Vicky Van Gorder, MA, TLLP
Temporary Limited Licensed Psychologist
Vicky has a unique and diverse background; having her Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology from Moody Theological Seminary, Michigan along with a BA in General Business from MSU. She has a temporary limited license which expires Nov. 2012.
Vicky has extensive experience leading therapeutic and treatment-oriented small groups in various settings including inside the women’s prison, working with intensive outpatients struggling with substance abuse, and residential treatment programs for “life challenges”. What she found in these rehabilitative settings is that a common thread that goes throughout women’s and men’s issues is ABUSE, both domestic and sexual. After her training at First Step, Wayne County’s Domestic Violence program and widespread research-- she wrote her Master Thesis on the topic of “Domestic Violence in Christian Marriages”. Subsequently, Ms. Van Gorder is a knowledgeable resource in this area.
Works With
Vicky specializes in mid and geriatric seasons of life (especially for those from the Baby-Boomer, Veteran and Cusper Generations). Being married to her husband for almost 35 yrs, she has two grown children and has experience with elderly parent issues such as: reconciliation, boundaries, critical illness, dementia, nursing home and in-home care, grief, death and other adjustments in life. Need for Self-Care and Stress Management for Caregivers is an area that is affecting mid-life marriages today. It is critical to learn how to make deposits to our “Love Bank”-- which is usually on empty resulting in burn-out.
Vicky often uses assessments such as: Love Languages, True Colors, MMPI-2, The Emotional Needs Inventory and the Beck Depression Inventory, to assist her clients in gaining insight and knowledge about themselves and others. She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and REBT to treat clients teaching them new coping skills to manage: anger, shame, fear, conflict, co-dependency, boundaries, and negative self-talk.
Vicky integrates her experience with her education and theology, to help the community and the church to health and wholeness---finding hope in Christ one relationship, one precious life at a time.
