Berrien Springs Clinicians

Harold Smith, PsyD

Education:

• Doctorate of Psychology in Clinical Psychology from Adler School of Professional Psychology

Client Demographic: Couples, Families, Adults, Children

Clinical Interest: Depression, Anxiety, Autism, ADHD, and Neuropsychology

Dr. Smith enjoys spending his energy investing in the healing of individuals and helping them reach their full potential. As the founder of Life Coach Psychology, he remains dedicated to working with people to overcome life’s obstacles and demands. Now semi-retired, Dr. Smith enjoys travelling to various places across the United States with family, as well as taking frequent trips to Alaska.

Judith Fisher, PhD

Education:

• Doctorate in Counseling from Andrews University
• Clinical Psychology Internship at Mercy Hospital (Detroit MI)
• Pre-doctoral internship / post-doctoral fellowship at University of Notre Dame

Client Demographic: Adults, Children, Couples

Clinical Interest: Depression, Anxiety, Eating Disorders, Self-Esteem, Career Issues, Cultural Diversity, Family Mental Health,

Dr. Bernard-Fisher has a strong commitment to helping individuals realize their potential. With a strong interest in the tenets of Positive Psychology, she focuses on individual strengths, resilience, and helping people live optimally. Dr. Bernard-Fisher’s multi-cultural background and fluency in French and Spanish have provided her with a deeper understanding of diversity issues. She lives with her family in Southwest Michigan.

Alina Baltazar, PhD, MSW, LMSW, CFLE

Education:

• Doctorate in Human Development and Family Studies from Michigan State University
• Masters in Social Work from University of Michigan
• Certified Family Life Educator

Client Demographic: Adults, Children, Couples, Families

Clinical Interest: Depression, Anxiety, ADHD, Bipolar, Grief, Weight Issues, Divorce Recovery, Disability, Interpersonal Conflict, Parenting, and Child Behavioral Problems

Dr. Baltazar primarily uses cognitive behavioral therapy techniques with the aim of working with you to help you meet your goals. She has received training and certification in Gottman’s Method in couples therapy as well as EMDR.

Denise Stoddard, PhD

Education:

• PhD in Counseling Psychology
• MA in Counseling

Client Demographic: Adults and Couples

Clinical Interest: Behavioral Issues, Trauma, Relationship Problems, Emotional Problems, Projective Drawing Interpretation, Substance Abuse Testing, Pain Evaluation Testing

Dr. Stoddard likes to help people to lead happier and healthier lives. She provides therapy for those willing to work with her to promote growth and change for the better. Dr. Stoddard is more interested in working with people where they are at in their lives rather than concentrating on a particular orientation.

Diana Mitchell, LCP, NCC, ACS

Education:

• MA in Counseling
• BA in Psychology

Client Demographic: Adults, Couples, Families, Children TELEHEALTH ONLY

Clinical Interest: ADHD, Depression, Anxiety, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Conduct Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, PTSD, Physical/Sexual Abuse, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Substance Abuse/Dependence, Parenting Skills Training, Life Span Issues, and Marital/Couple Problems

Diana Mitchell believes God gives each person different talents. God has given her the gift of helping people. She enjoys helping people work through their issues in order for them to reach their full potential in their journey of life. Life is meant to be sweet and meaningful; situations and circumstances divert people from having or reaching their dreams and goals, or to live to their full potential. Diana wants to help people get back to what they were meant to be: helping them to recognize they have a personal power to change their lives. Their circumstances don’t have to define who they are but to find who and what they truly are meant to be. Life is a journey, and there are many roads to take. Sometimes we all need a helping hand to help us get back on the right path, especially when we fall or take a detour. These are the reasons why she chose a profession as a counselor.

Marlene Rich, MA, LCP, NCC

Education:

• MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Client Demographic: Adults, Children, Couples, Families

Clinical Interest: Anxiety, Depression, Addictions, ADHD, Bipolar, Grief, Testing, and Behavioral Problems

Meeting people and listening to their stories is a pleasure for Marlene Rich. For her, supporting someone through the difficult issues that life can bring is an honor. She is dedicated to working with anyone young or old who desires to make a change in his or her life. Eclectic best describes her treatment approach, as she likes the freedom to choose from various therapies for each person by using his or her individual strengths, goals, and ideas of change.

Sharon Dudgeon, LLPC

Education:

• MA Community Counseling

Client Demographic: Adults

Clinical Interest: Abuse and Trauma Victims, and Pain

Sharon finds it particularly rewarding to help people in crisis, or those who are recovering from emotional, physical or sexual abuse. She mainly works with adults and has run support groups for female survivors of abuse.

AJ O’Carey, LLMSW

Education:

• MA in Social Work from Andrews University

Client Demographic: Adults, Children, Couples, Families

Clinical Interest: Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, EMDR, Major Life Transitions, Anxiety, Depression, Grief, LGBTQ+ Issues, Victims of Trauma, and Marital Stress

AJ is a therapist with a passion for helping people become the best they can be. His sense of humor and keen ability to listen puts people at ease. A life-long learner, AJ takes a holistic, strengths-based, solution-focused stance to therapy. He’s comfortable working with people of all cultures and backgrounds. AJ has personal and professional experience with foster care and adoption. He spends a portion of his non-counseling time raising awareness of trauma and trauma healing among marginalized people groups in the United States and abroad. The rest of his non-counseling time is spent with his wife of twenty-one years and his two daughters.

Ellecia Hope Cousins, LLPC

Education:

• MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
• B.Sc. in Psychology

Client Demographic: Adults, Teens, and Couples.

Clinical Interest: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness-Based CBT, Psychodynamic Therapy, Positive Psychology, Solutions Focused, Gottman Method, Multicultural Counseling, Life Transitions, Anxiety, Depression, Grief, Relationship issues, Marital Stress, Parenting, School Issues, Self-Esteem, Spirituality, Stress, and more.

Counselor Cousins is passionate about guiding individuals through the various challenges they may encounter. She is empathetic, patient, and a great listener. She offers a person-centered approach as she believes clients have it within themselves to create meaningful change in their lives. She strives to create a non-judgmental environment where clients of all backgrounds and cultures can feel understood and safe. She works with adults and teens but has a particular interest in marital and couple’s therapy. In addition to English, Ellecia is fluent in French. Counselor Cousins looks forward to working with you as you embark on your therapy journey.

Leo the Therapy Cat

Client Demographic: Everyone!

Leo is the Berrien Springs office therapy cat. He enjoys going to work with our clinicians and being a comfort to any clients that need his special touch. In his spare time, Leo enjoys napping on counters and knocking papers off work spaces. He can also be found travelling with our clinicians to off-site locations as an extra assistant.