Individual Counseling in Jenison, MI
Why isn't my life going how I thought it would?
You thought things would be better by now. Maybe you told yourself that after the new job, or once the kids got a little older, or when this stressful season finally passed, you’d feel like yourself again. But here you are. Still tired. Still stuck.
Individual counseling at Great Lakes Wellness Counseling gives you one-on-one time with a licensed therapist who listens, gets it, and helps you figure out what to do next. We meet with adults in person at our Jenison office and online anywhere in Michigan. And we respond within 24 hours, so you’re not left waiting for help.
Does this sound like you?
- “Why am I so anxious about the little things?”
- “My life seems so boring compared to everyone else’s.”
- “I’m just not as happy as I used to be.”
- “When am I going to get a break from all this stress?”
- “I keep going through the motions, but I have nothing to look forward to.”
- “I don’t even know who I am anymore.”
Maybe you’ve been through a big change. A new job, a new baby, college, a wedding. Maybe you’ve lost someone, or money has been tight for too long. Or maybe nothing big happened, and you’re just sick and tired of feeling this way.
That’s OK. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed when life shifts and you don’t know how to move from one stage to the next. You don’t need a crisis to deserve help. Feeling stuck is reason enough.
When friends and family don't quite get it
Friends and family are great. They mean well. But sometimes they don’t really understand what you’re going through. And sometimes, if we’re honest, they’re part of the problem.
A therapist is different. You get a person whose whole job, for that hour, is to listen to you. Someone who can offer new thoughts, new ideas, and new ways to look at what’s happening.
You’re the expert on you. We’re the people who help you see your life with fresh eyes and make the changes you’ve been wanting to make.
What individual counseling can help with
Each therapist on our team has their own style and areas of focus, so we can match you with someone who fits what you’re facing. Here’s what adults in West Michigan most often come to us for.
Anxiety and constant worry
Your mind won’t shut off. You replay conversations, second-guess decisions, and worry about things you know you shouldn’t. Our anxiety counseling helps you understand what’s driving the worry and gives you practical tools to calm it down. The worrying will stop. Your thoughts will start to change.
Depression and feeling flat
Everything feels heavy. The things you used to enjoy don’t bring the same spark. Our depression counseling gives you a judgment-free space to talk honestly about the hard stuff and find your way back to hope, energy, and purpose.
Life transitions and loss
New jobs, moves, marriage, becoming a parent. Even good changes can knock you off balance. And losing someone you love can make it feel like life will never be the same. Counseling, including our grief counseling, helps you find your footing again.
Stress at work and career questions
Feeling stuck in your job? Not sure whether to stay, change, or leave? Struggling to find any balance between work and the rest of your life? Career counseling is available too.
Relationship struggles
A partner, a parent, a coworker. Counseling helps you understand your patterns, speak up for what you need, and handle conflict better. We also offer couples and marriage counseling.
Trauma and past experiences
Hard experiences from your past can show up in how you feel and react today. Our team offers trauma counseling at a pace that feels manageable, so you can start to feel safer and steadier in your own life.
Overwhelm, focus, and ADHD
Constant mental noise. Trouble staying organized. That nagging feeling of always being behind. We help you understand how your brain works and build practical strategies that cut down the chaos.
Substance use and other habits
If you’re using alcohol, drugs, or other habits to cope, you may carry a lot of guilt or fear about asking for help. Our team includes a therapist who holds the CAADC addiction counseling credential, along with other therapists experienced in addiction counseling who offer support without judgment.
Faith-integrated counseling
If you’d like your Christian faith to be part of your counseling, just let us know. Christian counseling is available with several of our therapists. If you’d rather not, that’s completely fine too.
Looking for something more specific? We also offer women’s counseling, counseling for men, and teen counseling.
What happens in counseling?
Therapy isn’t always serious. There’s often laughter, a sense of familiarity, and the comfort of having someone who truly cares walk with you through life.
01 | We get to know you. We use your first appointment or two to learn about you. Your therapist will go over your history, explain confidentiality, talk through scheduling and how often you’ll meet, and answer any questions you have.
02 | We learn about the changes you want. Together, you’ll get clear on what you’d like to be different in your life. We take everything you share into account to help you find the relief you’re looking for.
03 | We make a plan. Your therapist uses evidence-based counseling methods (approaches backed by research) and current therapy techniques to help you reach your goals. Most people start by meeting weekly, then meet less often as they make progress.
At first, it will take some work. Then the work you do in therapy will start to bring change. The hazy cloud around you, the frustration, and the feeling of not knowing what to do will begin to fade. Relationships get more enjoyable. Stress becomes manageable. Life gets better.
Find a therapist you actually click with
The best work in counseling happens when you and your therapist work well together. That’s why connection matters so much to us.
We invite you to meet with your therapist for a few initial sessions with zero pressure. If it feels right, great. If it doesn’t, that’s completely OK. We’ll gladly connect you with another provider on our team. And if we don’t have someone who fits your exact needs, we’ll give you a trusted referral to another local practice. We never want you to feel stuck.
A few of the therapists who offer individual counseling:
- Nathan Hansen, LPC, our founder, has worked in mental health care for over 17 years. He helps adults overcome anxiety and negative thought patterns, works with professionals and entrepreneurs on work-life balance, and supports veterans dealing with PTSD.
- Nicholas Melville, LPC, focuses on depression counseling and blends honest conversation with mindfulness and body-based techniques. He also teaches as an adjunct professor of philosophy and psychology at Grand Rapids Community College.
- Gracen Smit, LLPC, works with adults ages 18 and up through grief, anxiety, depression, life transitions, relationship concerns, and trauma.
- Julianne Dusendang, LPC CAADC, supports adults working through trauma, ADHD, overwhelm, and substance use, along with law enforcement and first responders.
- Bradley Stalker, LPC, offers career, addiction, anxiety, and depression counseling.
- Elizabeth Jackson, a counseling intern who sees clients on a cash-pay basis, works with individuals ages 18 and up on anxiety, ADHD, trauma, self-worth, and relationship patterns.
We believe you shouldn't have to wait
We know how frustrating it is to reach out for help and hear nothing back. Long waitlists and unreturned calls shouldn’t stand between you and feeling better. When you contact us, you’ll hear back within 24 hours, or the next business day if you reach out over the weekend. Our team offers flexible scheduling, which may include evening and weekend hours, to get you in quickly. Current and new clients can also see real-time openings and book right away through our client portal.
In-person in Jenison or online anywhere in Michigan
You can meet with your therapist in our comfortable, welcoming office on Baldwin Street in Jenison. Or you can meet online through the secure video platform inside our client portal, from your home, your office, or anywhere in Michigan that works for you.
Online counseling is real therapy, on your schedule. No fighting Grand Rapids traffic or getting jammed up on I-196. No finding a sitter.
Paying for individual counseling
You can pay for counseling with health insurance or through private pay.
Our practice is in-network with Aetna, ASR Health Benefits, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Blue Care Network, Cofinity, ComPsych, Priority Health, Tricare, and UnitedHealthcare. We also accept several Michigan Medicaid managed care plans, including Blue Cross Complete, McLaren Health Plan, Molina Healthcare, and Priority Health Choice. We do not accept traditional State of Michigan Medicaid. We have a limited number of Medicare-credentialed providers, so please call our office to check your specific Medicare plan.
In-network status can vary by therapist. The easiest next step? Share your insurance details with our intake team, and we’ll verify your benefits before your first appointment.
If your plan isn’t listed, you may be able to use out-of-network benefits. You’d pay the session fee up front, and we can give you a Super Bill (a detailed receipt) to submit to your insurance for possible reimbursement. Cash pay is also accepted, and rates vary by provider. Some people choose private pay for added privacy and the freedom to pick any therapist.
Counseling close to home in West Michigan
Jenison isn’t just where our office is. It’s home. We’re proud to serve adults in Jenison, Grand Rapids, Hudsonville, Grandville, Zeeland, and the surrounding West Michigan communities.
You’ll find us at 1348 Baldwin Street, Jenison, MI 49428. Prefer to stay home? Online sessions are available throughout Michigan.
Frequently asked questions about individual counseling
What is individual counseling?
Individual counseling is one-on-one therapy between you and a licensed therapist. It’s a private, safe space to talk about what’s bothering you, understand why you feel the way you do, and build practical ways to make life better.
How do I know if I need individual counseling?
If you’ve been feeling stuck, anxious, down, or overwhelmed for a while, and the things you’ve tried haven’t helped, counseling is worth a try. You don’t need to be in crisis. Wanting things to be different is a good enough reason to start.
What happens at my first appointment?
You’ll talk about what brings you to therapy. Your therapist will review your client history form, explain confidentiality, discuss scheduling and how often you’ll meet, and answer your questions.
Is online counseling as helpful as meeting in person?
Online counseling has been shown to be just as effective as traditional in-person counseling. Our sessions are secure, encrypted, and held through our HIPAA-compliant client portal. Most, but not all, insurance plans cover online therapy, so it’s a good idea to check your behavioral health benefits.
What if my therapist isn’t the right fit?
That’s completely normal, and it’s OK to say so. We encourage you to give it a few sessions. If it still doesn’t feel right, we’ll help you find a better match on our team or refer you to another trusted practice.
Life will get better. Let's get started.
You don’t have to keep feeling this way. The pressure can lift. The peace and calm can come back. You can enjoy life again and feel like the happy, confident you that you were not too long ago.
We’re ready to walk with you. Real solutions. Changed lives. Expert care.
Call (616) 202-5014, email office@greatlakeswellnesscounseling.com, or book through our client portal. Start your individual counseling today!
If you have a medical or mental health emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital.