the courage to look at what is actually going on in our bodies, hearts, and minds.
WHO I HELP
I help adults and older adolescents in our Traverse City community and surrounding areas who are seeking greater self-awareness and an enhanced sense of meaning and purpose. My approach works especially well with individuals looking to strengthen themselves as they figure out where their relationship is headed. I'm also a great fit with people experiencing anxiety in its many forms, depression, grief & loss, and recovery from codependence. Know that I embrace, as consciously as I can, the principles of feminism, multiculturalism, and social justice, and I am an LGBTQ+ ally.
WHAT I LOVE
My first loves were reading and writing. I am a former English Instructor, and I've always got some kind of writing project just waiting to be worked on. That said, my actual first love was for cats, and I have one, as well as a partner, son, and golden retriever whom I adore. A lot of my time is spent playing tennis, winning board games, and riding bikes. Paying careful attention to the change of seasons here in Michigan also brings me a lot of joy. But most of all, I love spending time with people: sitting, being, and talking about what's real.
CREDENTIALS
LPC State of Michigan #6401018830
Nationally Certificated Counselor (NCC)
American Counseling Association - Member
MA Counselor Education - Western Michigan University (CACREP)
MA English Literature - Central Michigan University