About Rochelle Kreft, LPC
Let’s rediscover your passion for life.
I’m a Traverse City-based counselor providing online, individual therapy to teens and adults across Michigan. Nearest to my heart, though, is working with those that have unexpectedly lost their way on their journey, first responders or their spouses, and parents of children with high needs.
“People are most human, whole, free, and creative when they play.” ~Plato
Therapy with me, you can expect a welcoming, non-judgmental, and sometimes a little fun environment.
You're here because nobody else gets it.
Your life and your work used to mean everything to you. Your life finally felt “complete” when you met the person of your dreams, or when you joined the local well-respected police department or maybe when you first became a parent; which any parent knows is a 24/7/365 job! Your life was finally on the path it was meant to be on, until one day you experienced what you weren’t prepared for; your first fatal call, your spouse wanting a divorce, or being told your child has a congenital disorder with a lifelong impact.
Remember when I said I genuinely get what you’re going through?
As a first responder’s spouse of six years, it quickly became clear to me there is an incredible group of people who are in dire need of extra support, scattered throughout every community, saving lives everyday. Though, it wasn’t until about 2022, when I became a volunteer counselor for the Northwest Michigan Peer Network, that I realized that extra support could be me!
In addition to having clear insight around being a first responder family, we became first time parents in 2019. In the early stages of that pregnancy, we were told our daughter would be born with a congenital heart defect called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. Within her first week of life, we were given the news that she would need a heart transplant, which she received at 2-months old. Her needs have always been somewhat different from her younger sister’s, and likely always will be. I understand how difficult, traumatic and absolutely draining these lifestyle changes can be, with all the unknowns included. When you work with me, you not only get my professional knowledge, you get my genuine lived experience!
How I work:
At the core of my approach to therapy is a belief that anyone can heal through connection and laughter.
Being the spouse of a first responder and mom of a child with lifelong medical needs are second nature to me and significant in my work with clients experiencing similar life experiences. However, my approach to therapy is also it’s own unique feature.
It’s been said that the three prime pillars of mental health are love, work, and play! Charles Schaefer, American Psychologist and author of Play Therapy with Adults (2003), stated, “Each of these three great realms of human behavior are interwoven, enrich one another, and contribute to psychological and physical health.” There’s so much to be said about the benefits of play therapy for not only children, but anyone of any age!
I worked as a school-based mental health provider for three years, primarily with teens and currently I’m in my first year as an elementary school counselor. I’ve experienced the incredible benefits of play-like therapy and continue to research it out of pure enjoyment, including the benefits it bestows even upon adult therapy.
Therapy with me is also trauma-informed. Currently, I am considered an EMDR-informed counselor. EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is an evidenced-based treatment primarily used for recovering from traumatic or distressing experiences, as well as anxiety or phobias. EMDR can be used regardless of when the experience occurred.
Therapy with me is…
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No matter what client I’m working with, being genuine, non-judgmental and empathetic, will always be present.
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I will meet you exactly where you are in life starting with our first session through our last. Whatever you bring into session, will always be our focus.
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I will use my best professional judgement to utilize strategies and techniques that I believe could be helpful to you and your journey. Though, we will spend plenty of time building a heartfelt relationship beforehand.
My Training & Education
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Master’s of Art, Counselor Education- 2018, Western Michigan University
Licensed Professional Counselor- State of Michigan #
6401223570
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Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) training, April, 2022
EMDR 5-day Basic training, April, 2024
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Northwest Michigan Peer Network, non-profit providing mental health resources for first responders, April 2022-Sept. 2024
Get in touch
You are more than your job.
Click this link to schedule a free, confidential consultation with me.