Find a therapist, counselor or psychologist in Sterling Heights, MI

"I know how overwhelming life can feel at times, and my goal is to help you find calm and clarity in the chaos."

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.

"As one who has experienced personal trauma, I have an authentic understanding of how we are impacted by life circumstances and how building new life skills can empower us once again and help us to overcome our fear."

I am a Licensed Master Social Worker with over 15 years of experience providing compassionate, client-centered care. I specialize in supporting individuals, couples, and families navigating challenges such as depression, anxiety, grief, trauma, relationship issues, and life transitions. My approach is rooted in empathy, respect, and collaboration, allowing clients to explore their emotions in a safe and supportive environment.

I earned my Master’s in Social Work from Wayne State University. I have received advanced training in cognitive behavioral therapy, family systems work, and exposure therapy. My approach is flexible and person-centered, adapting to each client’s unique needs and goals to help them gain insight, healing, and personal growth.

I believe everyone has the strength to overcome life’s hardest moments, and I’m passionate about helping clients rediscover that strength within themselves. I strive to build a genuine, open, and trusting relationship where clients feel heard, valued, and empowered to create lasting change in their lives.

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. 

"As someone who believes therapy is not one size fits all, I focus on an eclectic approach, using principles and skills taken from different therapeutic modalities to help achieve the best healing outcomes."

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.

Making the decision to seek therapy is incredibly courageous. I have over 19 years experience working as a Social Worker and I am a licensed Master’s Social Worker. I have worked with a diverse population with a variety of diagnoses and situations. However, I believe that each person’s experience is unique and while they may be similar to someone else’s, no two people or situations are the same, therefore neither are the solutions. I provide a non-judgmental , compassionate, therapeutic environment. Working together is essential to creating a good therapeutic relationship and one that is most beneficial. I find that creating meaningful goals with clients based on specific needs really helps this process. Life is not meant to be figured out alone. I feel both honored and privileged to work with my clients helping them to overcome their obstacles and empowering them to do so.

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.

"Trust, mutual respect, collaboration, and empathy are foundational to a strong therapeutic alliance, and I am here to support you."

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.