Therapist Spotlight – Mackenzie Sullivan

Mackenzie earned her Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Purdue University Northwest in Hammond, IN. She received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Minored in Child and Family Development and Communications from Missouri State University in 2015. Mackenzie enjoys working with a variety of clients and presenting problems, she has experience with children, adolescents, families, adults, and couples.

She is skilled at finding the best methods and interventions that meet her clients’ needs because everyone is different and it is important to find a good fit. Mackenzie addresses issues from a systemic lens, which is working to understand relationship patterns and dynamics above the individual level that may influence the problem. She works to help support not just the individual, but the whole family. Mackenzie utilizes Solution-Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotional-Focused Therapy, and play/experiential therapy to help her clients achieve their goals. She is specially trained in Gottman Method Couples Therapy.

She provides services pertaining to depression, anxiety, mood disorders, trauma, stress, gender identity/sexuality issues, and low self-esteem. Specifically, with children, she has tools to work with impulsivity, emotional regulation and expression, anger and distress tolerance. Mackenzie works to empower parents and families to adopt these skills and continuously work on them within and outside of therapy. She believes collaboration is crucial with helping make progress, so she encourages working with parents, schools/teachers, and other community aspects.

Mackenzie helps adults and couples with a variety of issues related to relationship distress or enrichment in dating, premarital, long-term and married couples as well as individuals with life stressors or issues. She assists them by understanding and advancing relationships dynamics, addressing negative interaction behaviors, and creating tools for healthy communication and advanced intimacy. Mackenzie focuses on intimacy issues, infidelity, family of origin problems, conflict resolution, and parenting conflicts.

Mackenzie is a caring and compassionate therapist that meets clients where they are at and works with them to achieve their intended goals. She believes that therapy is about self-awareness, personal growth, and creating a supportive environment for change. Mackenzie is very driven to maintain her own self-care and influences clients to do the same. When she is out of the office she enjoys bike riding, hiking, crafting, and spending time with her friends and family.