“Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards.”

           -Soren Kierkegaard, Philosopher

 

Bernie joins Gerard, Coslow, and Tieker-Sharpe Associates with  several year’s experience in mental health including 11 years at Parkview Behavioral Health as a social worker and discharge Planner.  Bernie also worked with patients one on one and conducted psychotherapy groups for the geriatric unit, adult unit, and children’s unit. 

Bernie has worked  at Amani Family Services for five years.  Amani is a small agency with a large mission to “partner with immigrant and refugee families and the community to promote safety, encourage personal growth, and foster a spirit of belonging.” Bernie provides psychotherapy to this population along with DCS and probation families.  Therapies include play therapy, Trauma-focused CBT therapy, family therapy, Gottman, and therapy with translation assistance.    

Bernie currently works at Park Center on the in-patient unit completing  assessments, and at a local hospital working as a social worker and a discharge planner.

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Bernie worked for Raj Clinics 5 years under the leadership of Dr. Umamaheswara and Dr. Sitha Gita Kalapatapu, Psychiatrists.  During this time, Bernie provided psychotherapy for patients with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and personality disorders; in addition to  patients with substance abuse issues that were receiving Suboxone treatment.  This also included a clientele of children, adults, elderly, families and couples.  Therapies included CBT, Narrative therapy and emotionally focused therapy. 

Bernie attended Ball State University for her undergraduate degree in Social Work and earned her Master’s degree from IPFW, School of Education and Counseling.