Rooted in curiosity and in compassion, I offer a client-centered creative approach to personal growth, mental health and wellness. I work with a variety of individuals - tall and small, neurotypical and uniquely-wired, with- and without-chronic conditions &/or diagnoses. I offer tele-mental-health to adolescents, caregivers, transitioning adults, and folks of all ages and abilities impacted by chronic illness or condition. I am an aspiring healing artist with licenses to counsel, coach, and educate across the state of Ohio and in Florida. For more on who I am, what sorts of experience I have to offer, and areas of specialty - visit my website (www.MindfulMilestones.org) or request a 15 minutes consult.

When life becomes overwhelming or filled with uncertainty, we all deserve a space to talk with someone who will not judge or shame us but who will walk alongside us as we figure it out. I believe that healing happens in connection, and we aren’t designed to figure it all out alone.

I value creating a safe and non-judgemental environment so my clients so they feel safe and comfortable when sharing their stories. I work primarily with trauma-related concerns, anxiety/ panic disorders, and depression.

Reaching out for support is an act of courage, and I admire the bravery it takes to consider counseling. My hope for you is that through the therapeutic process, you can be equipped with the tools to engage in a life that feels not only manageable but also more meaningful and fulfilling.

My mode for counseling stems from the desire to find the place of compassion within everyone’s story. We are all broken people in need of healing, but often our own judgements of ourselves prevents us from seeing the places we need love and insight. Therapy offers a safe space to process emotions and thoughts. Here, we are all able to uncover the root cause for the issues in our lives.
I work from a trauma-informed perspective, working through current issues and the deeper beliefs, thoughts and emotions that influence our choices. I specialize in boundary work, anxiety, depression, relationships, life transition, death and grief, spirituality issues, substance use, adjustment to change and changing cultures. I enjoy working with clients of all ages and approach counseling from a multicultural perspective. I also provide counseling with christian values and provide counseling without based on client’s preference and value system. I look forward to meeting you!

Dr. Bilka tailors her therapeutic approach to fit each client’s unique needs. She integrates several therapeutic approaches including cognitive behavioral, interpersonal, EMDR and relational techniques to provide comprehensive and dynamic treatment. Dr. Bilka’s clinical interests include gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender/questioning issues, adolescent and adult life transitions, relationship concerns, trauma and abuse. She specializes in treating teenagers and young adults dealing with mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and trauma. Dr. Bilka is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, which has been proven highly effective for the treatment of trauma as well as with many other issues. She incorporates warmth, empathy, humor and insight-oriented methods into her practice. Dr. Bilka views the therapeutic process as a collaborative one in which the therapist offers understanding and support, providing the client with the space to develop a deeper understanding of his or her self and the courage to work toward change.

If you're feeling overwhelmed scrolling through profiles or wondering if you are even ready to go to therapy anyway, you're not alone. I know from experience both as the therapist and as the client that making the decision to go to therapy & setting up that first appointment is often the hardest part. I hope that you're proud of yourself for taking that step & making it here. My goal is to connect personally with each client so that we can work collaboratively to identify problems and goals and create a plan for treatment.
You're the expert on your life and goals—it’s my job to provide the help, insight, and encouragement you need to get there. I work with clients to identify the negative thought patterns and the underlying beliefs causing difficult emotional experiences such as anxiety or depression, replacing them with more adaptive and functional thoughts and coping skills.
A large component of success in therapy comes from the counseling relationship—in finding the right fit. If you think I might be a good fit for you, feel free to reach out and we can set up a free phone consultation. I look forward to hearing from you!!

Life can get overwhelming sometimes, and everyone has an opinion on how you should manage it. No matter what you’re dealing with, someone always suggests a quick fix— anxiety: “just calm down;” depression: “just be happy;” or disordered eating: “just eat.” The reality is, if it were that simple, we would all be perfect people and never struggle with anything in our entire lives. That’s just not human nature. So if that’s not the answer, how do we grow and change? How do we resolve the deepest, most wounded parts of ourselves?

There’s a quote by Christine Langley-Obaugh that I love, which says, “We repeat what we don’t repair.” We have to sit with those uncomfortable parts of ourselves—our anxiety, depression, disordered eating, grief—and figure out when and why it showed up. What is it trying to tell us about ourselves and our experience?

That’s what the therapeutic space is for. We put other pieces of our lives on hold for an hour, to sit and listen and process. From there, we can establish a different way for the brain and body to communicate with one another; a way that allows for expression without overwhelm. It’s a process that can take some time, but it is oh so worth it.

I help individuals, partners, and families sort through their history and stories of pain, highlight their resilience, expand their emotional awareness, and practice new behaviors for a life of health and wholeness.

I practice under the LPC-MHSP (Temporary) license in Tennessee with a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a Graduate Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy. I am a National Certified Counselor, Certified Prepare/Enrich Facilitator, and have level 1 & 2 training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy. My supervision until I am fully licensed is under Dr. John Kennedy.

Before entering the counseling profession, I dabbled in various creative ventures between parenting and homemaking. I enjoy working with my hands, whether in the dirt gardening, repurposing old furniture, or mending ragged stitches.

I am a trauma therapist practicing EMDR in the Rochester, NY area, and provide telehealth in all of New York State. I live by the principle of “more curiosity, less judgement” driving empathy and understanding into my work. I aim to create a welcoming and open therapeutic space for clients to safely explore and regain their sense of self. I believe that therapy should be authentic and transparent, and I strive to partner with clients so that they may be the experts in their treatment and feel empowered. I have been a social worker in Rochester, NY for about 8 years. I first started working with adults with developmental disabilities as a behavior intervention specialist which fueled my love for psychology and understanding human behavior in our various contexts. I specialize in working with adults and couples with relationship challenges, anxiety, depression, and trauma. I am here for you and would be honored to partner with you in your healing journey!