Interns at 36555 26 Mile Rd, Lenox Michigan - Suite 3700
Kacy Rossi, Clinical Mental Health Counseling Intern
Taking the first step into therapy is a meaningful move toward healing, growth, and resilience. I believe therapy should be a safe, supportive, and collaborative space where you feel empowered to explore difficult emotions and experiences at your own pace. My goal is to meet you with kindness and genuine care for your story and to walk alongside you as you work toward the positive changes that you want in your life.
I support individuals moving through life transitions, coping with anxiety or depression, navigating self-esteem issues, processing grief and loss, and healing from trauma. Together, we discover inner strengths, build resilience, and embrace an authentic and fulfilling life. My approach to counseling is primarily person-centered, believing that everyone has the capacity for self-understanding and growth. I also integrate evidence-based strategies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), solution-focused therapy, and strength-based approaches, helping you build on your strengths and achieve meaningful, lasting change.
I am currently pursing my Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Central Michigan University and provide counseling services as a clinical intern at Tree of Life Counseling under supervision.
Office Location: I hold in-person appointments out of our Lenox and Rochester office as well as telehealth appointments.
Contact: You can email me directly at kacy@treeoflifecounselingservices.com to schedule an appointment or call our main office at (248) 608-4514.
Rachel Smith, Clinical Mental Health Counseling Intern
As a practicum student and clinical intern at Tree of Life Counseling Services I approach counseling with curiosity, compassion, and respect for the complexity of each person’s lived experience. I am currently completing my master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling through Saybrook University. My background is rooted in holistic healthcare, philosophy, and hands-on experience within the mental health field.
My approach to counseling is integrative, trauma-informed, and inclusive of mind, body, and spirit within a biopsychosocial-spiritual framework. Grounded in Person-Centered and Existential-Humanistic theory, my approach emphasizes collaboration, authenticity, and shared humanity. I view counseling as a partnership between equals. Clients are honored as the experts of their own lives, and I bring clinical training and an authentic caring presence. I believe counseling can be a supportive and beneficial part of regular self-care for people at all stages of life. I am trained in Motivational Interviewing and value evidence-based approaches. I draw upon mindfulness-based interventions, somatic approaches, parts work, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Transpersonal Psychology, and Jungian Depth Psychology.
I enjoy working with individuals from many walks of life. I am passionate about working with individuals navigating end of life, grief, stress, trauma, PTSD, anxiety, life transitions, women’s issues, and spiritual or existential concerns. I also enjoy supporting those who are on a path of self-exploration and continued personal growth.
I am happy to answer any questions you may have as you work to find a therapist who feels like a good fit for you. I look forward to collaborating with you in support of your growth and well-being.
Office Location: Rachel holds in-person appointments out of our Lenox office as well as telehealth appointments.
To schedule an appointment or discuss how we might work together, please reach out via email at rachelsmith@treeoflifecounselingservices.com or contact Tree of Life's main office at (248) 608-4514.
Christian Wright, Clinical Mental Health Counseling Intern
I come to counseling with a background in healing arts, life coaching, and care management, along with undergraduate studies in psychology. I am currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Saybrook University and am a practicum student at Tree of Life Counseling Services in Lenox, Michigan.
My experience in case management and care coordination has shaped a grounded, systems aware approach to therapy, helping me understand how external stressors, life circumstances, and larger systems impact emotional wellbeing. I take an integrative, holistic, trauma-informed, and person-centered approach to counseling, grounded in the belief that meaningful change emerges through compassion, curiosity, and collaboration.
I am trained in Motivational Interviewing and integrate mindfulness, somatic awareness, and strength-based practices to support clients navigating life transitions, identity exploration, anxiety, stress, and personal growth. I often work with individuals who feel internally conflicted, disconnected from their sense of direction, or caught between who they have been and who they are becoming.
I value evidence-based approaches, including CBT and DBT. I am drawn to depth-oriented frameworks such as Jungian Psychology and Internal Family Systems, which honor the role of meaning, inner parts, and unconscious patterns in healing. I strive to create a therapeutic space that feels steady, non-judgmental, and collaborative, where clients can explore at their own pace without pressure to force change. I am passionate about helping individuals reconnect with their values, develop self-trust, and move toward lives that feel authentic, grounded, and aligned.
Office Location: Christian holds in-person appointments out of our Lenox office as well as telehealth appointments.
Contact: You can email Christian directly at christian@treeoflifecounselingservices.com to schedule an appointment or call our main office at (248) 608-4514.
Rachael Tavano, Clinical Mental Health Counseling Intern
Regardless of whether you are feeling depressed or anxious, going through an extremely tough transition in life, or just need someone to talk to, everyone deserves the chance to be seen and heard in their lives. If you are looking to offload some of that struggle in life, sit down, and talk with someone who can help, then you have found the right place. I have worked with those with many different mental health challenges, personal traumas, and difficult life transitions and I would love nothing more than to work with you too. Together, we can find a way to work through these struggles and discover where the grass is greener.
I am currently an internship student and am completing my master’s degree through Central Michigan University’s Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. I also completed my bachelor’s in psychology at Central Michigan University as well. I hope to cultivate an environment for people of all backgrounds and cultures to collaborate with me on discovering how they can better cope with their lives and mental health. Using theoretical orientations such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Person-Centered Therapy, and Psychoanalytic Therapy, I try to create an atmosphere of self-discovery, psychoeducation, and personal growth. I endeavor to make this therapeutic atmosphere something that is comfortable and inspiring for every client, and I look forward to collaborating with you on your betterment and growth.
Office Location: Rachael holds in-person appointments out of our Lenox and Clinton Township offices as well as telehealth appointments.
You can email Rachael directly at rachaelt@treeoflifecounselingservices.com to schedule an appointment.
Browse for 36555 26 Mile Rd, Lenox, MI - Suite 3700
Ashley Kotowski-Clayton MA, LPC, CAADC
Accepting that anxiousness, depression, strained relationships, or substance use have gotten in the way of living the life you want can be overwhelming and finding the help you deserve can be challenging. As a therapist, it is my goal to provide a safe and open environment for you to feel empowered to overcome the struggles you are encountering. I’m a licensed professional counselor with a masters in clinical mental health counseling. Additionally, I am a Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CAADC). I have extensive experience working with individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, substance use, relationship issues, life transitions, and trauma. I work primarily with older adolescents (16+) and adults. You can expect me to use eclectic therapeutic techniques, specifically chosen for your needs. However, I primarily use cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and solution focused therapy. My therapeutic approach will always revolve around the therapeutic alliance and the client's needs. I understand that finding the right therapist can be difficult and establishing a therapeutic alliance is important. Reaching out and making the connection is the first step. Please contact me if you have any questions about appointments or my practice.
Office Location: Ashley holds in-person appointments out of our Lenox and Rochester offices as well as telehealth appointments.
You can email Ashley directly at ashley@treeoflifecounselingservices.com to schedule an appointment.
Maryss Thompson MA, LLC
Joining therapy starts a journey toward finding the person you want to become. I believe you are the expert in your own life and together we can collaborate to reach your goals. Starting something new can be overwhelming and nerve-wracking at times. I am here to ease your concerns and hold a safe space for open communication about life’s difficulties. I strive to make the therapeutic space a fun environment for us to work on some difficult subjects. We are all humans trying our best. Let’s work toward making you the best version of yourself.
My interest lies in helping individuals with different backgrounds and experiences. I see adolescents and adults dealing with many different mental health concerns. All cultures and LGBTQIA+ individuals are welcome. I use an integrative approach in my practice to form the session's techniques toward the client’s needs. These approaches include but are not limited to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), person-centered, mindfulness, multicultural counseling, and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT).
I am a Limited Licensed Counselor (LLC) and received a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree from Oakland University. Prior to obtaining my MA, I received an undergraduate degree from Oakland University in Psychology.
When you’re ready let's talk.
Office Location: Maryss holds in-person appointments out of our Lenox office as well as telehealth appointments.
Email maryss@treeoflifecounselingservices.com to schedule an appointment directly with Maryss.
Zekeyra Phillips MA, LPC, EMDR-T
Stories are ways that we connect with our desires. They are opportunities for us to escape our current reality and immerse ourselves into an alternative one with various genres—adventure, romance, fantasy, you name it. However, life is not as simple as a storybook; there is no linear storyline, no frivolous love interest, no secret ingredient to success, and definitely not as predictable as we’d like it to be. Luckily, we are not books. We are much more fluid—we can change the narrative whenever, wherever, or however we would like. When it really comes down to it, we are the author of our own stories. It is up to us to move in a way that will make or break our future.
When we choose ourselves, we choose peace, love, vulnerability, and growth.
I graduated with my Bachelor’s in Psychology from Michigan State University and in the future I will receive my master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Wayne State University. As both my studies and my experiences with clients have taught me, we are the expert of ourselves. We cannot control what happens to us, but we can control how we react to it. By doing this, we then can take charge of the direction that we want our stories to go in. Narrative therapy is a therapeutic technique that I am drawn to because it separates the person from the problem. I believe that our problems do not define us, rather it divines us. Certain events that happen “to” us actually happens for us so that we can gain a lesson, perspective, and growth from then on. What truly defines us is how we go about making the most of what we learn during our experiences in life. I believe that therapy should be a collaborative effort between the client and the therapist. Therapy should not “fix” a person—we are not construction projects. Rather, we are all souls trying to find our way back to ourselves. As the therapist, I will provide my clients with the skills necessary to find their way.
Therapy should be a safe space to express the deepest and most vulnerable parts of ourselves and I will make it my mission to ensure that anyone who walks into my office is given the chance to express themselves freely and privately. With my help, I have hope that anyone who chooses to work with me can change the narrative.
Office Location: Zekeyra holds in-person appointments out of our Lenox office as well as telehealth appointments.
Email zekeyra@treeoflifecounselingservices.com to schedule an appointment directly with Zekeyra.
Colleen Williams, MA, LPC, EMDR-T
Counseling Philosophy:
For most people it can be challenging to seek help, and I applaud anyone reading this for doing so. I believe that we all need someone in our lives to talk to and connect with. Having an outside unbiased perspective into your world view makes for an eye-opening experience. This insight can not only allow you to gain deeper understanding into your own self, but also can make you feel seen and heard. I strive to provide a compassionate, respectful and supportive space for everyone to feel safe and comfortable. Mental health is incredibly important and having open dialogue where you can share your thoughts and feelings openly is pivotal.
Counseling Orientation:
I like to meet each client with where they're at by using a collaborative approach with the client as the expert in themselves. Everyone has different needs and areas they'd like to work on, and I will often combine different therapeutic theories in order to best serve my clients, so that they feel empowered to utilize effective coping strategies. Not every theory or strategy is going to work for every person, so tailoring my approach to suit your needs is my goal. The counseling approaches I enjoy include Motivational Interviewing, Mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioral, Gestalt, Humanistic, Narrative, and Multicultural counseling.
Areas of Specialty:
I work with adults individually from all backgrounds. I enjoy collaborating with clients on creating goals for working on issues such as generalized anxiety, relationship issues, self-esteem issues, codependency, adjustment issues, and grief and loss. I am a proud ally of the LGBTQIA+ community and welcome everyone from all walks of life.
Qualifications:
I am a Limited Licensed Counselor (LLC) and received my Master of Arts in Counseling degree from Oakland University. I completed multiple internships in a wide variety of settings, including Gilda's Club in Royal Oak, which is a nonprofit support community focused on helping those battling cancer, in remission, and loved ones that have been impacted by cancer. I completed my school counseling internships in two middle schools, and one of them housed fourth through eighth grade. In addition to my LLC, I have my School Counselor License and understand the stress that goes on in a school.
Throughout my graduate program I worked as a graduate assistant in a career counseling setting, focused on helping traditional college students, non-traditional students, and alumni with resumes, interviewing, job search, and more.
Throughout my counseling practicum course, I had the opportunity to work with adults on various issues such as generalized anxiety, anorexia, depression, grief and loss, and vulnerable narcissism.
Office Location:
Colleen holds in-person appointments out of our Lenox location as well as telehealth appointments.
Email colleen@treeoflifecounselingservices.com to schedule an appointment with Colleen or call our main office at (248)-608-4514.
Jordyn Adams, MA, LLC
Counseling Philosophy:
The decision to seek therapy can be daunting. My goal is to provide a safe, welcoming, and non-judgmental environment for everyone who steps into my office. Collaboration and the understanding that everyone has experiences and perspectives that shape who they are as individuals are core aspects of my counseling philosophy. I aim to support and empower each client, helping them develop strategies for overcoming life struggles and distress while enhancing their strengths.
Counseling Orientation:
I frequently utilize a person-centered approach coupled with Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. I also use dialectical-behavioral techniques and strength-based approaches. Ultimately, my therapeutic approach will be determined by the client’s needs.
Areas of Specialty:
I have experience working with individuals coping with depression, anxiety, and various life transitions. I primarily work with older adolescents and adults.
Qualifications:
I am a Limited Licensed Counselor who is practicing under the supervision of a Licensed Professional Counselor. I graduated with my master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Oakland University in December 2022. Prior to obtaining my MA, I received undergraduate degrees from Oakland University in Psychology and Sociology. I am a part of Chi Sigma Iota, a professional and educational honor society. In addition, I am also a member of the American Counseling Association (ACA).
Office Location: Jordyn holds in-person appointments out of our Lenox office as well as telehealth appointments.
To schedule with me directly please email me at jordyn@treeoflifecounselingservices.com or call the main office line at (248) 608-4514.