PAST-PRESIDENT

Dr. Lindsey Blodgett will serve as MCA Past-President from July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026.

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, and is the Executive Clinical Director of Leadlight Counseling based in West Michigan.

Dr. Blodgett specializes in working with 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.

PRESIDENT

Susan Stendel will serve as President from July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2027

Susan Stendel completed her Master of Counseling Education/Psychology from Western Michigan University and her Bachelor of Science in Community Development from Central Michigan University. She holds licensure as a professional counselor and supervisor in the State of Michigan. Currently, she serves as a Mental Health Supervisor for 13 school-based health clinics at District Health Department #10. She is a certified trauma therapist

Susan has over 25 years experience working with children, adolescents and their families. Over the years, she has worked with diverse cultural populations and a wide range of diagnostic challenges including anxiety, depression, ADHD, ODD, mood disorders, crisis, abuse and trauma.

Susan is excited to serve on the governing board of MCA and is looking forward to uniting counselors to serve the people of Michigan. When it comes to health, Susan believes in the whole person approach and there should be parity and equity in our health systems.

Susan lives in Mt. Pleasant, MI. She enjoys traveling with her husband, kayaking and snowshoeing.

Treasurer

Dr. VanBemmelen is a licensed professional counselor in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She recently 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/backpack around the U.S.

SECRETARY

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.