Who I Am

Hello, I’m Andi. Pronouns she/her/hers.

I work primarily with couples at all stages of relationships, parents and teens who are struggling to connect, and individuals who want to address relationship and boundary issues.

Therapist

Why couples and family therapy? Because I like having a clear goal - usually the goal is deeper connection with those we love. I enjoy working with more than one person in the room - that’s where the magic happens. The magic is people sharing their honest, vulnerable selves with each other and being able to help them truly hear one another for the first time. Because the best place for us to uncover our pain, heal the past, and get our needs met is right next to the people who love us most. I believe humans are meant to be in relationships and our homes should be a place where we can be loved exactly as we are and encouraged to fully become the best possible version our ourselves.

For those still reading here are the professional details: I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I received a Masters degree in Counselor Education: Marriage, Couples, and Family Therapy from Western Michigan University in 2015. I primarily use an attachment-based approach to therapy called Emotionally Focused Therapy. I’ve completed level one of the ASSECT certification in Assessing and Treating Sex Issues in Psychotherapy. I’ve completed training in Gottman Method Second Level, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Trauma Focused CBT, and Prepare and Enrich.

Mom

I’m a mom of two kids, a seven year old and a three year old who both joined our family through adoption. I’m not only familiar with the heart-swelling sweetness of your kid running to you for comfort and the fun of goofy dance parties before breakfast, but also with the flash of anger we feel when that same kid turns getting dressed into a wrestling match or won’t open their mouth to brush their teeth. I’ve worked with parents and teens in a variety of settings as well and know that the powerlessness I can feel when my kids won’t sleep is similar to how parents feel when their teens refuse to go to school, self harm, or spend every waking moment glued to their screens. As a therapist I know why toddler brains and teenage brains have so much in common and I also know that as a busy mom I need real, practical ways, beyond theory to handle those hard parenting moments. Unfortunately, our kids rarely tell us directly what they need. Parenting can be a thankless job and it’s hard to know when we are on the right track. (After all, teenagers are never going to affirm you for setting healthy limits). I can help refine your approaches, troubleshoot the rough parts, and help you feel confident in your parenting decisions.

Partner

I’ve been married to my husband for fourteen years and like many couples, most times we like each other and occasionally we don’t. Before we committed our lives to each other we had times of discernment and lots of personal work to do. Nowadays we work to stay connected through the craziness of life and sometimes even go out on dates (together! in public!). Since my husband is a spiritual director and I’m a therapist, you may assume we never fight (ha!) but the truth is our reptile brains can take over just like everyone else’s do. Luckily, we’ve also learned to make repairs, listen to each other’s perspective, express appreciation, and pull out a board game once in a while. We’ve worked to create a relationship safe and stable enough for us to make mistakes, admit when we are wrong, and reflect on how our pasts still impact our marriage. My husband has taught me what it means to both have and be a true teammate in life and I want to help you and your partner get there too.