Best Addiction & Substance Abuse Counselors in Lake Charles, LA

Hello! I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Louisiana, as well as a Nationally Certified Counselor. I jumped right into the field of counseling after graduating with my undergraduate degree in Psychology. I would say I am able to see the counseling perspective from different viewpoints due to my various positions. My first position in the field was as an Intake Coordinator, which is where you first gather information on a client and get a feel as to which therapist would help to meet their needs. When I started graduate school, I began to see clients in individual and group settings. I am a person who likes a challenge, so I became certified in Anger Management and Substance Abuse. I thoroughly enjoy both mental health and substance abuse. I have now been practicing for 7 years but I have been in this field for 10. I am very passionate about couples, women's issues and adolescents. I would say my main two approaches I use the most is Humanistic and Cognitive Behavioral. I will always try to meet my client where they are at currently, but that does not mean I will not be direct in helping them move forward. I have been told often by clients that I am very direct and that is what keeps them coming back to see me. So, I am ready to help you, the client, tackling the issues you are facing today, in the past, and any future issues. Looking forward to working on these goals!

I am licensed in Louisiana with 15 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, coping with addictions, trauma and abuse, & motivation, self esteem, and confidence. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started!

Hello and welcome! My name is Kelli Means and my pronouns are she/her/hers. I am a licensed independent mental health practitioner (LIMHP) and licensed alcohol and drug counselor (LADC) in the state of Nebraska and a licensed professional counselor (LPC) in the state of South Dakota. In 2019 I earned certification as a Certified Clinical Trauma Therapist and have maintained this certification with ongoing education in the trauma field. I earned my Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Nebraska Wesleyan University in 2011 and my Masters of Science from Wayne State College in Community Mental Health Counseling in 2015. I have worked in the mental health field for 10 years and the past 6 years have been as a mental health and addictions therapist at non-profit agencies that work with state funding and/or sliding fee scales. I have worked in a variety of settings, including an inpatient psychiatric unit while attending my master's program, outpatient therapy, school-based therapy, and residential drug and alcohol treatment. I have found that my heart is truly in working with patients who have limited resources to meet their needs. While I have experience with children and adolescents, most of my experience has been working with adults. As a provider, I have worked with patients with a range of diagnoses and stressors, including (but not limited to): depression, anxiety, panic/panic attacks, schizophrenia (including first psychotic episodes), bipolar disorder, personality disorders, PTSD and trauma, LGBT+, grief/loss, relationships, sex trafficking, self-esteem, domestic violence, alcohol and other drug addictions, and dissociations. My counseling style is welcoming and conversational. I am known for being upfront and honest always and blunt when needed, though I tailor my approach to meet each individual's needs. My therapeutic approach combines Person-Centered, Reality Therapy, Solution-Focused therapist, Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive-Behavioral, Dialectical Behavioral, and Somatic therapy depending on what you want or need. My job will never be to fix you or change you. I believe all my clients are people first and more than the sum of their symptoms or their diagnosis. My most significant job as a therapist is to understand who you are and build trust with you; if you don't trust your therapist, you aren't likely to tell them much, and if you don't tell them much, you won't get much work done. My hope is to teach you to cope on your own and learn to be assertive with what you want or need in life. You are in control of your life and ability to make changes, I am merely a guide to help you when you are lost or uncertain. I look forward to meeting you and starting this journey with you!