Haelan Counseling Center

Marc T. Milhander Ph.D.

Clinical Psychology
Director

After a university-based career at Kansas State University, the University of Notre Dame, and Indiana University, Dr. Milhander founded a group private practice, the Haelan Counseling Center. The Haelan Center is a free-standing counseling and psychological services center located in the Greater Michiana Healing Arts Center, which integrates East/West holistic health approaches.

Dr. Milhander was traditionally trained in psychoanalytic self-psychology in a diverse, vibrant southern California culture. He had the benefit of positive pre and postdoctoral mentoring experiences with talented faculty from the UCLA Neuro-Psychiatric Institute (NPI), the Los Angeles Institute and Society for Psychoanalytic Studies, the Menninger Foundation, and the CG Jung Institute of Chicago.

At the Haelan Center, numerous counseling and psychotherapy methods are provided by a multidisciplinary staff of fully licensed mental health professionals. The center offers comprehensive testing and evaluation services, as well as expertise in areas like Sport/Fitness/Health Psychology, Mediation, and a range of Forensic and Precision Psychopharmacology Consultation Services. Telemedicine Services and Supervision for trainees are also available.

Dr. Milhander is a Licensed Psychologist in Michigan, Hawaii, and Florida.

Andrea Bontrager

MA, LCSW, LMSW

Andrea Joan Bontrager, MA,LCSW,LMSW, has a keen interest in assisting adults, families and children in reaching their mental health and healing goals. No matter what you are experiencing – depression, anxiety, trauma, behavior issues, heartache, conflict, relationship issues, uncertainty, indecision, fear, loss/grief, wounds from the past – she will meet you where you are on your journey, and assist you in getting to where you wish to be in a spirit of hope, encouragement and possibility.

Andrea's therapeutic style includes mixed methods and an adaptive approach utilizing client-centered aspects of Mindfulness, Brief-Solution Focused Therapy, Family Systems, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Play Therapy, Conflict Transformation, Mediation, Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), EMDR and Clinical Hypnotherapy, depending on your needs and the goals you identify. A graduate of the University of Kansas, SIT Graduate Institute and Colorado State University, she is certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT), and has completed extensive training in EMDR and Neurologic Music Therapy. With more than a decade of employment as a mental health therapist, she has been nominated for awards such as “values in action” and “clinical excellence.” She is a returned Peace Corps volunteer (2005-2007, RPCV, Thailand).

In her free time, she loves to travel, garden/grow plants, spend time in nature (forests and beaches!), play piano,guitar, drums; sing and listen to music of all sorts, practice mindful movement, throw clay, farm, follow whimsy, explore curiosities, visit and spend time with family and friends, and cuddle with her beloved 4-leggeds.

Marilyn Draper

LMSW

Hello, my name is Marilyn Draper, I have been a practicing mental health therapist since 2004, having graduated with a Masters in Social Work from Michigan State University. I specialize in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) therapy, but also utilize supportive therapy, interpersonal therapy, behavior modification therapy and DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy).

I have experience treating anxiety, OCD, PTSD, depression, bipolar and personality disorders. I also enjoy working with couples, focusing on improving communication, interaction and intimacy. My clients have had much success utilizing EMDR to treat PTSD, OCD, anxiety and depression.

My personality is compassionate and open minded, I recognize and accept that we all have struggles and challenges in our lives and, at times, need guidance, direction and/or assistance to become healthier versions of ourselves.

I believe that each person is their own best healer and I am grateful for the opportunity to illuminate the path for inner healing and journey work. Often, my work with clients centers around cultivating self-love, which is often lacking due to past trauma and negative self beliefs.

Yerling Ruedinger-Quispe

LLMSW

My name is Yerling Ruedinger-Quispe, LLMSW. I am a graduate of Southern University in Tennessee, where I received my Master of Social Work. I have been a practicing mental health therapist for three years, and have five years of experience working as a case manager and skill trainer at a psychiatric center.

I practice Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Behavior Modification Therapy, Music Therapy, Art Therapy, Play Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Mindfulness and Meditation with individuals and groups. I am especially passionate about working with family systems.

I enjoy spending my free time with my family traveling, exploring nature and the world around us, appreciating art and music, and experiencing food from around the world.

Michele Fanfair-Steury

LLMSW

Michele Fanfair-Steury, LLMSW, MSW, TRS a graduate of Eastern Michigan University and Indiana University South Bend with a Masters in Social work, I am looking to give support to people who are exploring growing into their best emotional self, working at having healthy relationships with others, and carefronting trauma. My therapeutic process begins with over 30 years of experience in the field of recreational therapy and the belief that each individual embodies their own strengths for self-healing. My education and experience have led me to working with people with intellectual and physical disabilities, working with those who are aging and their adult children who are in the aging process, mental challenges and those who are exceptional achievers.

I hold a place in my heart to walk beside those who are grieving due to a death and/or loss of employment, business, or life changes. I work with children, adults, individuals, couples, partners, and I am LGBTQIA+ affirmative. I utilize a person-centered approach with the belief that we are all the masters of our own journey. I use tools such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, mindfulness, creative play, and art to assist on that path to overcoming anxiety, depression and asking for what we need.

In my free time I enjoy cheering on my children, and spending time with family, creating things from junk, creating wearable art, Zumba, yoga, and the warmth of the beach.

Emma Sampson

LLMSW

I was influenced by my own experience in therapy and decided to further my education to become a therapist to help others and to further push our society to demolish the stigma around mental health. I am a truly dedicated licensed social worker on the road to being clinically licensed who values each human being for who they are and what they have endured throughout life. I strongly think those moments of our life are what make up our story and who we are. I have experience in adult recovery centers and in children’s community mental health. Both allowed me the capabilities to address substance use disorders, mood disorders, trauma informed care, attachment and anxiety disorders.

I am committed to utilizing an evidence-based approach in my work and ensuring my clients are comfortable.

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Play Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Meditation, Brief- Solution Focused Therapy, Mindfulness and Motivational Interviewing.

Sharon Everman

BA, Practice Manager