Gretchen Hale-West, LPC

Hi! My name is Gretchen Hale-West (Pronouns: She/Her), and I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).  Beginning therapy, whether for the first time or not, can be a very intimidating and an overwhelming process. My hope is to help make you feel more at ease with this process by providing a safe environment where you feel heard and understood. Asking for help requires an immense amount of strength and bravery that deserves to be nourished, supported, and recognized. Change can be frightening, but you do not have to go through it alone.

I earned my Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Springfield College. While I’ve primarily worked with adults so far in my career, I have been able to help individuals struggling with various challenges, including substance use/addiction, trauma, anxiety, depression, and challenging life transitions. I have experience using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, Person-Centered (Rogerian) Therapy, and different types of strength-based approaches.

The partnership between a client and their therapist is one of the most important aspects of therapy. That is why I believe in an empathetic, caring, and collaborative approach to sessions. I aim to provide a space where the client feels comfortable discussing difficult challenges they are facing. By working together we can identify ways to cope and heal from these experiences at the client’s own pace.

Gretchen participates with Aetna, Anthem BC/BS and Husky only.

A Little More About Me

My free time is often spent on the softball field as a coach for a local Travel Team organization. During the off-season I enjoy spending time at the beach hunting for sea glass, fishing, and spending time with my dog, Macie.