Find a therapist in Lafayette, IN — covered by insurance

If you're carrying something that's hard to put into words — trauma, grief, chronic stress, infertility, or the particular weight that comes from serving others— you don't have to figure out how to start the conversation. Whether you are struggling in high school, college, or the world of adulting, I'll help with that. I came back to therapy because I noticed a high number of individuals in need but not enough therapists who are able to navigate cultural diversity in therapy.

I am a Guyanese-born American-raised world traveler who has experienced life and appreciates diversity in all aspects. I bring a holistic lens to my private practice, working with adults and families facing PTSD, trauma, infertility, sleep challenges, and the hard parts of life that don't fit into a tidy category.

I believe your mental health, physical health, and sense of purpose are all connected — and we work with all of it.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and National Board‐Certified Health and Wellness Coach with extensive experience in veteran-centered care, higher education, and community mental health. I have extensive knowledge and practice in individual and group interventions. I am also passionate about process improvements in self and organizations. I have contributed to and led Lean Six Sigma process‐improvement initiatives. Prior to my current role at the VA Hospital, I spent nearly a decade as an Assistant Professor of Social Work and held key administrative roles in field education, accreditation, and curriculum development.

My earlier clinical career includes intensive in‐home therapy, crisis intervention, and supervisory leadership supporting high‐risk children, families, and adults. Across all roles, I am known for my commitment to holistic care, spiritually and culturally responsive practice, and the development of systems that enhance learning, wellness, and community impact.

I did not stumble into this work — I chose it, and I choose it every day. I am Bianca Gist, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Illinois and Indiana.

I am also a former collegiate athlete, and that background shapes how I show up — I know what it feels like to carry a lot and still need someone genuinely in your corner. My experience is rooted in the spaces where people need the most and are often given the least — Chicago Public Schools, foster care, home-based services, and community mental health. Through my private practice, Her Sole Purpose LLC, I work with children, adolescents, student-athletes, and families using CBT, ACT, and trauma-informed care. I use what works for the person in front of me, not a one-size-fits-all approach. I work well with people navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, and the weight of environments that were not built for them. Therapy with me is honest, grounded, and focused on what actually helps you move forward — not just cope.

If any of this resonates, I would love to connect.

When you've spent so much time trying to hold everything together, it's easy to lose sight of who you are beneath the anxiety, painful experiences, or expectations placed on you by others. Whether you're navigating trauma, relationship challenges, questions about identity, or simply feeling emotionally exhausted, you deserve a space where you can show up exactly as you are without fear of judgment. Meaningful healing is possible, and you don't have to go through it alone. I partner with clients experiencing anxiety, LGBTQIA+ concerns, women's issues, trauma, and PTSD so they can build confidence, strengthen relationships, reconnect with themselves, and move toward a life that feels more authentic and fulfilling. I work with adolescents, adults, and children because every person deserves to feel accepted, understood, and empowered.

I am a Psychiatric nurse practitioner who specializes in eating disorders, personality disorders, and chronic suicidal ideation. I enjoy working across the lifespan with individuals of all ages using patient centered care. I have experience helping those who also have physical conditions navigate the complexity of mental health. And as a part of the LGBTQ+ community I do my best to provide compassionate and gender affirming care to others in the community who have not found it. I believe each person is the expert of their own experience.

Having lived experience with mental illness, I went into the profession wanting to give my patients the care the care that took me so long to find. I never want anyone to feel rushed or misunderstood when seeing me. I want my patients to feel free to ask questions and get the answers they need.

I have worked in a variety of settings and have experience treating a wide range of diagnosis from anxiety disorders to psychotic disorders.

The degrees I have acquired are a BS and MS in Education k-12 and Counseling Education. Also a MA and Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology. I have applied these degrees over the past 35 years in Universities as a psychologist, program director and faculty. Also as a psychologist in Correctional Institutions and the Veteran Administration. The later work years has been as a recovery coordinator for "those who are seeking house" and a Community Mental Health therapist. I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Licensed Professional Counselor across 3 states. Currently my focus in therapy is to assist adults 18- 90+ and couples in reestablishing life back toward the center of their fullest potential. I do not do family therapy.

With nearly 10 years of experience providing therapy, I believe meaningful change happens when you feel both deeply understood and gently challenged. My style is warm, human, and occasionally sprinkled with humor- because therapy doesn't have to feel cold, clinical, or intimidating to be effective.

I specialize in working with OCD and anxiety, helping clients understand intrusive thoughts, compulsions, and the anxiety cycles that keep them going. Together, we focus on building tolerance for uncertainty, reducing compulsive behaviors, and increasing emotional flexibility.

I also have specialized training and experience in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), and evidence-based therapy approach that helps people process trauma, reduce emotional intensity, and shift long-standing beliefs that no longer serve them.

In addition, I work with individuals navigating major life changes, including high-conflict divorce and the painful realities of parental alienation. These experiences can be isolating, overwhelming, and deeply destabilizing. My approach centers on helping clients regain a sense of grounding, clarity, and agency, while learning practical tools to cope with ongoing stress, grief, and complex family dynamics.