Ellie Mental Health - Grand Rapids, MI

Introducing Alejandra!

Alejandra is a licensed clinical social worker who has been providing therapy to the Grand Rapids community since 2019. She specializes in working with children, adolescents, and their families and is particularly passionate about working with young children ages 5-12. Alejandra loves incorporating play, movement, and creativity into her session to help children express themselves, achieve their goals, and have fun in doing so. Alejandra is experienced in working with kids and teens on a variety of topics and challenges including emotional dysregulation, ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), behavioral concerns, trauma, life adjustments, and anxiety.

Alejandra is bilingual and feels equally comfortable meeting with people whether their preferred language is English or Spanish.

With immediate openings in the next 2 weeks, call Alejandra today to get in and see her before school returns and the fall rush swings into view.

Meet Dave!

Dave is a Limited License Psychologist at our East Paris Clinic with lots of experience in working with individuals, couples, and families (He has been providing individual and family therapy since 1992. Ya, he’s an expert.). He considers it an honor and a privilege to work with people as they navigate through life transitions and face the multiple challenges of life in today’s world. Dave’s approach is one that starts with partnering with his clients, accepting them where they are at, and then working to assist them in reaching their goals and learning new healthy behaviors.

Dave works with people of all ages and has extensive experience working with children, adolescents, and adults. Dave’s areas of expertise include helping people through anxiety, depression, Autistic Sprectrum Disorders, trauma, behavioral concerns, and matters of spirituality and faith-based struggles. Dave has a particular passion for working with the parents of children and teens going through tough times and helping couples with relationship issues and marital challenges.

Dave uses a variety of approaches in therapy including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), and a number of family and marriage therapy tools.

In addition to his therapy services, Dave is also available for educational presentations on a variety of mental health topics for schools, churches, and community groups.

Call today to schedule an appointment with Dave to help you and your family.

Happy 4th!! 🎆🍦🇺🇲

We hope you can take a moment to unplug, soak up some sunshine, and celebrate with your favorite people.

Taking care of yourself isn't just about spa days and meditation (although those are great too)! It's about embracing your inner goofball, letting loose, and being unapologetically YOU. 🧡

What are you doing to care for yourself this weekend?

Listen, everybody has their days (ahem...or months ...or years).

Just like physical health, mental health exists on a spectrum, and it's TOTALLY normal to experience ups and downs from time to time. Sometime we need to take it a bit easier on ourselves-- and that doesn't mean that we aren't strong or that there's something wrong with us.

➡ If you feel like you're struggling more than usual, practice giving yourself a bit more grace, think about what coping skills fit you best, and hey, having a kicka$$ therapist and support crew can also make a huge difference.

Therapy isn't always about instant epiphanies, it's about embracing the journey of self-discovery, growth, and healing. 🌱

That therapist match is vital for effective therapy! 🧠 Here are a few tips to keep in mind when considering if your therapist is the right fit.

Opening a new clinic is a bit like being involved in a therapeutic process. For so long you work behind the scenes laying the foundations of something new, and then after all that time and effort you get to experience a series of changes and progress points that showcases things to the world around you.

We've been working hard the last several months behind the scenes getting our new Grandville location ready to open. In June we will open the doors to some of our current therapists and clients to transition to the new space, before taking on new staff and clients beginning in July. We're excited and looking forward to serving the Grandville, Jenison, Hudsonville, Zeeland, Wyoming, Byron Center, and surrounding communities we love and live in.

Stay tuned for more updates next month .....

Therapy isn't always about instant epiphanies and constant breakthroughs, it's about embracing the journey of self-discovery, growth, and healing. 🌱

Ever feel like your thoughts are spiraling? 🌀 Here's how to quiet them down:

Asking yourself questions like, "Is this thought realistic?" or "Is there evidence to support this thought?" or "Is this thought based on assumptions?" 🧠

💚 Next try a mindfulness technique deep breathing, doing a mind dump exercise, drawing or coloring, or

Then try redirecting or distracting your thoughts by calling a friend, or going for a walk.

What works for you? Let us know in the comments! ⬇

Real talk-- Supporting someone when they're dealing with mental health challenge can be hard. It's not always knowing the right words or actions, but sometime's it's simply about being there.

Let's keep showing up, lending an ear, and offering love without judgment. Because in those moments of struggle, our support can make all the difference. 💕

Here are some tips from one of our psychiatrists, Dr. Patty Dickmann, about how you can show up for your loved ones.

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When we say "SPMIs," we are talking about mental illnesses that are recurrent, long-lasting, and make it hard for you to do your everyday life. Examples include schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and severe depression.

These diagnoses are more common than you realize, AND there are numerous treatment options including medications, psychotherapy, and self-management strategies (like developing healthy routines, optimizing sleep, recognizing triggers, and learning coping skills).

If you are someone with a SPMI, you are not alone. Ellie therapists are here for you. Let's spread awareness and break that stigma. 💪

Ever feel like your brain is overheating? 😳 Try this:

1. Find a quiet place and make sure you have a pen or pencil and plenty of paper or a notebook.

2. Set a timer for five minutes. ⏰

3. Start writing down everything that comes to mind, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem. Write down thoughts, ideas, tasks, worries, plans, goals, reminders, or anything else that pops into your head.

4. Don't censor your thoughts or worry about organizing them at this stage. Write without pausing to analyze or judge what you're writing. The goal is to get everything out of your head and onto paper.

5. You can organize your thoughts into lists, bullet points, or short phrases if it helps you to structure your mind dump. However, don't spend too much time on formatting—focus on capturing your thoughts quickly.

6. Continue writing until your time limit is up. If you run out of things to write about, sit quietly and wait for more thoughts to come to mind.

This is called a "mind dump" exercise, and by following these steps, you can declutter your mind and gain clarity and focus on the tasks and priorities that matter most to you.

Everyone goes through moments of feeling anxious now and then. 😵‍💫😵‍💫

Sometimes it's just a passing feeling, but for others, it can stick around longer or feel more intense. Just know that it's totally normal, but if it starts getting in the way of everyday stuff, it's good to reach out to a therapist for some extra support.

Here are some common symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder:
- Feeling nervous or on edge and you're not sure why
- Trouble concentrating
- Racing thoughts
- Restlessness or irritability
- Feeling panicky for no reason
- Difficulty sleeping

Anxiety disorders affect nearly 1 out of 5 adults, and therapy can be really helpful in relieving these symptoms and giving you the necessary tools to cope.

What's your favorite way to cope with anxiety? Let us know in the comments!

Join Team Ellie and other area businesses and organizations for the 22nd annual Stomp Out Stigma Walk this Saturday, May 18th to raise resources and awareness for mental health and su***de prevention services in West Michigan.

A huge 'Thank You' to benice.org for continuing to organize and support this event.

See you there!

We asked a few of our therapists what advice they give to parents after a child is diagnosed with autism, and here's what they had to share!

Having trouble calming your anxiety and telling yourself that it'll all be fine? 🧘 Try these skills:

1. Box Breathing- This is when you inhale for four counts, hold your breath for four counts, exhale for four counts, and then hold for four counts. Repeat this pattern a few times. ✨ The even and controlled nature of box breathing can help activate the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting a sense of calmness and reducing stress.

2. Get a cold glass of water- The act of getting up, moving, and focusing on drinking a cold glass of water can serve as a distraction from anxious thoughts. 🚰 Sipping cold water activates the vagus nerve, which promotes a relaxation response, counteracting the body's stress response.

3. Listen to music- Music has been shown to activate various areas of the brain associated with emotions, memory, and reward. 🧠 It can release neurotransmitters like dopamine, which contribute to feelings of pleasure and happiness, counteracting the negative impact of anxiety.

Therapy isn't always easy, but it's where the real work happens. It's about facing the tough stuff, digging deep, and growing through the discomfort. 💪

Here's to honoring our mental health, finding self-acceptance, and growing stronger every single day. ⭐

April 2nd is World Autism Acceptance Day! 🌈 Find suggestions for how to support and information on our blog post: https://elliementalhealth.com/how-to-support-your-autistic-loved-one/

Autism Acceptance Month is about embracing the spectrum and recognizing that every person with Autism has unique abilities, strengths, and challenges. We can learn so much from each other and create a more inclusive world by celebrating these differences.

How are you promoting acceptance and inclusion in your community? Let's keep the conversation going. 🌟

Rejection can hurt in any scenario. ❌ When you’ve been rejected, it’s easy to look at yourself as the problem and think through the “if onlys.”

Swipe through to read these tips on how to (and how NOT to) cope with rejection, and check out more ideas here: https://elliementalhealth.com/how-to-cope-with-loneliness-and-rejection-in-relationships/

Each session is a step towards healing, growth, and self-discovery. It's hard work, but it's is worth every ounce of effort. 💪🌱

Don't underestimate the importance of a good therapist match! 💫 Here are a few tips to keep in mind when considering if your therapist is the right fit. Check out the full blog post here: https://elliementalhealth.com/had-a-bad-breakup-with-your-therapist-how-to-begin-again/

We're Expanding/Hiring!

Both our East Paris clinic near Ada and our *NEW* Grandville clinic coming early this summer are looking to add licensed therapists to the team.

Check out our postings on Indeed, ZipRecruiter, and other job boards for all the deets.

Come join a growing team of passionate peeps dedicated to serving our community with creativity and humor.

Plus, we're pretty fun to be around. Just sayin' .....

Ellie Mental Health - Grand Rapids, MI Ellie Mental Health in Grand Rapids, Michigan isn’t your average therapy clinic. We’ve created a comfy, judgment-free zone where you can be authentic, get real about where you’re at in your mental health, and receive the compassionate care you deserve. We strive to break down treatment barriers and provide you with customized counseling services that meet your therapy needs.