Counseling

Ellen Merker, MS LPC, is able to provide trauma therapy to clients with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as those who identify as neurodivergent. We are currently able to accept Medicaid, and the following HMO’s: Aetna, Cigna, and Optum insurances for counseling services.

We are not able to offer any crisis or emergency services. For anyone who may frequently need mental health support beyond weekly sessions, we would recommend a provider with on-call services and back-up providers when a therapist is out of the office.

Team and caregiver consultation (CCTS)

It’s unrealistic to expect that education and therapy alone will alter someone’s life, if there are environmental factors that are not supportive to learning or mental health. For clients who are struggling with issues around safe and healthy dating, trauma, mental health, and sexuality, we are able to provide short-term consultation to team and family members. This would include meeting with the client and team, and helping to create safety plans and resources to increase the team’s ability to respond appropriately to a client’s sexual needs. We are able to offer this consultation through Inclusa MCO, and Dane County CLTS.

Support and Educational groups

HEART also provides both support and educational groups for people with disabilities around safe and healthy relationships.

Examples of educational groups for self-advocates include healthy relationship skills, online safety, LGBTQ+, and training for caregivers around topics such as supporting healthy relationships and supporting survivors of trauma at home and in the community.

Groups are funded by grants when available and Dane County CLTS, as well as private pay. Please contact us to find out if we are currently running any groups. You can sign up for our newsletter to be the first to know when groups are starting!

Community outreach

We are happy to provide specialized training or presentations to organizations, schools, community groups, families, or anyone else who feels they could use more education around sexual and domestic violence against people with disabilities.

Presentation and training topics could include assertiveness, online safety, power and control, defining relationships, sexual assault and consent, sexual health and anatomy, intimate partner violence, workplace sexual harassment, supporting healthy relationships for clients, and more.  Have a specific training in mind that’s not listed?  We are happy to create a presentation or training that addresses your organization’s specific needs.

Contact us to discuss topics, pricing, and scheduling trainings or presentations