Our Team
Whitney Harper, Ph.D., LCSW, CFLE, ADS
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Whitney has been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for over 20 years. She graduated from Grand Valley State University with her Master’s in Social Work in 1998 (Phi Alpha) and received her PhD in Human Development Family Studies from Michigan State University (Kappa Omicron Nu) in 2015.
With 20 years of experience in the field of substance use and trauma-focused treatment, Whitney is a certified Acupuncture Detoxification Specialist and fully embraces a holistic approach to recovery. Additionally, she specializes in working with adolescents and young adults addressing issues with co-dependency, depression, and anxiety. Whitney values an inclusive environment and provides a safe space for our BIPOC and LGBTQ communities.
Relational Therapy is central to Whitney’s therapeutic approach. Core to her work is the idea that we are shaped by our social world and relationships, and that having fulfilling relationships is essential to our well-being. Motivational Interviewing and Cognitive Behavioral techniques underscore her interactive approach in sessions.
As an Associate Professor at Western Kentucky University in the social work department, Whitney has published research in the field of addiction and trauma. She provides continuing education trainings to clinical social workers on topics such as the opioid epidemic, co-occurring disorders, intimate partner violence, sexual orientation and gender identification, and substance use.
Whitney grew up in Saginaw, Michigan. She has two horses and two dogs that are her fur babies. She loves hard rock music and going to concerts. When not riding her horses, she is going on runs and hikes with her dogs.