Counselors
Real Life Counseling is a team of compassionate and experienced professionals who care deeply about helping individuals and families thrive. Our counselors bring a wide range of unique experiences, training, and specialties, allowing us to match each client with the provider who best fits their needs.
When you contact our office, we will help guide you toward the counselor who is the best match for your situation.
Jake is the founder of Real Life Counseling and has been serving families in Northern Michigan since 2011. After graduating from Grand Valley State University in 2007, Jake completed his Master’s Degree at Spring Arbor University in 2015.
Jake’s background includes working as a licensed teacher, school counselor, licensed professional counselor, and counselor supervisor. His experience in schools gave him a deep understanding of how family dynamics, culture, and community influence young people and their development.
Jake is passionate about helping teens, parents, and families navigate complex challenges and build healthier relationships.
Before becoming a counselor, Jake spent many years working with youth at camps, church programs, and Young Life. These experiences shaped his passion for helping young people grow into healthy, confident adults.
Jake believes counseling works best when clients feel seen, understood, and supported while also being encouraged to grow.
Outside the office, Jake enjoys mountain biking, rock climbing, and playing hockey in the winter. These activities reflect Jake's values he brings into counseling: adventure, personal growth, resilience, and strong community.
Dr. Brandon Mielke has been helping individuals struggling with substance use, anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns since 2017.
Brandon completed his Bachelor's degree in Counseling Psychology at Cornerstone University in 2017. He earned his Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary in 2020 and completed his Ph.D. in General Psychology through Liberty University in 2025.
Brandon is a Licensed Professional Counselor, National Certified Counselor, and Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor.
His professional experience includes working in residential rehabilitation centers, inpatient psychiatric facilities, and outpatient clinics.
Brandon enjoys helping clients find freedom from addiction and develop healthier emotional patterns.
Outside of counseling, Brandon enjoys spending time with his wife and children and exploring the outdoor beauty of Northern Michigan.
Aleena Hellebuyck is a Limited Licensed Professional Counselor (LLPC) with more than 10 years of experience working with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. She provides therapy for individuals navigating anxiety, trauma, relationship challenges, identity exploration, life transitions, and substance use concerns. Aleena is passionate about helping clients build self-awareness, strengthen relationships, and create meaningful, lasting change through a collaborative and authentic therapeutic process.
Aleena works primarily with adolescents, adults, couples, and families. Her clinical approach is informed by psychodynamic therapy, Mentalization-Based Treatment (MBT), and Gottman Method principles for couples counseling. She helps clients develop a deeper understanding of their emotions, relationship patterns, and underlying experiences that contribute to current challenges. Her work emphasizes emotional insight, relational growth, improved communication, and long-term psychological well-being.
Her professional background includes extensive experience within the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. As a former foster care case manager with the State of Michigan, Aleena developed expertise in child abuse and neglect, adoption, trauma, family systems, and complex behavioral concerns. She also has significant experience in juvenile drug court programming, substance use treatment, criminality, and re-entry services. Throughout her career, she has worked with individuals and families from diverse socioeconomic, cultural, and clinical backgrounds in community-based, nonprofit, and private practice settings.
Aleena earned her Master's Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Central Michigan University and holds a Limited Licensed Professional Counselor (LLPC) credential in the State of Michigan. She is also a Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor – Development Plan (CAADC-DP). Her clinical specialties include couples therapy, adolescent counseling, addiction and recovery, family conflict, divorce and co-parenting concerns, anxiety, trauma, identity development, and relationship difficulties.
Aleena offers in-person appointments on Fridays and telehealth services throughout the week for clients located in Michigan. She is a private-pay provider, allowing for individualized treatment planning and a personalized therapeutic experience focused on each client's unique goals and needs.
Outside of her professional work, Aleena values overall wellness, enjoys fitness and outdoor activities, and appreciates spending time in nature with her golden retrievers. She believes that meaningful change occurs through authenticity, self-reflection, and the development of healthier relationships with both oneself and others.
Lauren earned their Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling through Central Michigan University after completing an internship experience here at Real Life Counseling.
Lauren brings a relational, strengths-based, and compassion-focused approach to their work with couples, families, and individuals age 7 to 70.
Their areas of interest include trauma, relationships, neurodivergence, gender identity, and sexuality. They are also trained in Applied Gaming (ask about Lauren's therapeutic TTRPG groups)!
Lauren is passionate about supporting individuals from diverse and marginalized backgrounds while helping clients explore connection, meaning, and wellness in their lives.
Outside of the office, Lauren enjoys traveling, music, walking in nature, gaming, and spending time with their husband and cat in Northern Michigan.
Melissa grew up in Metro Detroit and has called Northern Michigan home since 2014. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from Michigan State University and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Michigan.
Melissa is currently completing her Doctor of Nursing Practice as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner through Grand Valley State University with anticipated graduation in April 2027.
Since earning her nursing license in 2017, Melissa has worked in the emergency department, where she developed a strong interest in mental health through working with individuals in crisis.
Her diverse background also includes work as a ski instructor, EMT, firefighter, and professional in the equine industry.
Melissa lives in Boyne City with her husband and daughter and enjoys spending time outdoors and competing in dressage with her horses.
If you are interested in meeting with one of our counselors, we invite you to reach out. Our team will match you with the counselor who best fits your needs.