Trauma and PTSD therapists & psychiatrists in Merrillville, IN

I believe that mental health is an important part of overall health and happiness. Each person has the ability to commit to and foster positive change in their lives. I always strive to work with each client as an individual, fostering their strengths and building healthy coping skills, insight, and empowering courage for change. I am passionate about women's health and issues. I am certified in Perinatal Mental Health (PMH-C) through Postpartum Support International.

I have extensive experience in working with families, children, adolescents, and adults who have experienced various forms of trauma, both acute and chronic, as well as grief and loss, stress and anxiety, as well as other behavioral health issues.

My name is Amanda Liter, and I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with a master's degree in clinical mental health counseling from Indiana University. I have experience working with children, adolescents, and adults experiencing trauma, PTSD, ADHD and assessment, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship concerns, suicidality and crisis intervention, and significant life stressors. I am a trauma-informed therapist who is EMDR trained and certified. I am trained in suicide prevention with ASIST and QPR as a trainer.

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.

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’m Stefani, and I work with adults and seniors navigating anxiety, depression, grief and loss, trauma, PTSD, relationship challenges, and major life transitions. Sometimes you know exactly what’s wrong. Sometimes you just know you don’t feel like yourself anymore. Either way, you don’t have to have the right words or a perfect story to begin.

I don’t rush people or push past their pace, and I don’t flinch at the hard stuff. My goal is to offer a steady, compassionate space where you can slow down, understand what you’re carrying, and begin moving toward change in a way that feels supportive and manageable.

Together, we can make sense of patterns that may have developed for a reason, build a better understanding of your emotions and responses, and find ways of moving forward that feel more grounded and sustainable.

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.

Clients should know that I’m a real person first and a therapist second. I actually started my career in sports management, but life had other plans — and a series of lived experiences pulled me toward social work in a way that felt impossible to ignore. I went on to complete my MSW at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, IN, and I’ve spent the last ten years working in child protection, community health, and hospital social work in a Level 1 trauma facility.

I also spent years as a caregiver, which made me especially comfortable working with older adults and taught me that humor, patience, and a good cup of coffee can get you through almost anything. I’m nearing completion of my PST therapy certification, which adds a structured, problem‐solving lens to the work we do.

I take therapy seriously, but I don’t take myself too seriously — so you can expect warmth, honesty, and the occasional well‐timed laugh when life hands us something so absurd it deserves one.

As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and ADHD-Certified Clinical Services Provider, I believe mental health is an essential part of overall wellbeing. Reaching out for help can feel intimidating, especially if you’ve always been the one others rely on for strength or have learned to “stay strong” while using coping strategies that no longer serve you. I commend you for taking the first step.

I have over six years of experience in behavioral health across diverse clinical settings, and I focus on working with adults navigating life transitions, ADHD, attachment and family challenges, and the lingering effects of childhood experiences. My approach is warm, collaborative, and person centered, helping clients gain clarity, improve emotional balance, and build healthier relationships with themselves and others.

Hello! I am a Master's Level Clinical Therapist with over 4 years of experience counseling. I have a wide variety of clinical experiences from a clinic for teenagers with dangerous behaviors, to private practice in a wealthy suburb. My training and research has focused on trauma, complex family dynamics, anxiety, and neurodivergence (ADHD and autism).

Therapy is a collaboration to help you get where you want to go. As a social worker with over a decade of experience working with individuals, families and groups, I know that every person's journey is unique. That is why I draw on an eclectic collection of therapeutic skills including approaches from motivational interviewing, DBT, CBT, solution focused and attachment based therapy to help others grow.