Tennyson Mackey, MA, LPC

Phone: 616-426-9034, ext. 515
Email: tmackey@secondstorycounseling.com

MA Counseling - Grand Rapids Theological Seminary
BS Health Communication - Grand Valley State University

Life can be overwhelming. Our stories often don't look quite the way we wanted or hoped. Loss, harm, betrayal, unmet desires can leave us feeling hopeless and lost. Life stressors, difficult relationships, transitions can stir within us many questions and unknowns. We can find ourselves frustrated and confused by our reactions or the reactions of others. And other times it's just an overall or pervasive sense that things are just not right. If any of this rings true to you today, I would be honored to hear more. I am passionate about relationship, growth, and listening to the unique heart and story of others within a warm and caring environment. Experiences within my own journey have stirred within me a deep passion to walk alongside others during their most difficult times, and to discover with them a sense of hope, meaning and purpose. It is my joy to encourage others' unique strengths and expertise, and through support and learned tools, empower those who walk through my door to become their own healers.

When I'm not working with clients, I enjoy spending time with loved ones, being active and outdoors, trying new things, and will jump at any opportunity I have to travel. I love to run, practice yoga, and write. You can generally find me hammocking with a good book, enjoying the many fantastic foodie venues of GR, or caring for my copious amounts of house plants.

My Approach

I approach counseling with a person-centered and trauma-sensitive lens. This means that I believe every person carries with them a sacred and important story shaped by unique sets of systems, circumstances, biology and experiences. Every person's experience is unique to who they are, and therefore it is my goal to work alongside my clients, as experts in their own story, to provide tools and resources specifically tailored to their personal needs and based in empirically tested intervention. Together, we will identify and navigate through the framework and approach that is best for you. My areas of focus include healing from trauma, relational difficulties, and identity/spiritual formation. I have experience working with individuals and couples struggling with overwhelming thoughts and feelings, intrusive thoughts and flashbacks, self-worth, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, relational stress, communication and boundaries challenges, abuse and neglect, life transition, and identity formation. I am a certified Prepare and Enrich Facilitator for couples and pre-marital counseling. Theoretical frameworks I have experience working with are CBT and TF-CBT, CPT, SFT, MI, ACT, Gestalt, Attachment, Narrative, Systems, and IFS.

What you can expect

I believe every life is a journey worth sharing, and every person is meant to live known, valued, and cared for. It is important to me to provide an environment for my clients that is warm, supportive, and safe. As I journey with clients, it is my goal to work alongside them in creating new experiences which foster personal awareness, growth, and integration towards a more contented and authentic self. Together we will explore how to help you live the life you were destined to live, and equip you with the tools you need to embrace your story and find healing.