Mind Renewal Integrated Trauma Therapy

01/26/2026

We’re excited to welcome Savannah Thornton, LLMSW, to the Mind Renewal Counseling team! Savannah is a compassionate and thoughtful therapist who believes that understanding ourselves is the foundation for meaningful change. She works from an integrative, client-centered approach, creating a safe and supportive space where clients can explore who they are, why certain patterns persist, and how to move toward the changes they’re ready to make.

Savannah specializes in working with individuals navigating ADHD, autism, and sexual health concerns, and she is passionate about supporting clients through anxiety, life transitions, relationship issues, identity exploration, and self-esteem. She offers both in-person and virtual sessions, with weekday and some evening availability.

Savannah provides individual therapy and welcomes clients seeking a collaborative, affirming, and nonjudgmental therapeutic relationship. She is sex-positive, LGBTQ+ affirming, and, and enjoys helping clients better understand how their life experiences shape who they are today.

Savannah is currently accepting new clients and offers a free 15-minute consultation.

📍 In-person in Grand Rapids & Telehealth
📞 (616) 953-3942

We’re so happy to have her join our community and look forward to the care she’ll bring to our clients.

03/20/2023

Mind Renewal Counseling Services welcomes Cameron Boeve!

Cameron is a clinical therapist (MSW, LLMSW) who specializes in working with children, adolescents, and young adults as they navigate challenges unique to these developmental stages of life. Cameron strives to create a relationship founded on care and trust with her clients to establish a strong foundation, free of judgment where others can feel safe to explore their thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and their sense of self.

Cameron utilizes cognitive behavior therapy and strengths-based approaches to encourage clients to recognize their own power to influence their life situations. She enjoys walking alongside others seeking emotional and personal growth to assist them in realizing their ability to recognize and follow through with healthy choices.

Issues:
ADHD
Anxiety
Asperger's Syndrome
Autism
Coping Skills
Depression
Developmental Disorders
Divorce
Education and Learning Disabilities
Family Conflict
Grief
Life Transitions
Peer Relationships
School Issues
Self Esteem
Self-Harming
Stress
Suicidal Ideation
Women's Issues

To schedule a phone consultation with Cameron, call (616) 303-5630 or email [email protected].

03/04/2023

Keeping the "why" in mind when deciding to engage in trauma therapy and inner depth work is so important as the road is often long and winding.

After working with countless trauma clients over the years, it has become apparent to me that healing is not just the alleviation of suffering. It is truly a journey towards freedom and recovering our authentic self.

Trauma work consists of removing and reprogramming the layers of thoughts, beliefs, perspectives, emotional reactions, and even physical responses and/or behaviors that are not "truly ours". Anything that was conditioned into our psyche by our environment that is preventing us from living out of our true essence can be considered trauma.

This can end up looking like self-doubt, self-denial, disconnection from self and others, low self-esteem, etc. Notice all the "self" terms?? That's because. trauma is what happens when you have experienced a separation from your true, regulated, embodied, confident, and innerly-affirmed SELF.

As a trauma therapist, I highly recommend seeking out professionals in your area who are trained in trauma-informed therapeutic modalities such as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), IFS (Internal Family Systems), Somatic Experiencing, or Brainspotting (to name just a few). Other wellness based practices, such as trauma-informed yoga and breathwork, can be helpful practices in addition to therapy.

Through my professional work, as well as my own personal healing journey, I have become CAPTIVATED by the potential of the human body and mind to naturally move towards a restored state of healing and harmony. Even though it often requires a guide to assist the facilitation of this natural process, it is what we are built to do. We just need to be willing and see the journey through to the end!

02/14/2023

Clients often struggle to identify with the idea of their symptoms stemming from trauma. I have become accustomed to hearing statements such as "My parents MEANT well", "Nothing THAT bad happened to me", or "It's not like I was physically abused and/or abandoned".

The truth is, trauma can develop DESPITE intentions. For instance, it's a given that a single mother who has to work two jobs to provide food and shelter for her children has loving intentions to care for the needs of her children. Nevertheless, if the child attributes her absence to her "mom not wanting to be around" then this can set forth patterns of thought about self that become negative over time (such as "I'm not important", etc). This is not the child's fault as they are limited to the level of understanding that their developmental stage allows.

Therefore, anything that is repeated over time that affects the chid's ability to have a healthy understanding of herself can create doubt or fear about experiencing emotions and showing vulnerability in relationships. The ability to know and trust her worth, her reality, and/or trust others can be negatively and seriously affected. Going forward, this individual may unconsciously participate in repeated patterns of unhealthy professional and personal relationships without understanding why.

11/22/2022

For some, the holidays are a time of joy and cherished memories and traditions. The classic movies and TV shows depict light-hearted family chaos that, typically, results in a deeper appreciation for each other in the end. The resounding message is that, despite the mishaps, all is calm...all is bright.

That's Beautiful.

However, that may not be the reality for people whose family, childhood homes, and/or memories hold the ghosts of traumatic pasts. These individuals can easily feel guilt or shame for not feeling "Cheerful" or "In the Christmas Spirit". Heightened emotions or dread at the thought of group get-togethers can make the holidays feel like something to avoid.

Trauma, grief, and relationships are complex enough and require compassion for self to feel and move through, but ESPECIALLY through the holidays. The expectations of having the "perfect holiday experience" can make already distressing emotions worse by heaping on thoughts of "should".

Please remind yourself that the following are still valid and necessary, even during the holidays:
- Your Feelings
- Your Boundaries
- Your Needs
- Your Self Care Routines
- Your Alone Time
- Your Sanity!

May your holidays look exactly as you'd wish them!

11/18/2022

11/16/2022

11/11/2022

To the veterans out there, thank you for your service!

I feel it is especially important on this day to speak about PTSD and trauma in a way that is non-pathologizing and inspired by hope.

If our traumas were the actual events of the past (which cannot be changed) this would be bleak news. However, research has shown us that trauma is actually how WE change as a result of these events. Our neurological wiring and thoughts change, therefore our reactions and behaviors change.

The GOOD news is that these responses are reversible as our bodies and brains are adaptable and programmed to heal themselves! Modalities such as EMDR, IFS (internal family systems), Somatic Experiencing, and trauma-informed yoga can be extremely effective in alleviating symptoms from PTSD and C-PTSD.

We all deserve to live life feeling safe in our bodies and minds.

And the GREAT news is that this is possible!

11/01/2022

Life events do not have to be "dramatic" or violent to create trauma. Trauma responses are conditioned on a physiological level and can be created by any distressing event, regardless of severity.

11/13/2018

To all the veterans, thank you for your service! As a professional counselor, I want to take a minute to talk about PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) as we know many veterans suffer from this real and life-altering condition that affects them as well as their loved ones. It's not talked about enough and many people needlessly suffer due to not knowing their options for treatment. There is a form of treatment called EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) that can help individuals move past traumatic experiences and triggers. EMDR is an evidence based practice that is recommended today as a front line treatment by most psychological and psychiatric organizations for psychological trauma and PTSD. If you are a veteran, or know a veteran (or anybody, really) who would benefit, you can search for clinicians certified in EMDR (via Psychologytoday.com/us, Google, etc.) or you can contact me directly for a referral. I am also personally certified, but on a waiting list for accepting new patients. Please pass this along as you are able, spreading the word is spreading the love!