Mary Balkon, LMSW, M Div

ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS

I say often that we're all the beautiful heroes of our own stories.

It doesn't always feel that way. Sometimes other people tell us something different, or our own thoughts and feelings do. Sometimes we've forgotten our stories, or we feel trapped, and it seems impossible to move forward. Sometimes we feel like the villain, or just an incidental character in someone else's story. Sometimes it's hard to even say what our story is.

In therapy, we may just need a safe space to tell our story aloud and make sense of it. We may need

someone to ask questions that help us fill in missing pieces, or identify themes and ideas that we hadn't thought about before. Or we may need to learn or remember particular skills or insights that help us get through to the next chapter.

That's how I see my work as a therapist. I'm like the talking animal or friendly stranger that shows up in fairytales to accompany the hero, to help them figure things out and give them the tools they need to heal their wounds and accomplish their goals.

I received my MSW from Western Michigan University, and my MDiv degree from Harvard's multi-

faith Divinity School. I am also trained in couples work, and attended the University of Michigan's

Sexual Health Certificate program.

I work with trauma, grief, anxiety, depression, gender and sexuality, relationship problems, and with

spiritual and religious concerns.

Hello, beautiful hero, I look forward to hearing your story!