clinicians
Mary Jo Baweja
MA, LLP
Mary Jo graduated from Western Michigan University in 1987, after earning her Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology. She began practicing as the staff Psychologist on the Behavioral Health Unit of a small hospital, while working in an outpatient clinical setting as well. She has over 15 years of experience working with individuals, adolescents, and families who suffer from a variety of mental illnesses. She uses a number of therapeutic modalities including but not limited to Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Reality Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Family Systems Theory. A holistic, strength based, person-centered approach guides her practice.
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Mary Jo is passionate about helping others empower themselves to most effectively manage any life challenges they face. Mary Jo works from the belief that clients are in charge of their counseling experience. They will learn the bounds of aspects of their life that they can control and what they cannot. Clients will understand that the therapeutic relationship is a partnership in which they will be expected to put in the effort for homework, be accountable, and present within the counseling alliance. Mary Jo’s goal as a counselor is to provide a safe environment where we can explore your primary interests, develop goals and determine strengths and assets as you move toward your aspirations.
Brooke Clifton
LMSW
Attending to mental health is an important part of maintaining a healthy connection to one’s physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. The therapy process allows the opportunity to gain insight into how our experiences shape our emotions, interpretations and behavior. Whether the goal is to heal from trauma, develop and strengthen coping skills, learn effective interpersonal relationship skills or create greater self-compassion, a strong therapeutic relationship is paramount. Trust, empathy, respect and healthy boundaries are vital to creating a therapeutic relationship that promotes growth.
I have 20 years of experience providing therapy to children, adolescents and adults from various walks of life and backgrounds. I have been trained in DBT and EMDR and I enjoy utilizing these skills along with CBT and insight oriented approaches that allow me to meet people where they are at in life. It is my goal as a therapist to work alongside you, equipping you with the skills and insight to more fully recognize your strengths, abilities and choices. It truly is a privilege to partner alongside people as they share their story, heal from their past and become more empowered to meet their goals.
Sarah Muench
PsyD
Life gets complicated at times. Therapy is a place where we create time and space to figure out how to respond to life’s complications. It’s a place to stretch, grow, and walk through life with someone who can see a pathway through.
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As an avid hiker, I’ve walked a lot of paths in life and have seen where many roads lead. My hope is that I can give wisdom and perspective as I walk with people on their journeys. I see how so many aspects of life impact our pathways – our faith, our families, our experiences from the past – and the hope that we can find a way to honor the true, whole self within us, regardless of where we are on the journey.
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My education at Colorado College and Wheaton College has equipped me with the skills to meet people in a variety of different needs and journeys, including anxiety, depression, healing from abuse, spiritual challenges, relational issues, and self-esteem.
Danielle Smith-Acker
MA, LPC, CAADC
I am a fully licensed therapist who provides a warm and genuine environment where you can be heard and not judged. As a clinician I believe in partnering with you through the challenges in your life. Through this partnership, it is my intent to help you resolved issues, increase self-awareness, and stimulate personal growth. Your voyage of self-exploration may not be easy, but it is one that will be worth it. Let’s start today.
Tasha Turner-Freeman
LPC
Tasha is passionate about educating the community on
the connection between mental and physical health.
Professional passions often grow from personal
experiences. Though she has had her share of adversity
she considers her greatest gift to be sharing all that she’s
learned about transforming hurt to growth; pain to
healing; and victimization to advocacy. It is her goal to
bring awareness and practical skills to non-clinical
populations because it is her belief that while we cannot
all be therapists; we can all be therapeutic.
