Trauma and PTSD therapists & psychiatrists in Fort Wayne, IN

I believe that mental health is an important part of overall health and happiness. Each person has the ability to commit to and foster positive change in their lives. I always strive to work with each client as an individual, fostering their strengths and building healthy coping skills, insight, and empowering courage for change. I am passionate about women's health and issues. I am certified in Perinatal Mental Health (PMH-C) through Postpartum Support International.

I have extensive experience in working with families, children, adolescents, and adults who have experienced various forms of trauma, both acute and chronic, as well as grief and loss, stress and anxiety, as well as other behavioral health issues.

Maybe what aches most is not the change itself, but the fear that someone you love is slipping out of reach — even if that someone is you. Everything feels different, yet somehow the same. One minute you are putting on pajamas, and the next you are spiraling because it is the first moment of quiet you have had all day. There is this gut feeling that your heart can no longer be bound with band-aids, but soul-searching is a lot before the alarm goes off tomorrow. You do not have to make sense of it all alone at midnight — that is what I am here for.

For more than 20 years, I’ve had the privilege of walking alongside individuals, couples, and families as they work toward healing, growth, and change. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Clinical Addiction Counselor, and Substance Abuse Professional, I bring both deep clinical knowledge and a compassionate, down-to-earth approach to therapy.

I specialize in helping clients navigate life’s most personal challenges—including relationship and intimacy concerns, life transitions, grief and loss, trauma, and mental health struggles. I also provide substance abuse treatment, DOT/SAP evaluations, and recovery support using evidence-based approaches such as CBT, DBT, Motivational Interviewing, Reality Therapy, Trauma-Focused CBT, the Duluth Model, and the Matrix Model.

I have a special commitment to serving Black communities, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people living with HIV, re-entry populations, sex workers, and youth facing challenges. I understand how personal, cultural, and systemic factors shape each person’s story, and I create a safe, affirming space where clients feel truly seen and heard.

In our sessions, you can expect a respectful, judgment-free environment where your voice matters. I believe therapy works best as a partnership—we’ll set goals together, explore what’s holding you back, and develop practical strategies you can use in daily life a more fulfilling life. Whether you’re seeking support for a specific issue or simply want to invest in your personal growth, I’m here to help you take that next step.

“I am passionate about helping individuals and families feel heard, supported, and understood. My 20 plus years of professional background includes working closely with children, adults, and families in both home and community-based settings, addressing concerns such as behavioral challenges, family conflict, trauma, and life stressors.

I have a special interest in supporting families, strengthening relationships, and helping clients navigate difficult transitions with confidence and clarity.”

So many people go through their day/week/month/ year without anyone really hearing or seeing them. It can be lonely and scary moving through the world with mental and emotional pain that you don’t know what to do with. Bring it to counseling. I’m Samantha, a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. I create and hold a safe, supportive, and empathetic space for my clients. I am a somatic EMDR practitioner and specialize in treating trauma, supporting individuals with ADHD, depression, anxiety, and overwhelm.

My name is Doug L. Watson, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, RN, and I’m a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with three years of experience treating clients across the lifespan. While I’m trained to work with individuals of all ages, about 85% of my practice has been focused on pediatrics and adolescents—a population I’m truly passionate about serving. I see children as young as five years old through Telehealth up to ages 75 or higher if needed. I earned both my BSN and MSN from Indiana Wesleyan University, completing my graduate degree in October 2022.

I genuinely love what I do and have always felt called to the field of psychiatry. Becoming a Psych/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner has been one of the most fulfilling decisions of my life. I’m excited to be on my own, building a lasting career. I’m committed to providing compassionate, evidence-based care and making a positive difference in the lives of my clients and their families.

I’m Dr. Michelle S. McBride, DNP, PMHNP-BC, MBA, a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner dedicated to providing compassionate and comprehensive mental health care. I earned my Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from Rush University in Chicago, IL. Before obtaining my doctorate, I was a board-certified psychiatric registered nurse, gaining extensive experience across various clinical settings, including inpatient psychiatry, psychiatric emergency services, community behavioral health, and forensic psychiatry (jail-based care).

I am experienced, confident in treating a wide range of mental health conditions, including:

• Schizophrenia & Schizoaffective Disorder
• Eating Disorders
• Psychosis
• Major Depressive Disorder
• Personality Disorders
• ADHD
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• PTSD
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
• Bipolar Disorders
• Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD)
• Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED)

My clients seek to understand and accept themselves and their life experiences. Together we will explore how your past is impacting your present, so you can ultimately move toward a better future.

I work with individuals, couples and families from an attachment and systems perspective, knowing we experience many wounds through relationships but through the right relationships we can also experience healing.

It is important in my work that I allow the client's cultural context inform my treatment.