Tonya Ratliff, LPC, ACS
Tonya Ratliff is the Owner and Director of Counseling Services for Trinity Family Counseling Center. In addition to her individual, couple, and family clients, Tonya is also the lead facilitator of the Walk With Me® Grief Support Group, an aftercare program sponsored by Wm. Sullivan and Son Funeral Home in Utica, MI.
Tonya is also an accomplished public speaker. She has spoken in front of various groups across a range of topics including divorce, blended families, grief and loss, job loss, and the challenges of parenting.
Tonya understands that taking responsibility for our thoughts, actions, and interactions with others can be challenging. The ability to understand and “own” our choices can reveal the possibilities for making necessary and desired changes in our lives. Tonya works to help her clients recognize and understand those choices. Clients are encouraged to set goals, develop strategies for changing negative thought patterns, and implement new behavioral skills. As a Christian, Tonya knows that faith often plays a part in the healing process, and she allows her clients the freedom to explore their own beliefs in a safe, non-judgmental setting.
Tonya is also an accomplished public speaker. She has spoken in front of various groups across a range of topics including divorce, blended families, grief and loss, job loss, and the challenges of parenting.
Tonya understands that taking responsibility for our thoughts, actions, and interactions with others can be challenging. The ability to understand and “own” our choices can reveal the possibilities for making necessary and desired changes in our lives. Tonya works to help her clients recognize and understand those choices. Clients are encouraged to set goals, develop strategies for changing negative thought patterns, and implement new behavioral skills. As a Christian, Tonya knows that faith often plays a part in the healing process, and she allows her clients the freedom to explore their own beliefs in a safe, non-judgmental setting.
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Tonya’s specific areas of experience, expertise, and passion are:
All Aspects of Grief and Loss
Tonya understands and is deeply committed to assisting individuals and families through the anguishing experience of loss. For the grieving, life has changed without their permission. The journey toward healing and re-defining one’s self in response to loss takes courage, patience, and endurance. Tonya is honored and humbled to assist others with these overwhelming challenges.
Divorce, Remarriage, and Blended Families
Married for over 35 years, Tonya and her husband have successfully launched five children into adulthood. As the mother of a blended family of his, hers and theirs, she fully understands the, often times, overwhelming complexity of bringing together children from previous relationships. As a result of her personal experiences, Tonya has found working with issues related to divorce, remarriage, second families, and step parenting to be especially rewarding.
Parenting Challenges
Being a good parent is A LOT of hard work. Effective parenting requires unwavering commitment, diligence and perseverance. It requires the ability to find energy when you don’t think you have any left. It requires placing the needs of others before your own. Having raised five children of her own, Tonya enjoys working with parents to improve or strengthen their own parenting efforts.
Clinical Supervision
Tonya also provides supervision for LLCs who are working toward their 3,000 hours for professional licensure. She has completed extensive post-graduate training in Clinical Supervision as required by the state of Michigan, and is certified as an Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS). She has provided supervision in both university and private practice settings.
CredentialsLicensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS) AffiliationsAmerican Counseling Association (ACA)
American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES) |
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