Trauma and PTSD therapists & psychiatrists in Merrillville, IN

I’ve spent the last twenty years working with adolescents, young adults, and their families, and in recent years I’ve expanded my practice to include adults of all ages. My greatest strength as a therapist is my ability to build genuine rapport and trust, creating a space where clients feel understood, supported, and safe to be themselves.

I hold a master’s degree in counseling and have additional training and experience in grief, anxiety, stress, trauma, life transitions, academic counseling, post-secondary planning, and career counseling. Whether you’re navigating a major change, processing something difficult, or simply feeling stuck, my goal is to walk alongside you with warmth, practical tools, and evidence-based support.

I am dedicated to helping individuals, couples, and parents navigate life's challenges and discover their inherent strengths. My professional background includes experience working with clients to address a wide range of concerns, from feeling overwhelmed to navigating relationship, and parenting struggles. I specialize in evidence-based modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), EMDR, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Mindfulness. In our work together, I focus on collaborative care designed to guide you toward growth, healing, and revitalization.

Hello. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with extensive experience supporting individuals and families navigating trauma, mental health challenges, and periods of crisis. Throughout my career, I have worked in roles focused on crisis intervention, trauma-informed care, and helping individuals manage complex emotional and behavioral concerns. I am committed to creating a supportive and compassionate environment where clients feel safe sharing their experiences and beginning the healing process.

Hi, I’m Raven, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker dedicated to supporting individuals as they navigate life’s complexities and move toward healing and growth. I believe in creating a warm, genuine connection where you feel safe, understood, and supported. Through a collaborative and compassionate approach, I work alongside you to help you build insight, foster resilience, and make meaningful changes that enhance your overall well-being and quality of life.

Sometimes life changes in ways you never expected. Whether you're navigating anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, the transition into parenthood, or the emotional demands of caring for others, it's easy to lose sight of yourself while trying to keep everything together. You don't have to face those challenges alone. For more than 20 years, I've partnered with individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, grief and loss, women's issues, and trauma, helping them build resilience, strengthen relationships, and rediscover hope during life's most difficult seasons. Working with children, adolescents, and adults, I strive to create a compassionate, supportive space where you feel genuinely heard, respected, and empowered to move toward lasting healing.

With more than thirty-one years in the mental health field, I bring both deep experience and a genuinely warm, unconditional presence to every session. I've had the privilege of working with people at every stage of life — from children as young as three to adults in their late nineties — across settings as varied as military bases, schools, residential programs, nursing facilities, and outpatient clinics. I earned both my bachelor's and master's degrees from the Indiana School of Social Work at IUPUI.

I believe every person has inherent value in this world, and I show up fully in your corner. My approach is collaborative — I work alongside you. Outside of the therapy room, I'm a proud mom of three and grandmother of five (my greatest joys), a dog and cat owner, and someone who recharges through travel, gardening, live music, and time in the outdoors. That human life informs how I connect with the people I work with.

A few things about me outside of therapy: I have three children, so I understand that life can be beautifully chaotic. I’m a real person, not a therapist robot. I’ll bring authenticity into our work together.

I work with adolescents and adults across a range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, relationship and family challenges, grief, and major life transitions. Most importantly, you don’t have to impress me. You don’t have to have the perfect answers or know exactly what you want to say. Therapy can be a place to better understand what you’re experiencing, recognize patterns that may be getting in your way, and develop healthier ways to move forward. Come as you are, and we’ll navigate the hard stuff together.

I am a seasoned psychotherapist and psychiatric provider with nearly two decades of experience in the behavioral health field. After earning a Master of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Louisville in 2006, I became licensed by the Kentucky Board of Social Work. I also hold national certification in case management (CCMC), am a licensed supervisory-level addictions specialist (CADAC-IV) through the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium, and a licensed marriage and family therapist through the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT).

My academic journey continued with a Doctorate in Behavioral Health from Arizona State University, specializing in integrated medical and behavioral health services, followed by a Post-Doctorate Master of Science in Clinical Psychopharmacology from Fairleigh Dickinson University. I further expanded my scope of practice through a Master’s Entry in Professional Nursing (BSN & MSN) from the University of Louisville in 2020, a Post-Master’s Certificate in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing from Northern Kentucky University in 2021, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from Duke University. I am board certified as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, licensed to prescribe and manage medications.

In addition to clinical practice, I have led multidisciplinary teams and supervised clinical operations, enhancing quality of care, staff development, and patient outcomes across diverse systems. I am deeply committed to lifelong learning and delivering compassionate, evidence-based, integrative care to individuals and families in both Kentucky and Indiana.

If anxiety, depression, trauma or difficult family circumstances are making life feel heavier, you do not have to navigate them alone. Whether you are a teen, adult, parent, or family, therapy can offer a supportive place to feel heard, understand what is happening, and begin moving forward. Together, we can build practical coping skills, strengthen relationships, and work toward meaningful change at a pace that feels right for you.