THE FORT WAYNE CLINICAL TEAM

Amy Jo Aldrich, Executive Director, Founder, & Counseling Professional
M.S.Edu., Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, Indiana University
M.S. Level Student, Clinical Psychopharmacology, The Chicago School of Psychology
M.A., Education Administration, Indiana Wesleyan University
Credentialed EMDR Therapist, EMDR Consulting
Certified Critical Incident Stress Management, International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc.
T (260) 432-0066, ext. 305 / ajaldrich@lifeworks-counseling.org

Amy has a Master’s in Marriage & Family Therapy and a Master’s in Education Administration. Her 35-year career has been dedicated to children, healthy marriages, and families. Prior to serving the greater Fort Wayne area for the past 16 years as a Marriage & Family Therapist, Amy devoted her time teaching in both public and private schools, coaching, public speaking, and serving in administrative leadership in the non-profit sector. She counsels the lifespan emphasizing family systems within a wellness model that addresses mind, body, and spiritual needs. Amy specializes in anxiety disorders, is a credentialed EMDR therapist, and a certified Trauma Consultant in Critical Incident Stress Debriefing. Amy has a passion for working with people who are seeking a healthier, purpose-filled life, empowering families, and individuals, working with survivors of traumatic life events and exploring faith issues. She speaks at a variety of professional, motivational, and personal growth conferences and has worked with several area churches and businesses assisting in developing growth plans for organizations and employees. Amy lives life big and with intention. She actively lives out her faith, loves spending time with her husband of 30+ years, her children, three grandchildren, kayaking, hiking, landscaping, reading, and listening to loud music.

Shameka Arrington, Counseling Professional ~ Fort Wayne Office
M.S.Edu., Master’s in Mental Health Counseling, Purdue University
T (260) 432-0066, ext. 311 / sarrington@lifeworks-counseling.org

Shameka recently joined our team after achieving her Master’s in Counseling Education from Purdue University, Fort Wayne where she earned the Counselor of Excellence Award in Practicum Studies. She works with marriage/couples, families, adolescents, single moms, and women, utilizing the Person-Centered Therapeutic approach, Emotional-Focused Therapies, and Gottman Institute therapy. Shameka believes in empathetic listening by fully valuing the client’s experiences, supportive processing through self-awareness, immediacy, and helping the client come to natural solutions for their presenting issues. She is an inspirational speaker, Ordained Minister since 2011, and an engaging writer/author. Shameka is a wife and a mother of three children, enjoys family time, personal time, shopping for fun, living her life to be an encouragement to others, being true to herself, and honoring Christ in every aspect of her life.

Jennifer Bellinger, Counseling Professional ~ Fort Wayne Office
M.S.Edu., Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate, Indiana University
Credentialed EMDR Therapist, EMDR Consulting, Inc.
T (260) 432-0066, ext. 307 / jbellinger@lifeworks-counseling.org

Jennifer joined the LifeWorks Counseling Professional Team in Fort Wayne two years ago and brings so many positive skillsets to our team and organization. She studied at Indiana University, Fort Wayne earning her Master of Science in Counseling Education, and obtained her Associate’s license shortly after. Jennifer has gained invaluable experience working with a variety of clinical issues including depression, anxiety, stress, and trauma. She is uniquely qualified to work with families, teens, and young children involved with the Department of Child Services and Juvenile Probation. Jennifer is trained in Motivational Interviewing, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, level one of the Gottman Method Therapy focusing on couples counseling, and is a credentialed EMDR Therapist. Jennifer works with children of all ages, teens, families, and marriages/couples. She enjoys hanging out with her family, traveling, and going on walks in local parks.

Dr. James Burg, Counseling Professional ~ Fort Wayne Office (Tu)
PhD. in Marriage & Family Therapy, Purdue University
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and Licensed Mental Health Counselor
AAMFT Clinical Fellow and Approved Supervisor
T (260) 432-0066, ext. 309 / jburg@lifeworks-counseling.org

Dr. Burg is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and Licensed Mental Health Counselor with more than 30 years of experience. He works with individuals, couples, and families experiencing a variety of issues including depression, anxiety, relationship challenges, and sexual dysfunctions. Dr. Burg and his wife of 25 years enjoy a wonderful and fulfilling marriage, and he is devoted to helping couples build healthier relationships. Toward this goal, he and his wife have published more than 700 newspaper columns over 15 years on healthy marriages. He has also co-edited three books on the intersection of medicine, psychology, and Orthodox Christian theology. His availability at Lifeworks is limited as he is a full-time faculty member at Purdue University Fort Wayne where he teaches in the Counselor Education master’s degree program. Dr. Burg and his wife are active in their church, have four children, and enjoy being outdoors, cycling around Fort Wayne, and hiking in the woods of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Teresa Brooks, Counseling Professional ~ Fort Wayne Office
M.A., Master’s in Mental Health Counseling, Huntington University
Credentialed EMDR Therapist, EMDR Consulting, Inc.
T (260) 432-0066, ext. 314 / tbrooks@lifeworks-counseling.org

Teresa joined our team in the Fall of 2019. After being devoted to her husband and family, she embarked on a journey to pursue her Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling from Huntington University and is currently pursuing her Associate’s license. Teresa primarily works with marriages, couples, and teens, in a variety of areas including boundaries, communication, trauma, and addictions. Before coming to LifeWorks, Teresa worked at Hope Alive serving as a trauma and addictions counselor, and is a credentialed EMDR Therapist. She has a passion for walking with wounded people during what often seems like the worst, most broken, and hopeless time of their life and working toward restoration, reconciliation, forgiveness, and hope. Teresa has been married for 34 years, has 6 grown children, and 9 grandchildren. She loves spending time with her family and riding her Harley all over the country.

Rachel M. Hartman, Counseling Professional ~ Fort Wayne Office (M-F)
LCAC, Licensed Clinical Addictions Counselor Associate, Indiana Wesleyan University
Mental Health Counselor (Pending), Indiana Wesleyan University
T (260) 432-0066, ext. 316 / rhartman@lifeworks-counseling.org

LifeWorks welcomes Rachel Hartman to our team who has a myriad of life experiences. Before pursuing her counseling degree, Rachel served as an ICU cardiac nurse and as a Captain in the United States Air Force where she also served as an ICU nurse. In 2017, Rachel achieved her Master of Arts in Addictions Counseling from Indiana Wesleyan University and this spring she completed her coursework for Mental Health Counseling. Rachel has experience in facilitating Intensive Out-Patient groups and is certified in MRT, a cognitive-behavioral treatment approach that leads to enhanced moral reasoning, better decision-making, and more appropriate behavior. Her other experience includes working with clients who suffer from personality disorders, depression and anxiety, trauma, grief, and family systems sessions involving substance use disorders. Rachel has a deep passion to serve and help clients move towards a healthier, whole life. Eventually, Rachel would like to incorporate pets into therapy sessions and obtain her EMDR credential. In her free time, Rachel enjoys spending time with her husband and eight children and is looking forward to becoming a grandmother next year. She also enjoys yoga, playing board games and cards, outdoor activities, interior decorating and design, painting, and knitting.

Lon Johnson, Counseling Professional ~ Fort Wayne Office
M.A., MDiv., Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, Indiana Wesleyan University
T (260) 432-0066, ext. 310 / ljohnson@lifeworks-counseling.org

Lon has been an integral member of the LifeWorks team for 13 years. He incorporates over 34 years of working with teens and families in a variety of capacities into his professional practice. Lon also has a ministerial education background, is a dynamic Pastor, and has expertise in working with marriages/couples. Lon works with teens, men, women, couples, and families desiring them to experience personal healing in their relationships. He has extensive experience in working with others towards personal growth, those who struggle with pornography and addiction issues. He believes that through improved communication and knowing balance in their lives physically, spiritually, and emotionally, each person has the potential to live a more complete and satisfying life. Lon is an avid reader and enjoys spending time with his family, cooking, visiting family, and loves warm weather.

Sharon Miley, Clinical Supervisor & Counseling Professional ~ Fort Wayne Office (Tu, Th, F)
M.S.Edu., Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, Indiana University
Certified EMDR Therapist, EMDR Consulting, Inc.
T (260) 432-0066, ext. 308 / smiley@lifeworks-counseling.org

Sharon has been working in the mental health field for over 22 years and brings a savvy and seasoned approach to her clients. She works in both the Fort Wayne & Warsaw offices and approaches counseling from a systemic vantage point. Sharon’s clinical areas of expertise are with relationships and couples, divorce and visitation issues, stepfamilies, co-parenting, childhood sexual abuse and trauma, anxiety and depression, parenting, grief and loss, and coping with a loved one involved in addiction. She also enjoys working with and teaching college students reserving a special place for the college student who struggles to find their way. Sharon has an engaging sense of humor which brings comfort to challenging relationship dynamics and comfort. She is well-skilled in Gottman Method Therapy and is a fully certified EMDR Therapist. Sharon loves her family, her two girls, football, fantasy football, music, going to concerts, and cherishes a good laugh.

Rachel Stayton, Counseling Professional Intern ~ Fort Wayne Office
Master’s Level Intern Clinician, Grace College (Returning 2023)
T (260) 432-0066, ext. 317 / rstayton@lifeworks-counseling.org

Rachel is currently pursuing her Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Grace College & Theological Seminary. She recently served as a practicum student and will be rejoining our team in the Fall of 2023-Spring 2024 to complete her final internship. During her time at LifeWorks, she has worked with a variety of clients addressing relationship and family issues. Rachel is passionate about serving her clients with unconditional positive regard to bringing hope and healing. She is very active in her local church, various ministries, and loves spending time with her family.