Jason and Mikaela
About Us
Guidance for Growing is a dream come true for us — quite literally!
When we met in 2003, we spent many hours talking about a future in which we would work together, blending our passions for healthy living and helping people. Coming from experience in the human services, bodywork, and mental health fields, we knew that most traditional practices were missing an important connection between physical body and emotional well-being. Additionally, much of the wellness advice out there is contradictory, confusing, and overwhelming — no wonder people aren’t sure how or where or when to start making changes.
Because it’s clear to us that lifestyle choices effect mental health, we were frustrated about people being treated for anxiety, depression, and stress without consideration or conversation regarding the role of nutrition and activity in their lives. Likewise, how could people with near-constant weight struggles not be asked about the state of their relationships, careers and overall happiness?
Thus, a dream was born: To build an integrative wellness practice designed to look at every aspect of one’s life, support personal growth, and leverage individual strengths for long-lasting change.
To make this dream a reality, we cultivated our individual passions over the next several years. Jason, already in the substance abuse and mental health field with certifications in addictions, gambling and criminal justice, continued his training and education to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), and personal trainer. Mikaela, with a background in human services, communications, and massage therapy and bodywork, directed her studies on nutrition and counseling to become a board-certified Health Counselor (CHC-AADP). Our skills and areas of expertise compliment each other, and we’re beyond thrilled to be working with the individuals and families right here in our hometown. Life is good!
We now work with our clients to identify goals, natural strengths and motivations, and then develop customized programs for health, wellness and recovery. We provide services and signature programs for:
- Health counseling
- Lifestyle, food & diet coaching
- Fitness & exercise training
- Group programs & workshops
- Alcohol & other drug therapy
- Gambling therapy
- Education, prevention & intervention
- Mental health therapy
Living your best life happens one step at a time. We provide those steps with accessible services and attainable goals that allow individuals to live the lives they’ve dreamed of. We look forward to meeting you soon!
In wellness,
Jason & Mikaela
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Professional affiliations
We are professionally verified by Psychology Today:
Additionally, Guidance for Growing is a proud member of the following professional groups (click to visit their websites):
