Conventional Therapists
and Mental Health Counselors
Paula Anderson, MSW, LCSW
Location: 804 Monroe Street La Porte, IN
Experience: Before joining Northern Indiana Therapies in March 2016, Paula enjoyed working with those in the mental health acute hospital setting. She has experience with children, adolescents, adults, elderly and residential clients focusing on stabilization, treatment planning, behavior management, individual and group therapy. Paula provides counseling services in our La Porte office.
Expertise/Special Interests: Paula has experience working with those battling addictions, people currently or formerly incarcerated, families, veterans, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She currently provides behavior management services using a variety of techniques and strategies. Paula enjoys spending time with her two teenage children, gardening and travel. She is a dog lover, especially bulldogs yet highly allergic to cats.
Amanda Benson, MS, LMHCA, ATR-BC
Location: 910 Michigan Ave La Porte, IN
Experience: Amanda has been working in Northwest Indiana for the past 8 years in both the school system and the assisted living/nursing home setting running individual and group art therapy sessions. In the school system, she worked with children with social, emotional, and/or intellectual disabilities ages 5-22 using art to build social skills, express themselves and practice problems solving skills among others. She also continues to run an art therapy group for seniors living in an assisted living setting. Amanda earned her Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from Huntington University and her Master’s degree in Art Therapy from Emporia State University.
Expertise/Special Interests: Amanda is a registered, board certified Art Therapist who enjoys the intersection of art and mental health. She uses a wide variety of art materials to help clients express thoughts and ideas that otherwise may be difficult to do with other modalities alone. Art making is not something only children can do and it does have intrinsic value in understanding one’s thoughts and feelings. While she can work with clients in many different mediums, she prefers to work in clay, both wheel throwing and sculptural, as well as fiber arts such as weaving, fiber dyeing and knitting in her spare time.
Melissa Kuczmanski, MS, LSC, LMHCA
Location: 910 Michigan Ave La Porte, IN
Experience: Melissa has served the local area in various human service roles over the past 33 years. She has worked with all ages and populations, with the most years (25) as a licensed school counselor where she has worked with students K-12. Her experience has spanned a variety of social-emotional challenges, giving her a range of experience. Melissa works with children and adults in the La Porte office where in person or virtual therapy sessions are offered.
Expertise/Special Interests: Melissa uses multiple modes of therapy, some of which include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Person Centered Therapy, Reality Therapy, Internal Family Systems Therapy and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy. Some areas of focus for her are chronic illness, bereavement, and middle to older-adult challenges. Melissa meets clients where they are to determine which mode of therapy would serve the client in order to achieve the very best outcomes.
Robert Owens, MA, LMHC, CSAYC
Location: 910 Michigan Ave La Porte, IN
Experience: Bob in various services over his 10+ year career. He started out as a Support Coordinator in Northern Georgia where he supported and advocated for individuals with intellectual disabilities. He has also worked in several evidenced-based models, including Multi-Systemic Therapy, Family-Centered Therapy, and the Matrix Model for substance abuse. He works with children and adults. Bob provides counseling services in our La Porte office.
Expertise/Special Interests: Bob is trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Family Structural Therapy, Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, and in Person-Centered Planning, and focuses on problem-solving, understanding behavioral issues, and is very solution-focused in his approach.
Glenn Silver, LSW
Service Areas: Lake, Porter, and La Porte Counties and 910 Michigan Ave La Porte, IN
Experience: Glenn has worked in mental health services in Northwest Indiana since 2003. He has worked with individuals who have severe mental illness, intellectual and emotional challenges, substance addictions, criminal histories, and with veterans. Glenn obtained his MSW from Indiana University South Bend. He also provides mental health counseling.
Expertise/Special Interests: Glenn is experienced in behavioral, cognitive behavioral, motivational, client centered, and mindfulness approaches. Special interests include working with individuals who have intellectual disabilities, relationship problems, depression, and anxiety, as well as veterans, people with substance and legal problems, and those recovering from heart attacks.