Trauma and PTSD therapists & psychiatrists in Merrillville, IN

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.

Congratulations on taking the next step toward becoming the very best version of yourself! If you're ready to begin the work, I'd love to take the journey with you. I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with over 14 years of counseling experience and two graduate degrees in counseling. I have advanced training in approaches such as CBT, ACT, and mindfulness, and I tailor therapy to meet each client’s unique needs. I specialize in supporting people through anxiety, depression, trauma, and life transitions. My style is warm, collaborative, and focused on helping you find healing and resilience.

I believe that therapy is a space that belongs to you and is nurtured by your therapist for you. Through this healing environment, I give you the tools to change self-defeating behaviors.

I am passionate about helping people heal and find true joy in their lives. Focus is on the "whole person" - emotional, spiritual, and physical. Together we walk a gentle path toward wholeness and peace.

My name is Sarah. I am excited to get to know you! I am a board certified LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor). I have primarily worked in a community mental health setting, which has given me a very diversified experience. I am an animal lover, a coach, a mom, and a devoted partner. I am a member of the LGBT+ community. I work with people of all ages and believe that everyone has the ability to achieve their best self.

If you're an adolescent or young adult feeling untethered, like the people around you have shifted, like your effort isn't matching your results, or like you're falling short no matter how hard you try, I want you to know that's exactly what I help with. I'm Heather Case, Ed.D., a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC/LSC) with over 25 years of experience at the intersection of mental health and education. I work with adolescents and young adults navigating identity development, life transitions, anxiety, ADHD, and the emotional impact of learning differently in a system built for one kind of learner, including students navigating IEP or 504 plans. My own experience as a first-generation student with an undiagnosed learning difference shapes how I approach this work: I don't see struggle within a rigid system as a limit on ability. I hold an Ed.D. from USC, and I've worked as a clinical counselor, school counselor, graduate faculty instructor, and student affairs administrator.