Our therapists offer Christian-based counseling in Sterling Heights, MI

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor with 4 years of experience and specialized training in trauma, autism, anxiety, and anger management. I work with clients who feel overwhelmed, stuck, or misunderstood, helping them build resilience, manage emotions, improve relationships, and create balance. I draw on evidence-based practices and a compassionate approach to guide clients in setting meaningful goals, developing coping skills, and moving toward lasting positive change.

I earned a Master’s in Mental Health Counseling from Baruch College, where I also trained at a neuropsychological clinic. I have received training in cognitive behavioral therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, cognitive processing therapy, prolonged exposure, and motivational interviewing, allowing me to tailor care to each client.

I understand that feeling anxious, stuck, or misunderstood can be exhausting. I offer a supportive space where you will feel heard and valued. With experience in trauma, anxiety, autism, and anger, I walk alongside clients as they work toward healing, clarity, and hope for a more balanced and fulfilling life.

Darlita Paulding is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) who has 15 years of experience working with adolescents, adults, couples, and families. Darlita has assisted Individuals working through anger, depressive symptoms, anxiety, unhealthy relationships, low self-esteem, and stress.

Darlita completed her Bachelor of Arts ( BA) in Psychology at Michigan State University and her Master of Arts (MA) in Counseling at Oakland University. She is a National Certified Counselor (NCC). Darlita utilizes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and solutions focused therapy to provide the most comprehensive services in a concise, yet warm, empathetic, and supportive environment. 

Darlita seeks to enhance your personal strengths while assisting you in overcoming your challenges. Her goal is that everyone should be able to live their life to their greatest potential. While working with Darlita, you have the potential to transform your life, reconcile relationships, build hope, and enhance your self-esteem through exceptional treatment and services.

Maria Tovar-Ruiz is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LPC, LAADC) who has over 24 years of experience specializing in helping clients who are suffering from symptoms related to depression, anxiety, life transitions, women’s issues, trauma, relationship concerns, self-esteem, anger management and substance use.

She earned her Master’s degree from Michigan State University and strives to create a relationship where you will feel fully acknowledged, valued, and seen for the unique person that you are. Maria has an eclectic, down to earth and humorous approach to therapy. She values partnering with people from diverse backgrounds who are seeking to increase their life satisfaction and quality of life. 

She believes in helping people identify their own strengths as they learn to trust in their power to have the most fulfilling life that they envision. Maria believes that you are the expert of your own life, while she is a partner that will provide tools, feedback and encouragement as you reach for your goals. 

Jennifer Plesz is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and Licensed Professional Counselor (CRC, LPC) with over 10 years of professional experience helping clients to overcome anxiety, family conflict, relationship difficulties, pregnancy and postpartum related issues, stress, anger issues, ADHD, women's issues, and much more. 

Jennifer earned her Master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from Wayne State University, and has several years of experience working with people from all backgrounds. Today Jennifer offers individual, couples, and families who experiencing hard times, or new obstacles. 

Tackle your roadblocks with help from Jennifer; with her professional support and guidance, you can start feeling better, while rebuilding trust, confidence, and contentment. With each session, she'll work to establish a professional, caring relationship between you and herself. 

I'm a Licensed Counselor with 3 years of experience in the mental health field. I'm passionate about helping adolescents, children, adults, and families reach their goals in order to live a more fulfilled life. I completed my Master of Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Western Michigan University. My role as a therapist is to provide a safe space where you can feel relaxed and move at your own pace. I offer a client-centered approach and believe you are the expert in your own life. I'm here to help guide you toward your goals.

I offer a non-judgmental approach and a safe space where we'll work together to help you navigate the roadmap to your life and be the healthiest version of yourself. I utilize various approaches including mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy, trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, and dialectical behavior therapy skills.

Life, unfortunately, has no road map or single, final destination. Many find themselves searching for counseling when they feel lost, defeated, depressed, anxious, or hurt. I'm here to offer a safe space to those looking to make a change. I focus on helping you reach your goals by exploring behaviors and thought patterns. I focus heavily on helping you learn skills and tools to reduce your stress and empower you to make change where it counts. If you're ready to work, please schedule an appointment with me today.

I am a Licensed Master Social Worker with 8 years of experience working in community mental health settings as well as military treatment facilities with a focus on anxiety, depression, grief, PTSD, life transitions, challenging family dynamics, stress management, and marital issues. I believe you are the subject matter expert in your life and the best narrator of your story. Recognizing this, I invite you to share the experiences that have shaped who you are—uplifting and difficult experiences—and to challenge and rewrite any internalized false narratives you may have allowed others to create for you.

I earned my Master of Social Work from Widener University. I tailor treatment to individual client needs and use approaches including person-centered therapy, culturally sensitive therapy, psychotherapy, and motivational interviewing.



Whether this is your first therapeutic journey or a new chapter in your healing, I am grateful you have chosen to allow me to guide you. As the saying goes, “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts”; therefore, I encourage you to bring your whole self into the therapeutic space—including those parts you may have hidden or silenced.

Glikeria (Ria) Mantis is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with over 9 years of experience in the mental health field. She is passionate about helping adults and seniors address their unique challenges and live more fulfilled lives. Ria specializes in major life transitions, aging, end-of-life/hospice issues, grief, loss, bereavement, addiction, substance use, depression, mood disorders, trauma, sexual abuse, anxiety, low-self esteem, women's issues, bipolar disorder, relationship concerns, and stress management.

Ria completed her Master's degree in Social Work (MSW) at Eastern Michigan University with a concentration in Aging Services. Ria utilizes multiple treatment approaches, including person-centered therapy (PCT), mindfulness, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), addiction, prolonged exposure therapy (PET), motivational interviewing, existential therapy, somatic, solutions-focused therapy (SFT), reality therapy, and more.

Ria is confident to provide a safe, private and professional therapeutic journey. Let Ria assist you in getting to your goal through a person-centered approach. She'll help you to obtain new perspectives and techniques to allow you to cope and heal with whatever you may be struggling with. If you are ready to put in the work, schedule an appointment with her today.

Crystal is a Licensed Professional Counselor with over 15 years in the mental health field working with clients to improve life satisfaction. She specializes in treating adults and children who are struggling with depression, anxiety, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, trauma, abuse, neglect, relationship difficulties, adjustment issues, grief and loss, parenting support, and substance use disorders.

Crystal has a Master’s Degree in Counseling with an advanced specialization in treating children and adolescents from Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. She is trained in trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy. Crystal has also completed the Level 1 Training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy.

Crystal creates a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment for her clients. She encourages personal empowerment through the use of strength-based strategies and motivational Interviewing techniques combined with psychoeducation, solution-focused techniques, cognitive behavioral therapy, and mindfulness practices to improve adjustment and live a more fulfilling life.

Stephanie Scianna is a Licensed Master Social Worker and Certified Advanced Addiction and Drug Counselor with nearly 15 years of experience working in the substance use and mental health fields. She specializes in treating adults who are seeking services for anxiety, depression, trauma, adjustment disorders, self-esteem, relationship issues, and substance use disorders. Stephanie is passionate about working with pregnant and parenting women with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.

Stephanie earned a Master’s degree in Social Work from Wayne State University. She utilizes a variety of clinical approaches, including cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing techniques, strength-based strategies, psychoeducation, solution-focused techniques, and mindfulness-based practices.

Stephanie encourages her clients to identify personal strengths and works collaboratively with them to foster growth and change. She hopes to accompany you on your journey of finding peace, recovery, and self-fulfillment.