Kalamazoo, MI Counselors and Coaches

Darin Youngs, LLPC

Darin holds a Master of Professional Counseling from Liberty University, a Master of Divinity from North Park University, and a Master of Art in Communication from Governor’s State University.

Darin has over 20 years’ experience in pastoral counseling, as well as substantial involvement in military chaplaincy, grief counseling, and substance use therapy.  Darin has also served as a college professor, teaching communication, conflict resolution, and other courses.

Darin has experience with individual, couple, and family therapy, addressing a diverse array of mental health concerns, including trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, end-of-life counseling, veterans’ issues, forgiveness work, spirituality, resilience, couple, premarital, and marital therapy, exposure therapy, and dream work.

Darin’s primary counseling approaches are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Positive Psychology.

Darin considers it a great privilege to be a companion with clients on their journey to wholeness.  He sees his main role in therapy as helping clients see themselves more clearly, for the sake of facilitating positive change and growth.

Darin has been married for 27 years to his wife, Patricia.  He has three adult sons.  Darin is delighted to serve you as part of the Thriveworks family in the Kalamazoo area!

Darin also sees clients via telehealth.

Meaghan Dulin, LLPC

Meaghan Dulin is a Limited License Professional Counselor who grew up in southwest Virginia. She received her Master’s degree in Professional Counseling from Liberty University. She received her undergraduate degree in Psychology- with an emphasis in early childhood development- from Mary Baldwin College. She has been working in the counseling field for the past 15 years. She has a variety of experience- including Infant Mental Health, school-based counseling, community mental health, juvenile justice system, foster care system, Hospice and palliative care, child/adolescent residential treatment center, adult intensive outpatient/substance use treatment, SMART Recovery for youth, and equine-assisted therapy programs. As a result of her experience, Meaghan has the ability to effectively treat a wide range of issues including trauma, mood disorders (including perinatal mood disorders), anxiety and depression, additive behaviors, grief/loss/ambiguous loss, and attachment/relationship concerns.  Additionally, she has special interest in supporting healing regarding social justice issues- including systemic racism and inequity.

Meaghan believes that the greatest healing happens in the context of relationships- throughout the lifespan. When working with Meaghan, you can expect a safe and compassionate space for your mind, body, and soul. Her practice is informed largely by attachment theory and emotion-focused theory; additional evidence-based/evidence-informed practices that may be present in the counseling room include CBT (cognitive behavior therapy), Mindfulness, Infant-Parent Psychotherapy/Child-Parent Psychotherapy, and DBT (dialectical behavioral therapy).

 

Rudy Rüffer, LMSW

Rudy earned his Master’s degree in Social Work from Western Michigan University and has clinical experience in working with adults, children and families who have experienced complex and acute trauma. He is certified in Michigan as a Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapist and specializes in trauma across the life span. He is also trained in Dialectic Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing. Additionally, he has experience in working with families in various stages of life transitions.

Rudy believes that each person is handed barriers in their lives and that each person also has their own unique strengths needed to overcome them. He uses a collaborative and strength-based approach with clients to use their unique strengths to overcome their barriers successfully.

Rudy comes from a multicultural background and is currently married with three children. Board games and books are a constant source of family entertainment.  He also speaks German and Afrikaans

** Rudy also sees clients via telehealth

Heather Crampton, Clinic Manager, MA, LPC

Heather Crampton graduated from Western Michigan University with a Masters in Counselor Education, Clinical Mental Health. Heather is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).

Heather has worked with clients of all ages, gender, race, and ethnicity in various settings. Her specialties include, but are not limited to all anxiety disorders, depression, personality disorders, substance abuse, working with anxious youth and positive youth development, and helping veterans who suffer from PTSD.

Heather's passion is to help others who are struggling with different aspects of their lives. She considers it a privilege being a part of someone's journey. She enjoys facilitating her clients change toward positive and healthy solutions in order for them to live a productive and fulfilling life. Heather uses a collaborative approach in order to include her clients in their treatment process. She works to provide clients with tailored treatment plans that can be integrated into their daily lives.

Heather has been married for 9 years and has 4 children, one cat, and a rambunctious German Shepard. She is happy to be a part of the Thriveworks family in the Kalamazoo area!

** Heather offers online counseling

Haili Schneider, LPC

Haili graduated from Western Michigan University in 2015 with a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor.

Haili has experience working with children, adolescents, and adults. She has worked extensively in the treatment of anxiety disorders, including social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, health anxiety, selective mutism and phobias. She has also worked with depression and trauma, which often presents themselves with other disorders. She utilizes an integrative approach, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Exposure Therapy, in order to create a individualized treatment plan for each client.

Her goal as a counselor is to build a positive relationship with her clients in order to help them to feel supported and encouraged to face the challenges both at present and future. She believes that the process of therapy is one of collaboration, encouragement, and challenge. She is passionate about helping clients to identify, refute, and change their negative thoughts in order to develop a positive attitude and adaptive behaviors.

** Haili offers online counseling

Starr Bull, LPC, LLMFT

Starr Bull graduated from Western Michigan University with a Masters in Couples, Marriage, and Family Therapy. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Limited Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LLMFT).

She has worked with many diverse clients including men, women, couples, and families in various settings. Her specialties include, but are not limited to, working with people in recovery, with relationship issues, pre-marital, anxiety, and depression.

Starr believes that life is full of transitions and challenges, and that counseling is a way to help navigate through those challenges in order to bring healing and growth. She uses a collaborative approach with her clients, and wants to include them in the process, as well as provide individualized techniques based on client needs. Her desire is to provide a non-judgmental, empathetic, and warm environment that gives clients hope, and empowers them to reach their goals.

She has been married for 20 years and has four children and two grandchildren. She is looking forward to being part of the Thriveworks family in the Kalamazoo area!

** Starr offers online counseling

Alex Ansell, LMSW

Alex is a Licensed Master Social Worker with dual degrees in both Social Work and Alcohol & Drug Addiction Counseling from Western Michigan University.

He specializes in anxiety, substance use disorders, PTSD, personality disorders and depression.  He is also trained in EMDR, CBT and DBT.

Alex believes that people are inherently good, self-correcting and wise and that it's important for him to help people identify and capitalize on their strengths.  His approach to therapy is methodical, as it's important for him to identify the approach to treatment that works best for the individual.

** Alex offers online counseling

Audrey Litts, LMSW, - Owner of Thriveworks Grand Rapids

Audrey Litts earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Northern Michigan University and a Master of Social Work from Western Michigan University. She has experience working in both administrative and clinical roles as a social worker including non-profit management and school social work.

Audrey’s role at Thriveworks Counseling in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, is to ensure that her clients have a positive experience while supporting and uplifting her staff. She works hard to create an environment where clients feel comfortable and clinicians love to work.

Audrey believes strongly in the mission and vision of Thriveworks, and the importance it places on its valued clients and staff, and is very grateful to be part of the Thriveworks team.

Audrey and her husband have raised several children including younger siblings and foster children, and have two young biological children, along with a menagerie of animals on their country farm.