The Focused Mindfulness Center
The Focused Mindfulness Center
Gary Brookmyer Lambert, Jr.
Licensed Professional Counselor/Founder
Gary Brookmyer Lambert, Jr.
Licensed Professional Counselor/Founder
Our founder, Gary, is a highly trained clinician with a degree in Clinical Mental Health. He also obtained a post-graduate in Marriage, Family, and Couples Therapy and holds certifications in Addictions Counseling and Brainspotting. He also holds a doctorate in Interdisciplinary Healthcare Studies with a major area of study on performance related anxiety and serves as a professor in the Integrative Health Care Studies program at Western Michigan University. All of our clinicians meet his rigorous standards of training and client care.
Gary has lived and practiced in West Michigan since January 2009, moving here most recently from Chicago. He is active in the running community and serves on the Board of Directors for the Kalamazoo Area Runners. He has completed multiple triathlons, half marathons, full marathons and two ultra marathon. He has been practicing mindfulness in his personal life for 20 years and applies the principles to his own training and coaching.
Dusten A. Lyvers
Licensed Professional Counselor
Dusten is currently pursuing his doctorate in Counselor Education & Supervision at Western Michigan University. Dusten has a degree in Clinical Mental Health and a second degree in Comparative Religions. Before moving to Kalamazoo Dusten practiced in South Bend, IN.
Dusten says "I help people heal from emotional wounds, sit with people as they discover who they are, and promote overall wellness in my clients." Currently he is only available via telehealth. He provides many different models of counseling, but specializes in mental health and integrate spiritual/religious competent care as well as culturally competent care. He is person-centered in his approach to counseling and adjusts his counseling style to better fit the client. Who you are is important to him, and he willing to listen and work with your specific needs.
Shea-Lin Shobowale-Benson
Limited Licensed Professional Counselor
Dr. Shea-Lin joined The Focused Mindfulness Center after completing her doctorate in Psychology at Capella University. Her dissertation was on the use of Parent Development Theory in therapy. She also holds a master’s in counseling psychology from Fayetteville State University. Shea-Lin brings over a decade of counseling experience to the practice. Shea-Lin has an extensive history of working with children, adolescents, families, and adults. In the past she has held positions providing intensive home-based therapy. She also worked extensively within the foster care system. Most recently she worked with the Seita Scholars Program assisting students from foster care deal with life stressors they face in college.
As long as you have breath in your body, there will always be a need to "talk" to someone about life. What if I told you there is a difference between talking to someone and sharing your life experiences? As your therapist, it is important to express yourself in the best way you know how. It’s important that your decisions are respected in a safe space, so you feel comfortable, healthy and happy. It is my goal to empower you to engage in healthy behaviors through challenging alternative thoughts to increase your capability to recover from difficulties. I am in this with you. I celebrate your joys and process tough times with you.
Susan Vaughn
Limited Licensed Professional Counselor
Are you ready to embark on a journey of healing and self-discovery? Meet Susan a seasoned mental health therapist who brings a unique perspective to the field. With her background as a novelist, she possesses a remarkable talent for helping clients rewrite their narrativizes of pain into narratives of strength, resilience, and growth.Imagine a compassionate and energetic therapist who not only listens but also empowers you to take charge of your own healing. Susan is that person. Her infectious energy and unwavering compassion create a safe space where you can explore your emotions, challenge negative thoughts, and develop healthy coping strategies.
Through the art of storytelling, Susan helps you reframe your past experiences, empowering you to see them from a different perspective. Together, you'll unravel the threads of your past stories and rewrite them with strength, resilience, and hope. Susan's unique skill set as a novelist brings a fresh and creative approach to therapy, making the process engaging and deeply transformative. Susan is ready to accompany you on this transformative journey, providing unwavering support, guidance, and expertise every step of the way. Her goal is to empower you to embrace your inner strength, find your voice, and cultivate a newfound sense of self.
"Coming to therapy helped me realize there was a whole new possibility for my life. It was the best decision I made. "