Aaron Knapp, M.A. Counseling Intern*

About Aaron

Aaron is in the final year of his Clinical Mental Health Counseling program and working at Integrative Health Consultants of West Michigan as a counseling intern.

Counseling is a second career for Aaron as he previously pastored in Michigan and Indiana where he provided pastoral counseling in various areas such as grief and loss, pre-marital counseling, etc.

A strong area of interest for Aaron in counseling is to work with LGBTQIA+ people, and those who have undergone religious trauma.

“I feel uniquely qualified to work in this capacity as someone who comes from a religious background and as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community.”

“My approach to counseling is eclectic. We all have different stories, different journeys, and I like to approach each person’s story with curiosity, working with them to figure out where they want to go next. I favor Dialectic Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills along with Narrative Therapy, and Cognitive Behavior Therapy. DBT considers the narrative of a person’s life and practices complete acceptance, that a person is completely accepted as they are with no judgement, that where they are right now makes sense given everything that has happened in their life up to this moment. “You are accepted as you are.” But the reason people usually come to counseling is because there is something they want to be different, a change, something they want to make better. And within DBT there is also the idea that life can be better going forward. “You are accepted as you are, and you can do better, your life can be better going forward.” I would be honored to be part of crafting that better story with you.”

In addition to working with LGBTQIA+ people, Aaron has also been a foster parent.

Contact Aaron: 616-773-2908 ext 136

EMAIL: aaron.knapp@ihcwestmichigan.com

*Supervised by a Licensed Professional Counselor

Education

• B.A. Pastoral Studies Moody Bible Institute (2008)

• M.Div. Grand Rapids Theological Seminary (2015)

• M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling, University of the Cumberlands (2024)

Treatment Interests

• LGBTQIA+

• Religious Trauma

• Adolescents and Adults

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Grief

• Relationship Issues

• Groups

Therapeutic Approaches

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)

• Narrative Therapy

• Person-Centered