Grief counselors and therapists in Merrillville, IN

Hello, I’m Hayley Craig! I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 7 years as a practicing therapist and over 15 years of experience in the field of mental health. I have worked in multiple settings like community mental health, integrated care, and group practice. Through my private practice I provide compassionate evidence-based care.

I believe therapy should be a space clients feel safe enough to be bravely honest and themselves. I provide a warm, down-to-earth environment that helps clients feel comfortable and understood. I enjoy working with teens and adults navigating disordered eating, self-worth, life transitions, stress, anxiety, depression and relationship challenges, with a growing focus on maternal and perinatal mental health. I am currently pursuing perinatal mental health certification to better support patients during pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond.

When life looks “fine” from the outside but feels overwhelming on the inside, therapy can help you slow down and find your footing again. I’m an LCSW with nearly 30 years of experience in the mental health field and over 20 years providing therapy to adults navigating anxiety, burnout, chronic stress, emotional overwhelm, work-life imbalance, and major life transitions. I especially enjoy working with high-functioning professionals who are used to carrying a lot for others while quietly struggling with pressure, perfectionism, or exhaustion themselves.

Clients often describe my style as calm, steady, practical, and deeply supportive. I help you make sense of what is driving your stress, understand the patterns underneath your anxiety or burnout, and build realistic steps that help you feel more grounded, clear, and in control. I draw from CBT, solution-focused therapy, and mindfulness-based strategies, but I tailor the work to your pace, needs, and goals. If you’re feeling stuck, drained, or ready for something to shift, I offer a space where you can breathe, regroup, and move forward with greater confidence.

What empowers people to change? A clear direction and the tools needed to succeed. Thats why my counseling approach focuses on YOU and taking steps toward your own definition of success. With a mixture of existentialism, family systems, and cognitive therapies, we will work to discover what you hope to change in your life and walk through the steps needed to get there. Whether you are struggling with aspects of your relationships, identity, life stressors, grief, trauma, or you just need some general direction, we will focus on what matters to you.

“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.”

Stephanie believes that everyone is deserving of a safe place to work through life’s difficulties so she strives to create a warm, welcoming environment that promotes one’s highest potential. Stephanie has walked alongside many young adults, mature adults, and couples through difficult periods of life, transitions, and choices. Stephanie understands that no single approach is the right one for every individual so is trained in a range of modalities.

I am so happy you are here!

Let me share a little bit about myself. I am a licensed counselor in both Illinois and Indiana, with seven years of experience providing talk therapy. I have had the privilege to work with clients across the lifespan in various settings, including community mental health, child welfare, education and integrated care environments. I am passionate about helping individuals navigate challenges such as depression, anxiety, women’s issues, grief and loss, and relationship issues. In addition, I have experience addressing concerns surrounding life transitions, spirituality and intergenerational and complex trauma.