Andrew Gagne, LMSW Licensed Master Social Worker in Michigan

I like to see therapy as a journey. I walk alongside my clients as we navigate life and its challenges together. I don’t have all of the answers, but I will share my perspective and offer guidance to help my clients thrive, not just survive. As a person who has benefited from therapy myself, I value authenticity from both the client and the therapist. I also value integrity, honesty, growth, and humor. I also value spirituality, whatever that may look like for clients. A successful therapeutic alliance depends on these values. I like the term alliance because it implies a team effort with both the therapist and the client investing energy and effort into the process. 

An analogy: in personal training, the trainer can’t do the work while the client reaps the health benefits. In therapy, the work must be done by the client while I utilize my education and understanding of mental wellness to guide the client to acceptance and effective resolutions. When we work hard for something, we appreciate the result so much more.

I have worked in home health and hospice and I am acquainted with the grief process and the difficulties of being a caregiver for people with disabilities. I have worked with young people through Child Protective Services and have experience helping young people with trauma and substance use disorders. I currently work as a school social worker providing mental health support to adolescents in the school setting.

I utilize a person-centered approach where each client is perfectly unique and therefore requires an individualized path to healing and wellness. Although I work with people of all ages, I specialize in assisting adolescents and young adults to navigate typical life transitions as well as unique challenges related to adjusting to changes in family structure, grief and loss, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, anxiety, depression, and other challenges to wellness.

We are all following a psychological program; either a conscious one or an unconscious one. With some intentionality and effort, we can discover and alter our thought patterns and behaviors and choose a program that leads us to our best life!