Hi, I’m Mandy! I’m a neurodiversity-affirming counseling intern offering culturally competent support through active listening, empathy, acceptance, and connection. While I often use ACT, strengths-based, and motivational interviewing approaches, I am mostly person-centered––ready to follow my clients wherever they lead. I enjoy working with you to validate, problem solve, build self-esteem, recenter, and improve your overall quality of life. As an autistic person who wasn’t identified until having autistic children of my own, I am a survivor of trauma––cautiously optimistic and constantly evolving. My lived experiences inform my interest in helping others in the areas of autism, anxiety, ADHD, anger, parenting, divorce, substance use, gender divergence, and parental estrangement. I have been a Bloomington resident since 1997 when I moved here for my undergraduate degree. My first career was in communications and marketing, and I am now finishing my master’s degree (M.S.Ed.) in mental health counseling at Indiana University. My hobbies include spending time with my blended family, running, hiking, and attending theater and concert performances. I am nonbinary, LGBTQIA+-friendly, and open to seeing clients of all ages, particularly those aged 12 and up.
