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.
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.
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.
Susy Lenig, MS, LMHCA
Location: 708 Harrison St., LaPorte, IN
Experience: Susy has been serving the LaPorte Community through her work within LaPorte Community School Corporation for almost 30 years. With 25 years of experience counseling elementary, middle, and high school students, she brings a deep understanding of the unique challenges individuals face at every stage of development. Her journey began as a high school English teacher, but her passion for helping others realize their full potential led her to become a Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate (LMHCA) and a Licensed Professional School Counselor.
Expertise/Special Interests: Susy utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Expressive Art Therapy to help her clients develop the tools they need to navigate life’s challenges, and is well-trained in Trauma Informed Care. As a fitness instructor on the side, she also recognizes the powerful connection between mental health and physical well-being. She encourages incorporating physical activity into daily life as a way to enhance the therapeutic process, improve overall health, and build resilience. She believes that we are not defined by our struggles. She firmly believes that we all possess resilience—even when we don’t recognize it in ourselves. Her goal is to guide pre-teens, teenagers, young adults, and adults beyond their anxieties, traumas, and obstacles, helping them build fulfilling, joyful lives.