Hello! If you are exploring Better Help, it is likely that you are struggling with something significant in your life. Finding the right person to help you through these challenges is very important. If you don't have a good relationship with your counselor, you won't make the progress you are hoping to achieve. I want to provide you with some information about me in order to help you decide if my experience and style is the right match for you. I have been a social worker for more years than I care to admit! (more than 20) and have experience working with people from all different backgrounds who are struggling with a wide variety of challenges. My experience began in the Family Services arena working with challenges related to Abuse and Neglect and Foster Care and Adoption. I then transitioned into Crisis Social Work in an Inpatient Hospital Setting serving those with Serious Mental Illness and their Families. A significant part of my career has been spent with the Active Duty Military and Veteran populations. I specialized as a Trauma Therapist and have been working with people who are struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma, LGBTQ+ issues, adoption and foster care challenges and challenges of Caregiving. The feedback I receive from clients and co-workers is that they find me to be caring and nonjudgmental, and they appreciate that I am honest and direct with them. You can expect me to walk with you through whatever difficulties you are facing and help you learn more about yourself and the way you interact with the world. Currently, I have availability late in the day (ET); I can interact with you in whatever manner you are most comfortable. I find it helpful to participate in video sessions so that we can get to know each other better. I am also available to you via phone and text if that is more comfortable for you. I check messages several times during the day and will get back with you. I know how hard it can be to find a counselor with whom you feel a connection. I would be honored to work with you through this stage of your life.

I am licensed in Louisiana with over 15 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, trauma and abuse, coping with grief and loss, & motivation, self esteem, and confidence. I work with my clients to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey.

As a licensed therapist with nearly three decades of experience, I specialize in supporting individuals navigating life's complex emotional landscapes. My practice focuses on helping clients address stress, anxiety, relationship challenges, and personal growth. I bring a compassionate, faith-centered approach to counseling, particularly supporting older adults and those seeking a conservative therapeutic perspective. My professional journey has been dedicated to creating a supportive environment where individuals can explore their emotional well-being, develop resilient coping strategies, and build stronger self-esteem. I understand the unique challenges that come with life transitions and am committed to walking alongside my clients with empathy, respect, and understanding. Drawing from extensive clinical experience, I offer a warm, collaborative approach that honors each person's individual journey. My goal is to provide meaningful support that empowers you to overcome obstacles, cultivate inner strength, and move toward greater personal fulfillment.

I am licensed in Louisiana with 24 years of professional work experience, 10 of those being in direct clinical practice with children, adolescents and their families. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, trauma and abuse, anger management, & motivation, self esteem, and confidence. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

From the first moment of successfully leaving our mother's body and beginning to breath on our own, we began a life journey that mirrors our own epic story. This epic is similar to those I used to watch as a child at the Sunday evening movies. Usually a hero, for instance, Hercules, would be engaged in ongoing event-filled days of danger, challenge, and conquest. Along the way there were characters who attempted to thwart his efforts or support his quest. His focus remained resolute and steadfast and was usually met with success. If not doing that hour definitely by part two he would be the victor. Our life challenges, however, are not usually met with the excitement of a movie; and success in overcoming them is not usually with one or even two hours. But like old movies, our challenges involve obstacles, dangers, wonders, and successes of varying dimensions. These challenges for many of us serve to push us forward to take another breath of life and to continue our personal life walk. From each push, breath, and challenge we can choose to learn and experience success or satisfaction with how we are engaging with life. I am Joy Smith McElveen, a licensed clinical social worker in New Orleans, LA.. Like many of you, my epic story is filled with many challenges of major life disappointments, frustrations, illness, fears, anxiety, depression, and anger. However, there was always a sense of wonder which generated happy times, love, and a glimmer of hope-filled days. Focusing on the wonders of hope helps me put challenges and obstacles into a perspective that allows me build change efforts. I think it is having a sense of hope, the real wonder, that pushes us forward despite the challenge. My practice is based on expanding a search for hope within each person seeking to change direction. Living demands that we must continue to grow. We grow through learning and making changes in our sphere of life. Our emotions and thoughts help or hinder our behavior. It is within these areas we need to evaluate, and search for meaning to be productive and fulfilled. My practice is based on using Dialectical Behavior Therapy undergirded with applications from Mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Solution-Focused Therapy. These approaches have interconnections with how we can choose to change how we think, feel and behave. They each require that the person seeking to make changes do the work and the helper is alongside working with her/him. I would like to be one of the characters in your epic story who supports your quest for change. I have a BA in sociology from Louisiana State University (now UNO); a Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor); and a doctorate from Howard University School of Social Work. I have certifications in each treatment approach listed above.

My name is Wanda W. Bush. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor. My primary therapeutic interventions are Brief Solution Focused Therapy , Client Centered Therapy and Motivational Interviewing . I hold a Master ‘s Degree in Counseling. I am an active member of the American Counseling Association. Additionally, I am an experienced healthcare administrator. Wellness of mind, body and spirit is very important to me. My practice philosophy is that we are partners in this journey. I am not here to "fix" you. Because you are not broken. We all need someone to talk to along this journey called life.

I am licensed in Louisiana with 38 years of professional work experience. I have helped clients suffering with stress and anxiety, coping with addictions, relationship issues, as well as, coping with grief and loss. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey.

Hi. My name is Lori Gieseler. I am a MSW, LCSW and am licensed in the state of Louisiana. I graduated from LSU-Baton Rouge and have enjoyed a wide range of experiences with a concentration of working with adolescents, adults and couples. I believe in meeting individuals where they are and helping them learn to cherish themselves and their life experiences. Don't you think it's time to start walking up the road to self-care? I have experience in working with mood disorders, working with spouses of sex addicts and working with individuals who are adjusting to curves life may throw them. I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) which helps individuals develop a way of thinking to alter behavior and their reactions to events in life. My counseling style is warm and interactive. I approach counseling through a client-centered approach. I believe in using reflective questions to guide sessions and initiate change. I treat everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I believe we all deserve to live the best life possible and will tailor your treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. Are you ready to take that first step? Are you ready to learn how to respond differently to obtain better outcomes in life? You deserve it!

Hello, my name is Charlamonte Gordon and I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Louisiana. I hold a M.ED in counseling and have been in the field for over 15 years. I have helped clients work through a wide range of concerns such as anger, anxiety, depression, conflict resolutions as well as a variety of other mental health concerns. I have experience in helping individuals who find themselves dealing with other system agencies that can bring about anxiety such as the legal system, the school system, and even child protection services amongst other things. I have over 10 years of experience working with children/adolescents that exhibit at-risk behavior. Those who are at risk may exhibit behaviors such as poor impulsivity and anger control, manipulation, poor decision-making, lack of guidance and poor mental health management. Children and adolescents should have a voice when it comes to being able to manage and maintain their mental health. We can’t choose what happens to us, but we have the opportunity to choose how we respond. My aim is to ensure that both young and old know they matter and what they have been through does not define nor change who they would like to be. Being in the helping profession has given me the opportunity to touch and transform the lives of others in special ways. There are so many things going on in the world that can easily make us feel overwhelmed. As a Counselor, I pride myself on being patient, treating everyone with respect and having an open mind. I am a strong believer that we all possess strengths that can be built upon to pull us through those tough situations. Let me help you discover your inner strengths and how to use them to be the best you that YOU envision to be!

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Louisiana and have been for thirty years. Though I have practiced most frequently in a school environment, I have worked in other settings with a variety of populations, including teens and young adults. My areas of expertise include ADHD, anxiety and depression and personality disorders. My therapy style is low key and empathetic, with regard for the individual as a person of uniqueness with strengths and weaknesses that defy often negative labels. I use a variety of modalities in my approach, including cognitive behavioral, rational emotive, psychodynamic / transactional analysis and humanistic approaches. The approach(es) used and the eventual treatment plan will be tailored to the unique needs of the individual. Therapy is a journey, and like most journeys, it begins with a single step that may well be tempered by fear or doubt. The road to change take courage to begin with that first step into a future that offers a promise for tomorrow.

With 20 years in law enforcement and a Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, I specialize in helping first responders and military personnel manage trauma, anxiety, and addiction. My approach is compassionate, practical, and built on real-world experience you can trust.

I am licensed in Louisiana with 5 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, & career difficulties. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey.

If you're facing challenges such as stress, depression, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma, or gender-related concerns, I am here to provide the support you need. Taking the step to start therapy is a courageous move towards a more fulfilling and happier life, and I admire your commitment to this journey. My approach emphasizes respect, sensitivity, and compassion, ensuring that our discussions and treatment plans are specifically tailored to your unique needs. I also specialize in working with couples, helping them rebuild trust, improve communication, and deepen emotional intimacy. Recognizing that each individual’s path is different, I am dedicated to customizing our sessions to best support your goals and aspirations. Together, we can navigate your journey towards healing and growth.

I have a passion for working with adolescents and adults who feel stuck—trapped in a pattern of bad habits, caught in a cycle of ineffective coping skills, entangled in unhealthy or unsatisfying relationships, or simply unsure of where to go next in life. With years of experience in a small independent high school, I specialize in helping adolescents manage the impacts of ADHD, from symptom management to self-advocacy and obtaining academic accommodations. I maintain certifications as a Clinical Child & Adolescent Anxiety Treatment Professional (CCATP-CA) and an ADHD-Certified Clinical Services Provider (ADHD-CCSP) to better serve my clients. Additionally, as a wife and mother to 3 kids, I understand the necessity of taking care of your mental health to maintain a healthy family system. I enjoy working with families and couples to improve communication, establish boundaries, and create healthy relationship dynamics overall. Using a strength-based, solution-focused approach, I strive to help you work through your challenges and stressors while improving your self-esteem and relationships. I want to guide clients in developing new coping skills to create balance in their lives, helping them move forward with confidence and peace to reach their goals.