At the core of any approach I take to helping people is my belief that we are happiest, healthiest, and strongest when we live lives that we choose rather than lives that are chosen for us. When we act based on our own chosen values, rather than reacting to or being driven by shame, grief, depression, abuse, trauma, addiction, compulsion, or anything else, we experience hope and healing, authenticity and growth.
As a behavioral medicine specialist for more than twenty years I had the joy and privilege of meeting with and helping thousands of patients who were hurting, afraid, and unsure about what to expect as they sought help. I took great satisfaction from making so many diverse and hurting people feel safe, welcomed, accepted, and understood. I worked with patients suffering with chronic pain, chronic illness (diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and many other conditions), obesity, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, trauma, abuse, addictions, shame, grief and loss, relationship distress, and compulsive hoarding and acquiring.
A large part of my past work experience involved assessing, preparing (teaching and counseling), and supporting thousands of patients who were going through the process of seeking bariatric (weight loss) surgery, including Roux-en-Y, vertical sleeve gastrectomy, and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding, as well as a host of lesser known procedures and revisions. I have extensive expertise working with these populations to “get on track, get back on track, or stay on track.”
I am trained and experienced in working with teens through adults, with limited exposure to working with children. The majority of my work is with individual adults, groups, and couples. I am trained in and use a variety of approaches therapeutically including various forms of CBT, interpersonal therapy, EMDR, DBT, Motivational Interviewing, ACT, and a variety of mindfulness and psychoeducational approaches to behavior change and emotional growth and healing. With couples I use a variety of assessment approaches, and elements of emotionally-focused, Gottman method, and tailored communication skills. Group interventions follow best practices for the focus of the group’s purpose, using various manualized approaches and a host of techniques gathered over twenty-plus years leading behavioral medicine treatment and education groups.
Now that I am entering full-time private practice in “retirement,” I am excited to have the chance to be a small part of the solution to the problem of affordable mental health care. For years I experienced the frustration of finding few mental health providers who were willing and able to help the many people I needed to refer out who required help but just couldn’t afford much and had little or no insurance coverage.
I accept all types of insurance that will “accept” me as a paneled provider, and any insurance contract that has “out-of-network” benefits. I am also able to bill a select number of other insurance carriers under another colleague with whom I have a consulting relationship (especially Medicare, which still excludes LPCs as of this writing). As insurance is a constantly changing landscape I always try to check benefits before beginning work with a new client. For fee-for-service and co-pays I accept payment on an ability to pay basis. I have an extensive, generous, and I believe very fair and thorough fee reduction/waiver process and policy that may make counseling affordable even for clients with high co-insurance or co-pay levels. For a limited number of clients I will accept a reduced fee through the Open Path Collective referral service ranging between thirty and fifty dollars.
In my practice at Alight Counseling PLLC each client receives the best possible care using the most effective treatment. I am committed to helping each client achieve insight, hope, and healing.
Richard P. Lieske MA MDiv LPC MITS Licensed Professional Counselor, Alight Counseling PLLC
(517) 292-2801 (private practice cell) | (855) 440-1552 (digital HIPAA compliant fax) | Psychological Diagnostic and Treatment Center, 3800 Heritage Ave., Suite A2, Okemos MI 48864 |
richardlieske@alightcounseling.net | https://www.alightcounseling.net | Google maps link: https://goo.gl/maps/iCmOn | Bing maps link: https://binged.it/2pwgQuk