Aleena Hellebuyck, MA, LLPC, CAADC-DP

Clinical Mental Health Counselor

Aleena believes that healing happens through authenticity, connection, and a non-judgmental space. Shaped by the natural beauty of northern Michigan, she brings a grounded, relational presence into the counseling room. Aleena supports individuals navigating trauma, life transitions, relationship challenges, and identity exploration with warmth and curiosity. Her clinical approach is rooted in person-centered and existential frameworks, honoring each client’s unique lived experience and capacity for growth. With experience across both clinical and community-based settings, Aleena has worked with adolescents, adults, and families from diverse backgrounds. She is especially passionate about helping people reconnect with themselves, explore meaning, and live in alignment with their values.

Clinical Specializations

• Marriage & Family Counseling
• Family Conflict & Divorce
• Child & Adolescent Therapy
• Substance Use & Recovery
• Juvenile Justice & Court-Involved Youth

Additional Expertise

• Adoption & Attachment
• Addiction Counseling
• Trauma & PTSD
• Life Transitions & Stress Management
• Re-entry & Reintegration Support
• Couples Counseling

Education & Background

• Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Central Michigan University
• Limited Licensed Professional Counselor (LLPC), State of Michigan
• Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor – Development Plan (CAADC-DP)
• Former foster care case manager, State of Michigan
• Facilitator for IOP and juvenile drug court groups, Emmet & Charlevoix counties

Favorite therapeutic books

The Body Keeps the Score, Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.

This book illustrates how trauma reshapes both the mind and body, and why lasting recovery depends on more than just talking, it requires rebuilding safety, connection, and trust. It deepened my understanding of PTSD and reinforced my belief that healing happens through reconnection to one’s own body.

The Molecule of More, Daniel Z. Lieberman & Michael E. Long

I love how this book makes neuroscience feel relatable. It explains how dopamine drives our desire for more, more achievement, more novelty, more stimulation and how that drive can inspire, and yet overwhelm us. It gave me a deeper framework for helping clients navigate the tension between striving for growth and staying grounded in the present.