About Me

My approach to therapy is person-centered and solution-focused, meaning that I will give you space to process and discover the right steps and solutions needed for your journey. I will be there every step of the way to listen, support, encourage, and guide you along your journey. I have experience working with families, children, and teens. I have worked in Community Mental Health Settings, Inpatient Settings, Residential Settings, and Private Practice Settings.

I attained my Bachelor’s of Science (Double Major) in Psychology: Christian Counseling and Religion from Liberty University in May of 2015. I continued on to get my Master’s of Arts in Professional Counseling from Liberty University in December of 2017. It was in my master’s program that I focused on working with Couples using the HOPE Focused Approach, Addictions, Trauma, and Crisis. I have since went on to be specially trained in Motivational Interviewing, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Grief and Loss, EMDR, and working with sexual issues and behavior. I attained my Mental Health Counselor license in September of 2022.

I understand what it is like to be hurting and feel like there is no where to turn. Perhaps you have tried therapy before, and maybe you felt like you had a hard time “clicking” with your therapist. I understand this can be frustrating and lonely cycle. I understand how it makes it hard to trust. I am passionate about helping people get off the broken road of hurt and pain. I believe building a safe and trusting environment first is important in therapy, then we can dive deep and work on healing and growing.

I believe that you already possess what you need to make your journey to healing, within yourself. I am here to help you discover, or rediscover, your internal motivation and hope. I believe you can overcome the pain and hurt from your past and live a life full of joy and hope. If you are interested in starting your journey on the road to healing, schedule an appointment today by emailing me at djcervantes@healingroadllc.com or contacting The Healing Road LLC at 574-453-1836

Life Verse

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18 ESV).

Specialties

I have over 6 years of experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and couples. I can help you work through addictions, anxiety, grief and loss, depression, and trauma. I can help couples with marital distress, issues within the marriage, or premarital counseling. I also have training in working with sexual addictions, sexual dysfunctions, and sexual maladaptive behavior.

Some evidence-based treatments I can incorporate in our sessions (if applicable) are CBT, TF-CBT, Motivational interviewing, MATRIX, Solution Focused Brief Therapy, Components of EMDR (until I am have finished my training and consultation) , and the HOPE Focused Approach to marriage therapy. I recently completed part one of EMDR therapy training. I am authorized to begin using EMD^ and EMDr in my clinical practice.

I do incorporate the use of boardgames in therapy with children and adolescents. I truly believe that children learn the best through play. I believe that boardgames teach valuable skills for life (e.g. problem solving, deduction, and social skills). I will be offering a social skills group for adolescents, once we have a physical location, using the Table Top therapeutic game Critical Core.

Degrees, Certifications, and Special Trainings

• Bachelor’s of Science Psychology: Christian Counseling

• Master’s of Arts in Professional Counseling

• Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)

• Credentialed Sexually Abusive Youth Clinician (CSAYC)

• TF-CBT

• Motivational Interviewing

• EMDR Trained

• DBT

• Grief and Loss

• Opioid Addiction

• Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)