Tara McKernan, MA, LLPC, NCC

I am a limited licensed, nationally certified counselor who practices outpatient mental health therapy in Southwest Michigan. I graduated with my Masters of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Western Michigan University. As a counselor, my main roles include decreasing and preventing unwanted mental health symptoms within clients, empowering my clients to make strides towards desired changes, increasing overall wellness and resilience in my clients, and advocating for my clients to ensure their rights and wellbeing are intact. I offer a judgement-free safe space to explore my clients’ thoughts, feelings, and experiences in order to foster self discovery. Because of the unique needs and behavioral norms across cultures and ages, I practice counseling from a culturally competent, developmentally aware perspective. I strive to assist adolescents, adults, and couples in managing their mental health disorders through diagnosis, assessment, and the use of evidence based interventions. It is my philosophy that when given the proper support and resources, every person has the ability to take control of their lives, and that counseling can be a catalyst for change. The goal is to recognize that each person has the power to live a life where they can take control and expand their perspective. Through this process, my clients have recognized their ability to heal and gain a greater insight into self-empowerment.