Mitzi Kalin, PsyD

Clinical Psychologist | Founder

People make sense.

That belief has guided Dr. Mitzi Kalin's work as a psychologist since 2005 and remains at the heart of her approach today. Whether someone is struggling with anxiety, OCD, trauma, ADHD, relationship challenges, or simply feeling stuck, she believes there is always a reason beneath the pattern—and understanding that reason is often where change begins.

Dr. Kalin founded Thrive Psychology in 2013 with a vision of creating a practice built on curiosity, clinical excellence, and a genuine respect for the resilience of the people seeking help. She earned her bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Michigan before completing both her master's degree and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.

Her work integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), EMDR, Parts Work, and other evidence-based approaches to help clients better understand themselves and the strategies they have developed throughout their lives. Many of the symptoms that bring people to therapy—overthinking, perfectionism, avoidance, people-pleasing, emotional shutdown, hypervigilance—began as intelligent attempts to adapt, cope, or stay safe. Therapy is an opportunity to appreciate what those strategies have done for us, while deciding whether they still belong in the life we're building today.

Dr. Kalin is especially drawn to helping people untangle complex patterns, make sense of seemingly contradictory parts of themselves, and replace self-judgment with understanding. She enjoys the detective work of psychology: discovering how experiences, relationships, beliefs, and coping strategies come together to shape the way we experience the world.

She believes therapy is most effective when it combines psychological science, genuine connection, practical skill-building, and the occasional well-timed moment of humor. After all, understanding ourselves is serious work—but it doesn't have to feel heavy every minute.

Her goal is not to tell clients who they should become. It is to help them understand who they are, update the strategies that no longer serve them, and move forward with greater clarity, confidence, and intention.

Credentials

Education

• PsyD, Clinical Psychology

  -The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

• BA, Psychology

  -The University of Michigan

Training

• EMDR Certified

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

• Exposure & Response Prevention

• Internal Family Systems & Parts Work