Wendi Makus, LPC, LCPC

About me

Hello! I'm so glad you are here! If you are ready to make some changes in life that are likely to result in improved mental health, improved quality of life, and general well being; you came to the right place!

My approach in counseling is in general to look at the person as a whole; not as their symptoms of problems. I use holistic, solution focused, and trauma informed models to engage client's in the counseling process and achieve their goals.

I have been trained in trauma informed approaches such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR); which uses several tools to help client's negative past events have less emotional impact on their lives.
I am also certified in a counseling approach called seed digging therapy (SD), which is developed off the therapy developed in the 90's called theophostic therapy.

The premise of seed digging therapy (SD) is that each individual is generally mostly good, has a desire to be good to others, and wants to have a happy and productive life.

The model states that a person's heart is a "garden" which in analogy has "weeds" and "flowers". Traumatic/Sad events tend to produce weeds and Happy events tend to produce flowers. Weeds in a persons heart can cause many negative reactions in life ranging from interpersonal relationships, self esteem, negative view of the world. Weeds occur when a lie is believed about that sad/bad event. Examples of weeds: not feeling adequate, feeling unloved, feeling a lack of importance.

Flowers are developed when something happens that is positive/ good, and the individual believes something good about themselves. Examples of flowers: I do matter, I am important, I am loved, I belong in this group, family, friendship etc.

The process of seed digging therapy is to find where the root of the negative thoughts started, and create an alternate belief opposite of the negative. Using narrative techniques, the person has the opportunity to recreate meaning if they want to.

I am very excited to meet you, get to know you and help see you to the other side of where you want to be. If you would like to work more with me, we can talk more about your goals and what steps to take to get there.

Professional experience

Additional areas of focus: Addictions, LGBT, Family conflicts, Grief, Sleeping disorders, Parenting issues, Self esteem, Career difficulties, Bipolar disorder, Coping with life changes, Coaching, ADHD, Abandonment, Attachment Issues, Avoidant Personality, Blended Family Issues, Cancer, Codependency, Commitment Issues, Communication Problems, Control Issues, Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD), Dissociation, Divorce and Separation, Emptiness, Family of Origin Issues, Family Problems, Fertility Issues, First Responder Issues, Forgiveness, Gender Dysphoria, Guilt and Shame, Isolation/Loneliness, Life Purpose, Mood Disorders, Obsessions, Compulsions, and OCD, Paranoia, Post-traumatic Stress, Self-Harm, Self-Love, Sexual Assault and Abuse, Social Anxiety and Phobia, Women's Issues, Young Adult Issues

Clinical approaches: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy

License information

DC LPC PRC200001421

ME LCPC CC6863

AR LPC P1607096

OR LPC C6617

Reviews

These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Wendi Makus. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.