Brainspotting Therapists in Fort Wayne, IN

Hi! My name is Anna Darbonne (pronounced Dahr-bon, like a bonfire), I'm a Clinical Psychologist, author, entrepreneur, and mama. I help high achieving, self-reflective clients to cope with life transitions, feel great about themselves and their lives, and to transform grief or challenging experiences into meaningful personal growth opportunities. I am a firm believer in the healing power of laughter and play, that the best way to care for others is to prioritize caring for ourselves, that relationships don't end at death, and that ice cream is one of the best inventions ever!

Choosing to step into therapy is a profound act of courage. If you are arriving here feeling fractured, exhausted by systemic pressures, or disconnected from your own sense of peace, I want to welcome you just as you are. I believe that therapy is an equal, sacred partnership built on radical warmth, deep safety, and authentic human connection. You are the ultimate expert on your own life history; my role is to walk beside you as a grounded, down-to-earth ally, providing the space and the tools you need to find your footing and heal. My worldview as a counselor is shaped by a deep understanding of the delicate bridge between mind and body. True emotional wellness cannot exist in isolation. You are a whole person whose nervous system, thoughts, and daily stress levels are intimately tied to your unique biology, your past experiences, and the heavy social and economic realities you navigate every day. Because of this, I look at your story through a highly integrative lens. I don't believe in rigid, cold clinical boxes or passive, distant head-nodding. Instead, I bring my full, authentic self to our sessions, blending a gentle clinical perspective with an open heart and an interactive, highly collaborative style. In our work together, we will move at a pace that feels entirely safe for you. Because everyone processes life and pain differently, I love using creative, visual, and somatic frameworks to help bring what is happening internally into the light, transforming overwhelming or abstract emotions into tangible, manageable steps. Together, we will gently explore the root causes of what is keeping you stuck, soothe your nervous system from old trauma or chronic burnout, and unpack the real-world burdens that demanding environments place on your mind. There is no judgment here—only a dedicated, compassionate space where you can quiet the noise of the world, honor your lived experience, and reclaim your personal agency to build a life of lasting peace and clarity.

I’m Dr. Ilyssa Swartout, a licensed psychologist dedicated to helping adults and couples heal from past wounds and create meaningful change. My approach blends warmth, presence, and evidence-based therapy to help you move beyond old patterns and reconnect with your sense of worth and wholeness. My background includes over 20 years of mentorship with James Bugental, Ph.D., founder of Humanistic Psychotherapy, and advanced training in EMDR, Brainspotting, Gestalt Therapy, and Developmental Needs Meeting Strategy (DNMS). These approaches support healing from trauma, anxiety, depression, and relationship difficulties by addressing both emotional and body-based experiences. As an EMDR Consultant and Certified In-Depth Therapist, I guide clients and other professionals toward lasting transformation and self-understanding. Therapy is a courageous step toward healing and growth. Together, we’ll create a safe and supportive space for you to explore, recover, and thrive.

I take an integrative, holistic approach that blends evidence-based psychological methods with mindfulness and body-based practices. I help clients process trauma, difficult emotions, and life stressors by working with both the mind and body. My work may include Brainspotting for trauma processing, cognitive-behavioral strategies for shifting unhelpful thinking patterns, and developing greater acceptance of difficult thoughts and emotions. I view therapy as a collaborative process, combining my clinical training with your knowledge of your own experiences.

I’ve spent a lot of time developing expertise in the issues I work with; however, I rely equally on my heart and gut sense in working with each client uniquely. I have a straightforward, common-sense style and know the value of elbow grease in making life changes. Trauma in all its forms is the thread that connects the different life problems I specialize in working with. I don’t believe in having only one tool in my toolbox, any more than I believe in having only one trauma treatment available to help you. Let’s figure out what tools work best for you, whether that be EMDR, Accelerated Resolution Therapy, Somatic Experiencing, Brain Spotting, Deep Brain Reorienting, or the Safe and Sound Protocol. We currently have openings for intensives, men's and women's groups, and online workshops.

Fort Wayne is Indiana's second-largest city and a hub for defense manufacturing, healthcare, and distribution logistics — an occupational mix that shapes a therapy culture in which shift work stress, workplace injury adjustment, and career identity are common themes. The city has a significant Burmese refugee community — one of the largest in the United States — creating important demand for therapists with cultural competence around refugee trauma, resettlement stress, and the challenges of navigating American systems. Parkview Health and Lutheran Health Network provide major institutional mental health resources alongside a private practice community. Fort Wayne's conservative faith community means spiritually integrated approaches are a prominent feature of the local therapy offering.

Gender ID

100%

Female

Session Type

	60%	Online Only
	40%	In Person and Online

Top Specialties

80%	Trauma and PTSD
80%	Stress
80%	Self Esteem
80%	Loss or Grief
80%	Women's Issues
60%	Anxiety or Fears
60%	Emotional Abuse

Ages Served

100%	Adult
80%	Senior
60%	Young Adult
20%	Teen

Client Focus

80%	Women
60%	Men
40%	Christian
20%	LDS/Mormon
20%	Hispanic / Latino

Brainspotting therapists in Fort Wayne, Indiana IN

Bamboo Center for Grief, Growth, & Well-being

Stacy Lepley

Ilyssa Swartout

Marina Sud

Dr Janice Caudill - Intensive Recovery Healing