ONLINE THERAPY FOR GRAND RAPIDS & ACROSS MICHIGAN
Therapy for Trauma, Autism, and Relationship Issues in Grand Rapids
A safe, affirming virtual space for West Michigan adults navigating complex trauma, life transitions, and relationship boundaries.
Serving clients across Michigan. BCBS in-network.
Do any of these sound like you?
Composed
Isolated
Weary
Unheard
Living in an area where the pressure of "West Michigan Nice" demands constant politeness and traditional molds, it can feel incredibly isolating to struggle. When the unspoken rule around you is to maintain a composed, pleasant exterior, admitting that you feel stuck or anxious feels like a massive risk. Many of our clients carry the invisible weight of perfectionism or are navigating the profound loneliness of religious trauma and church deconstruction.
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Who We Work With
We work with adults untangling themselves from rigid theological frameworks, professionals carrying immense burnout, and late-diagnosed neurodivergent adults. We help you explore the parts of yourself shaped by religious or family systems, without pressure to defend what still holds meaning or abandon what no longer does.
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Why Virtual Care
Virtual therapy keeps your professional life and your personal life in separate rooms. In a city where social circles and professional networks heavily overlap, the waiting room matters. Virtual therapy means your neighbors don't need to know you're getting support.
“We talk about what has been making life hard and work with you to find the best options to make things feel more manageable.”
—Steven Gilpin, LMSW
HOW WE CAN HELP
Our Specialties
Real life rarely fits into neat categories, and neither do the lives of people we work with. Below are some of the areas we specialize in. Don’t worry if what you're carrying doesn't map perfectly onto any of these.
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Anxiety, Stress & Burnout
When anxiety, stress and overwhelm have become your default, something needs to change. Therapy is a place to start figuring out what's actually driving it, and work toward handling life with a little more room to breathe.
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Trauma & The Past
Past trauma has a way of showing up in daily life in ways we might not expect, including interactions with others and how you think about yourself. We can help you make sense of your history so it stops running the show.
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Neurodivergent Support
We tailor sessions for therapy for how your brain is actually wired, not against it. Whether you're navigating ADHD, Autism, or a late diagnosis, you don't have to mask, overexplain, justify, or perform. Just show up as you are.
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LGBTQ+ Affirming Care
Connecting Heals is a space where you never have to spend a session educating your therapist or defending who you are. Just grounded, skilled support for the life you want to build.
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Relationships & Boundaries
If your relationships leave you more drained than fulfilled, often there is a reason. We’ll help you understand the patterns behind people-pleasing, codependency, and conflict avoidance.
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Life Transitions & Parenting
Becoming a parent, losing a partner, navigating divorce, or starting over after a major life change. Transitions are harder than they look.. We’ll work to help you find your footing.
Additional areas of clinical expertise
Chronic Stress
Depression
Identity & Cultural Stress
Transgender Support
Self-Esteem & Self-Trust
POC-Affirming Care
Coping Skills
OCD
Suicidal Ideation & Crisis Support
You’ve tried therapy before. This is different.
We skip the generic and get to the core of what's actually driving it, with clinicians who respect your story.
Start with a free 15-minute consultation. No commitment, no pressure, just a real conversation to see if we're the right fit.
WHY CONNECTING HEALS
What We Actually Do Differently
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We pace the work carefully, and prioritize your stability throughout.
Our team has trained across hospital and partial hospitalization settings. We build the safety net before we start digging, and we know how to support you while the hard work is happening.
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We respect your story.
We specialize in the intersections of neurodivergence, trauma, and LGBTQ+ identity. Your story deserves to be heard without explanation or judgment, and that's exactly what you'll find here.
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The goal is a life worth living, not just fewer bad days
We can't promise a cure. What we can do is work to help you build the capacity to handle hard things, trust yourself, and actually enjoy your life again. Realistic, and worth it.
who we are
The People Behind Our Practice
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Steven Gilpin, LMSW
CLINICAL DIRECTOR & THERAPIST
Practical, direct, and genuinely warm. Steve built this practice around the belief that therapy should feel like a conversation, not a procedure. They bring a deep clinical range (from crisis-level care to everyday burnout) and a firm conviction that much in life can be figured out, with the right support. -
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Liz Davila-Ferrall, LMSW
Trusted by Our Peers
IS THERAPY RIGHT FOR YOU?
Things You Might Already Be Thinking
"I'm already so exhausted and I don't have the bandwidth to start therapy right now."
That's actually one of the most common reasons people do start. You don't need to show up with energy to spare. You just need to show up. We'll figure out the pace & path together.
Therapy outcomes depend on fit and the therapeutic approach. If the style felt off or the method wasn't matched to what you were actually dealing with, it makes sense that nothing changed. That said, therapy works best when you're able to show up, be open and honest, and be willing to do the work. The more you bring to it, the more you get out of it.
"I've tried therapy before and it didn't really work."
"Is what I'm going through bad enough to actually warrant therapy?"
You don't need to be in crisis to deserve support. Chronic exhaustion, ongoing relational stress, and feeling stuck all count. You don't have to earn the right to ask for help.
"I'm worried I'll have to spend sessions explaining my identity before we get to the actual work."
We're not going to ask you to translate yourself. Whether you're queer, neurodivergent, a trauma survivor, some combination of those, or none of them at all, you don't have to earn your place here before the work starts.
in-network for online therapy
BCBS In-Network Therapy for Grand Rapids
Connecting Heals is in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and its affiliate companies. That means if you have BCBS coverage, your online therapy sessions are billed directly through your insurance at your in-network rate — the same way you'd use insurance for any other healthcare appointment.
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What does in-network mean?
It means you pay your copay or work toward your deductible rather than the full session fee. Most BCBS mental health benefits cover outpatient therapy, including online therapy.
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What about online therapy?
Blue Cross Blue Shield covers online therapy the same way it covers in-person therapy. You don't need to be in an office for your insurance to apply. As long as you're located in Michigan during your sessions, your BCBS benefits work.
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What if I don't have BCBS?
Our standard session fee is $170. We offer a sliding scale on a case by case basis for clients who need it, and we provide superbills for out-of-network reimbursement if your plan allows for it.
Ready when you are.
No pressure, no commitment. Just a free 15-minute conversation to see if we're the right fit, on your schedule, wherever you are in Grand Rapids or West Michigan.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Common Questions, Real Answers.
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Where do sessions happen?
100% online sessions over video. We serve clients anywhere in Michigan. Wear your pajamas. Bring your dog. Seriously.
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Who do you work with?
Preteens, teens, adults, and older adults — depending on the provider, generally 12 and up. We're licensed in Michigan and serve clients statewide.
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How do I get started?
Request a free 15-minute consult and we'll handle the rest. No paperwork before you say hello, no maze to navigate — just a conversation to see if it feels right.
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Can you help me process religious trauma in West Michigan without pushing me away from my faith?
Absolutely. We provide a neutral, deeply respectful space. Your deconstruction or reconstruction is entirely yours to navigate on your own terms, without judgment.
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How do we address relationship boundaries when I live in a tight-knit, 'West Michigan Nice' Community?
When everyone knows everyone, setting boundaries feels dangerous. We help you untangle the patterns behind your people-pleasing so you can build relationships that fulfill you without guilt.
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My family doesn't support me seeking therapy, and it feels hard to hide in this community. How do I handle that?
This is incredibly common. We work together to validate your need for support and build internal boundaries so you can prioritize your healing, even when other people don't understand it.
Michigan Proud.
We're a virtual practice rooted in Ann Arbor and serving clients across Michigan. Whether you're in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Kalamazoo, Traverse City, or anywhere in between, online therapy through Connecting Heals is available to you.
