I specialize in working with individuals navigating cancer and chronic illness, those grieving as well as their caregivers and professional helpers who struggle with the emotional and physical toll of ongoing medical challenges. Chronic conditions often bring invisible burdens: uncertainty, identity shifts, medical trauma, and the strain of long-term stress on the body and nervous system. Many of my clients wrestle with perfectionism, feeling like they are never enough, or believing their needs should always come last. Often, these patterns began as survival skills—ways to cope, push through, and stay in control when life feels unpredictable. My approach integrates IFS-informed EMDR, nervous system regulation, and practical tools to revise patterns of behavior and communication that interfere with self-care and healthy boundaries.

With over 20 years of experience working alongside patients, families, and professional caregivers, I bring both clinical expertise and deep compassion to this work. I am passionate about helping people move through hard seasons without abandoning themselves. I believe it is possible to face serious illness and caregiving challenges while still experiencing meaning, connection, and even moments of happiness.

Licensure:
Licensed Professional Counselor- State of Michigan (License Number: 6401011266)

Education:

Master of Science in Education, Concentration:  Counseling and Human Services
Indiana University South Bend, May 2006
Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Michigan

Master of Arts in Education, Concentration:  Sports Management
Ohio State University, August 2000

Previous Clinical Experience:

Clinical Therapist
Pine Rest North Shore Clinic, Spring Lake, Michigan
November 2020- November 2025

Mind Body Counselor (previously titled Psychoneuroimmunology Counselor)
Goshen Center for Cancer Care, Goshen, Indiana, January 2013- October 2020
Cancer Care Partners, Mishawaka, Indiana, July 2010 – August 2012

Adjunct Professor
Bethel College, Mishawaka, Indiana, January 2008 – December 2010

Bereavement Care Coordinator
Hospice at Home, Buchanan, Michigan, November 2003 – July 2010

Publications and Professional Presentations:
Alkema, K., & Gingrich, R (2018). Journey of Courage and Hope: A Retreat for Patients with Metastatic Cancer and Those who Support Them.  Poster at the Let’s Talk Palliative Care: Caring for the Complex Patient Conference hosted by IUPUI Research in Palliative and End-of-Life Communication and Training (RESPECT) Signature Center, Carmel, IN. 

Alkema, K. (2010). Emotional labor and compassion fatigue in hospice professionals. Presented at the biennial Interdisciplinary Doctoral Research Conference hosted by Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI.

 Alkema, K. (2010). A study of the relationship between self-care, compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue, and burnout among hospice professionals.  Presented at the annual Kalamazoo Community Medical Health Sciences and Research Day, Kalamazoo, MI.

 Alkema, K., Linton, J. M., & David, R. (2008). A study of the relationship between self-care, compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue, and burnout among hospice professionals. Journal of Social Work in End-of-Life and Palliative Care,4(2).

 Alkema, K. (2008). A study of the relationship between self-care, compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue, and burnout among hospice professionals.  Presented at the annual clinical care conference of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, Dallas, TX.