| MICHIGAN COUNSELING ASSOCIATION |
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2023-2024 MCA Executive Board
President, Lindsey NB Blodgett, Ph.D., LPC
Dr. Lindsey NB Blodgett will serve as MCA President from July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2025.
Dr. Blodgett completed her Ph.D. in Counseling and Psychological Studies from Regent University in 2022. She holds licensure as a professional counselor and supervisor in the State of Michigan, serving as a Clinical Director and Psychotherapist at Mindful Counseling GR in the greater Grand Rapids area.
Dr. Blodgett specializes in working with adolescents and women. She has experience working with a range of issues including anxiety, self-harm, adjustment issues, depression, sexual trauma, grief and perinatal mood disorders. She believes in taking a holistic, relational and collaborative approach to the counseling process.
Her research interests include attachment theory, religious coping and religious struggle amidst life change and catastrophic loss.
She is excited and humbled to serve counselors in Michigan. As she has gotten further into her career, she has found joy in helping to equip and invest in counselors in the various seasons of their career. With the ever-increasing need for clinicians to respond to the mental health needs in our state, she is excited to serve counselors in Michigan to continue to sustainably meet this need.
Dr. Blodgett lives near Grand Rapids, MI, with her spouse and three children. She has twin two-year-olds and a newborn who joined the family in December 2022. When she’s not wrangling children she is probably dreaming about her flower garden.
Secretary - Kayla Thrushman, MA, LPC
Kayla is a Licensed Professional Counselor and serves as an Art Therapist at WillowsEdge Counseling & Healing Arts Center in Oakland County. WillowsEdge is private practice providing over 5,000 sessions/year, with over 300 active clients spread over two locations. Their outreach covers approximately six other townships and we have developed a strong referral base with local schools, shelters, and other health practitioners.
Kayla currently specialize in children and adolescent populations, anxiety, depressive disorders, and other mood disorders. She utilizes art therapy as an expressive therapeutic tool with many of her clients. She has over 12 years of experience working with individuals with autism and their families. In 2014, Kayla developed a counseling and art therapy program at Crossroads for Youth; a nonprofit treatment agency, serving at least 60 at-risk adolescents. Having lost many friends and classmates to suicide, Kayla is passionate about helping children and adolescents experiencing anxiety and depression in order to prevent continuous mental health issues in future generations to come.
Secretary-Elect - Shadin Atiyeh Ph.D. LPC NCC ACS CCC CRC
Dr. Atiyeh is Assistant Professor within the Counselor Education Department at Wayne State University’s College of Education. She teaches Career Counseling & Employment Strategies, Psychopathology & Diagnosis, Rehabilitation Counseling Roles, and other master’s level counseling courses. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Michigan, a National Certified Counselor, Approved Clinical Supervisor, Certified Career Counselor, Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, and a certified EMDR therapist. She holds a Ph.D. in Counselor Education & Supervision from Walden University, a Master’s in Community Counseling from Eastern Michigan University, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan in both Psychology and Arab Studies. She has experience working in various community agencies serving survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, immigrants and refugees, families experiencing homelessness, and child survivors of abuse and neglect. Dr. Atiyeh utilizes qualitative research methods to investigate culturally responsive mental health interventions for refugee and Arab American communities. Her research focuses on 1) Counselors’ cultural competency to serve refugee and Arab American communities in mental health and career counseling, 2) indigenous wellness practices among Arab and Middle Eastern communities, and 3) interpretation practices in mental health care..jpg)
Treasurer- Kim Seid, MS, LPC, CAADC, CCTP, CCS, ACS
Kim is a licensed professional counselor, board-certified addiction counselor and clinical supervisor, and an approved clinical supervisor in Macomb County, Michigan. She completed her master's degree in Clinical and Counseling Psychology and is now working on her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision at Walden University. While developing her dissertation idea, Kim wants to examine the effectiveness of ecotherapy in early recovery.
Kim is one of the Outpatient Program Leaders at Sacred Heart Rehabilitation Center and enjoys working with other professionals and advocating for those in need. While Kim works with various issues, she specializes in trauma, anxiety, and substance abuse. She is also certified to supervise both addiction and professional counselors. Kim believes in taking a strengths-based and holistic approach using an integrated meld based on a person's best interest.
When not focused on work or school, Kim enjoys spending time with her loved ones, spending time outdoors, traveling, and building her photography business in her free time. She is excited to work with the Michigan Counseling Association to advocate for her fellow counselors.
Treasurer-Elect, Ashley VanBemmelen, Ph.D., LPC, NCC
Dr. VanBemmelen is a licensed professional counselor in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She completed her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision at Regent University. Dr. VanBemmelen examined the relationship between racial identity and the broaching behaviors of counselors for her dissertation. Her research interests include multicultural skill development in counselors, relational cultural therapy, therapeutic models for trauma counseling, and the use of advocacy as a counselor skill.
After Dr. VanBemmelen completed her masters degree at Western Michigan University, she started interning at the local YWCA and eventually began working in a group practice. She specialize in working with young adults and clients who have experienced trauma. She conceptualize clients from a relational cultural perspective and works to advocate on behalf of and alongside the client's she serves. Dr. VanBemmelen has a passion for social justice advocacy in her practice, supervision, and teaching.
Dr. VanBemmelen is excited to serve the Michigan Counseling Association and looks forward to connecting with new and current members. On a more personal note – she loves espresso, snowbirds in Florida each year, and frequently plan vacations to hike around the U.S.
MCA Committee Chairs
Technology – Caroline Ray, MA, LPC, NCC
Membership - Kimberly Seid LPC, CCTP, CAADC, DP-CCS
Strategic Direction - Ashley VanBemmelen, Ph.D., LPC, NCC
By-laws/Policy & Procedure - Kayla Thrushman, MA, LPC
Call for Committee Chairs & Members
MCA is currently seeking dynamic leaders to serve as chairs and members for the committees listed below! If you are interested in filling a leadership position with MCA, please, email michigancounselingassociation@gmail.com for more information.
- By-laws/Policy & Procedure
- Events
- Membership
- Nominations and Elections
- Professional Development
- Public Policy and Legislation
- Publication
- Strategic Direction
- Technology