Grief counselors and therapists in Appleton, WI

I am a licensed Profession Counselor with more than a decade of experience in the mental health field. I have been working in a variety of settings since 2012, providing counseling to children, adolescents, adults, and families. Throughout my career I have worked with a wide range of mental health diagnoses as well as substance use concerns. My clinical focus and the area I am most passionate about is trauma. I am nationally certified in Trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), with an additional training and clinical experience in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, and Aggression Replacement Training. My therapeutic style is compassionate, genuine, and highly individualized. I believe in meeting clients where they are and working together to determine what they need from therapy. Sometimes that means learning new skills, sometimes it means having a safe place to talk and be heard, and sometimes it means a little bit of everything. My goal is to help clients feel safe, supported, understood, and genuinely empowered, not managed. I truly believe that having a place where you can feel safe and relaxed is often the first step toward healing. When we have the opportunity to let our guard down and feel accepted for who we are, we can begin to process what we've been carrying and work toward letting go.

Outside of work, life is busy and lively with my husband, out two children and our collection of pets. We have two cats, two dogs, and a rabbit. Animals have always been one of my main coping skills and self care. I am happiest when surrounded by them. I am also usually happiest in the middle of a DIY project, even if I'm not entirely sure how it is going to turn out when I start.

As a Licensed Professional Counselor in AZ and WI, Certified Biblical Counselor, and a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, I don’t just bring textbook therapy skills to the table—I bring life experience, authenticity, and a fierce commitment to helping you heal. What really sets me apart is my "spicy" approach. Therapy with me isn’t cookie-cutter. I respect the foundational theories, but I thrive on making sessions as dynamic and individualized as you need them to be.

I come with over 34 years of Clinical eperience. I am open to help anyone willing to do the work to change and make a better life for themselves.

I've long been drawn to the dance between the psychological and the spiritual. As I journeyed my own early path of discovery, it lead me to studies in psychology, classic literature, and theology in undergraduate, and then later Buddhist psychotherapy and meditation, and depth psychology in graduate school. I received my graduate degree from Naropa University's Transpersonal Counseling Psychology program in 2003, and am licensed in WI (LPC) and MN (LPCC). I am a practitioner of shamatha-vipassyana meditation, and have a well-established background of working for various therapy group practices in MN and WI.

Education

2003, Naropa University, MA in Transpersonal Counseling Psychology.

1998, College of St. Benedict, BA in Psychology; 1997 study abroad in Beibei, China.

As a lifelong student of East and West methodologies, I blend Person-Centered, CBT, Gestalt, depth psychology, somatic, and Buddhist psychology views. I also take a trauma-informed, IFS-informed, EFT-informed approach. I spent many years exploring Christian mysticism and theology before finding my own path and practice in Tibetan Buddhism for the past 20+ years, and I welcome heartfelt conversations about any psycho-spiritual path.

As a Board-Certified Psychotherapist, I believe that prioritizing your mental health is the key to minimizing everyday stressors and maximizing happiness. Pursing help is the hardest part, congratulations on taking the first step! I have been practicing trauma-informed, strength-based modalities for several years. I enjoy working with everyone.

I have worked primarily with adults, older adults, and adolescents on issues of mental health that may be impacting one's ability to function in day-to-day life such as: depression, anxiety, other mood and thought disorders, suicidality (for individuals as well as those bereaved from suicide losses), interpersonal violence, LGBTQIA+ support, topics surrounding race and culture, hoarding (both individuals affected and their loved ones), criminal justice system-involvement, and trauma (individual, intergenerational, and community).

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I have experience working in outpatient clinics, inpatient psychiatric settings, residential substance use treatment, as well as community re-entry and job coaching support programs for the last 10 years.

I am an empowering, warm, and direct LPC therapist who is also solution focused brings clarity and steadiness to clients who are navigating mental health challenges. I provide individual psychotherapy grounded in evidence-based practices, helping clients build structure, strengthen healthy coping skills, and move toward emotional stability.

I’ve spent my career supporting people who have experienced trauma, mental health, and substance use issues. I have used a mix of traditional talk therapy, art and adventure therapies to assist in the healing process. I have been in practice since 2002 after completing my master's in social work at Simmons University in Boston, Massachusetts. Prior to completing my master's I worked in the social work field, working as a case manager and substance use counselor, and volunteering at my local domestic abuse program answering the crisis hotline, facilitating community support groups, and assisting in the annual walk for women's safety. I work with children, adults, families, couples, and groups. My style is natural and organic, giving you space to heal in a way that feels right for you. My approach is person centered. My focus is to help you build trust and safety at your own pace and create a strong therapeutic relationship for you to heal.

If you're between 18 and 80 and you're dealing with anxiety or depression that shows up in your relationships, your habits, or your ability to stay on track, you're exactly who I work with. I'm experienced with addiction and relapse prevention, and I understand that recovery isn't linear. I graduated with my Master's in 2023 and have worked with individuals, couples, and families across a range of settings, including anger management and substance-focused groups. I lead with curiosity about who you are, not just what you're struggling with.

Hi, I'm Alex! My path into this work began in early childhood development, where I learned just how much our earliest relationships and experiences shape the way we move through the world as adults. That foundation still informs everything I do; I'm endlessly curious about the "why" behind how we feel and behave, and I hold that curiosity with warmth and zero judgment.

Outside of my practice you'll usually find me behind a camera. Photography taught me to slow down and pay attention to small, beautiful details, and to appreciate that the same scene can look completely different depending on where you're standing (a lesson that I find turns out to be pretty useful in therapy as well). I love being out in nature whenever I can and at home I share my space with a cuddly cat who supervises most of my day.

I’m a licensed psychologist with more than three decades of experience in psychotherapy, psychological assessment, and trauma-informed care. My background includes extensive work with adults, adolescents, and children across private practice, medical settings, and the VA’s PTSD clinic, where I provided both treatment and disability evaluations. I completed my doctorate at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in an APA-approved Counseling Psychology program and an APA-accredited internship with broad training in assessment, psychotherapy, and multidisciplinary collaboration. I specialize in trauma, mood and anxiety disorders, dissociation, family-of-origin issues, and helping people untangle long-standing patterns that keep them stuck. My style is warm, open-minded, and direct, meeting people right where they are while helping them move toward where they want to be.