Addiction therapists & psychiatrists in Merrillville, IN

I've been a social worker since 2012 after receiving my MSW at Indiana University School of Social Work. I specialize in working with trauma, substance use, depression, and anxiety with a whole-person mindset. I use a warm and supportive approach in working with my clients.

Hi there, my name’s Ephraim and I'm a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 20+ years of experience. My specialties consist of relationships, men’s issues, career counseling, and psychosomatic illnesses.

Whether it's individuals or couples, I'm happy to get to work with whomever comes my way. I do my best to facilitate a warm, trusting environment. I received my Bachelors degree in Child Psychology, working initially with the adolescent population before transitioning over to adults. I then received my Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy. Looking forward to meeting with you soon!

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with extensive experience supporting adolescents, adults, and older adults through life’s most challenging transitions. My background spans mental health therapy, crisis intervention, trauma recovery, child welfare, and geriatric care, which allows me to work with clients from a holistic, compassionate, and well-rounded perspective.

I use a strength-based, trauma-informed, and person-centered approach, meeting each client where they are and honoring their unique experiences. My clinical work integrates evidence-based modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), DBT-informed skills, Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy, and mindfulness-based practices. I work collaboratively with clients to set meaningful goals, build coping skills, and create sustainable change.

I have experience helping clients navigate anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, stress, emotional regulation, self-esteem, relationship challenges, and major life transitions. I also bring a strong background in crisis support and safety planning, ensuring clients feel supported, grounded, and safe throughout the therapeutic process.

Above all, I strive to provide a warm, non-judgmental, and culturally responsive space where clients feel heard, respected, and empowered. Therapy with me is collaborative and paced to your needs, with a focus on helping you reconnect with your strengths and move forward with greater clarity and confidence.

Great to meet you. If you have been carrying more than most people realize, therapy can be a place to finally feel seen, supported, and understood. You may be navigating PTSD that still impacts your daily life, anxiety that fills every quiet moment, mood shifts that feel difficult to predict, anger that rises before you can stop it, depression, panic, grief, relationship stress, family issues, ADHD, OCD, substance use concerns, or the emotional toll of a chronic health condition. I work with adults, children, and seniors who want more than someone simply listening from a distance. My goal is to walk beside you with honesty, skill, practical tools, and a therapeutic relationship built on transparency and trust. Whether you are working through trauma, identity concerns, cultural stressors, women’s issues, LGBTQIA+ experiences, transgender issues, or major life stress, you deserve support that meets you where you are and helps you move forward.

I’m a therapist who believes real change happens when you feel both understood and challenged. I won’t just sit back and nod—I’ll help you make sense of what’s going on, and we’ll actively work toward shifting it.

My style is warm, direct, and collaborative. I create a space where you can be honest without feeling judged, while also helping you notice patterns that may be keeping you stuck. I draw from approaches like emotionally focused therapy (EFT), parts work, and skills-based strategies when helpful, but I tailor everything to you rather than forcing you into a one-size-fits-all model.

I work with adults and couples navigating things like relationship stress, trauma, anxiety, identity questions, and major life transitions. With couples, I focus on helping you understand the deeper emotional dynamics underneath conflict—not just the surface arguments—so you can rebuild trust, connection, and a sense of security.

If you’re looking for therapy that goes beyond just talking and moves toward real, lasting change, we’ll likely be a good fit.

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.

Welcome!

As a Licensed Mental Health Therapist, I believe that healing from trauma is not only possible—it’s transformative. Taking the first step to seek help is often the hardest, so I want to acknowledge the courage it takes to be here. While I’ve been practicing for over 12 years, my focus has been working with young and middle aged adults, especially those navigating the effects of trauma, anxiety, and depression.

Life is full of traumatic events and we all have been traumatized to a certain degree. We are the only ones who can define it and we are all impacted differently by it. For many of us, our trauma negatively impacts our beliefs about ourselves and our worth. Having a negative core belief system often leads to substance abuse and other maladaptive behavior as a means to numb our pain and drown our shame. I have spent years working with individuals who struggle with substance use and addiction and have come to learn that the majority of them have suffered from trauma. You do not have to continue to suffer. I am here to help.

I've been a therapist for over 25 years, helping people with anxiety, depression and addictions. I've worked in a variety of settings over the years and understand how challenging it is to make changes in life.

I believe that each person holds inherent wisdom needed to transform pain into healing. Although pain is a natural part of life, it doesn't have to define your future. My belief is that through a trusted relationship, you can access an inner sense of safety needed to heal wounds while honoring your unique journey.

I am deeply committed to supporting individuals on their life journey, fostering an environment for healing, transformation, and empowerment through providing accessible mental health services. I hold training and experience in children/adolescent mental health, and utilize the therapeutic powers of play to meet children where they are.

My strength is my warmth and quickness in building a trusting where my clients are truly cared for. I am creative with collaborating on solutions, creative in the interventions I choose. I am thoughtful in making meaningful connections within the material processed.

I am a well-rounded therapist with both practical CBT skills and a training in family systems theory background.

I have 3 years of experience working within welfare services for children, parents, and within the foster care system, with experience navigating difficult circumstances.

If you struggle with depression, anxiety and trauma, I would be honored to help guide you through your healing journey.