Cindy Bridgman, LCSW

Cindy has been working professionally with children and families since 1996. She specializes in helping children who have experienced sexual abuse, severe physical abuse, neglect and abandonment. In this role she finds joy in walking with the child and family through the healing process. “There are few things more fulfilling than witnessing a child and family grow stronger after experiencing such a devastating blow.”

Cindy has provided therapy to hundreds of children who have experienced the trauma of abuse, as well as provided therapeutic supervision for more than a thousand children served by other clinicians. She has testified as an expert approximately 100 times in criminal, family, and military courts throughout the United States. Cindy has also served as a forensic interviewer for children suspected to be victims of abuse. She has made more than 300 presentations over the years both locally and at national conferences on topics directly connected to child abuse and prevention of abuse.

A graduate of the University of Michigan School of Social Work, Cindy continues her support by serving as a member of the School of Social Work’s Alumni Board of Governors. She obtained her undergraduate degree in social work from Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland. Cindy is a member of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (APSAC). She is licensed as a Clinical Social Worker in both Michigan and Washington D.C.

A lovingly drawn photo of Cindy!

Cindy has provided therapy to many children in her career, working at the YWCA of Greater Flint, CARE House of Oakland County, Hope Counseling Center in Fairbanks, Alaska, and Safe Shores – The DC Children’s Advocacy Center. Her husband currently pastors Crystal Springs Church of God in Benton Harbor, Michigan where she is active in a variety of roles.

Abi Austin

Abi’s kind and relaxed manner sets children and teens at ease, as therapy begins and throughout the process. Her combination of trauma training and desire to help kids heal provides children and families with the tools and support needed to make life enjoyable again.

Abi’s passion for working with kids who have experienced trauma began when she took a job in the foster care system supervising visits between foster kids and their parents. While simultaneously earning her bachelor’s degree in social work, she began to see how kids in the system were so often misunderstood or missed. This experience planted an interest in her to understand how children’s experiences impact their development, how children’s behaviors could be explained and what could be done to help them heal.We welcome Abi as our newest member of our dedicated team. We are still collecting Abi’s team information and will post it here as soon as possible. 

This curiosity led her to Western Michigan University’s Master in Social Work program where she studied trauma, the impact it has on children and how that information can help children and their families. She learned to utilize Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in sessions with teens while completing her internship at a residential facility for girls 11-17 who had experienced complex trauma in Post Falls, Idaho. This 500 hour internship gave her both clinical experience and a clarity that this was the work she was meant to do. She found that the fulfillment and honor she felt in walking alongside someone else in their healing journey was worth devoting her life to.

Alongside her clinical master’s degree, Abi also has experience working within systems, such as non-profits and governmental organizations. Through her undergraduate internship completed at Grow and Lead Community and Youth Development, a non-profit committed to seeing all kids thrive through providing expertise and training to non-profits, she learned the great impact that could be had on a child’s life by helping them to navigate messy and complex systems. Abi feels strongly not only about walking alongside children and their families through therapy but also in being an advocate for them within the systems they exist in.

Breanne Jones, LLMSW

Breanne has seen the universal impact of trauma and how it affects children worldwide. She has had many cross-cultural experiences that have helped shaped her view on child development and the impact trauma has on the developmental process. Breanne chose to do her undergraduate internship in Kampala, Uganda. Breanne gained much experience in working with young girls who became pregnant and were ostracized from their families. Breanne worked with the girls on coping skills and life skills, in order to assist the girls for what was ahead. Breanne also spent time talking with the girls about their pasts and what they desired for their futures. Breanne finished her undergraduate studies and graduated from Kuyper College in December of 2014 with her Bachelors of Social Work and Bible and Theology.

Breanne then worked at a crisis home for adults who suffer from a variety of mental illnesses. It was here that Breanne saw the deep connection between childhood trauma and many forms of mental illness. In hearing many of the resident’s stories, Breanne saw how untreated childhood trauma had a great impact on the mental health of a majority of the residents. This ignited a passion in Breanne to work with children who have experienced trauma in hopes to better the child’s future.

Breanne attended Western Michigan University and received her Masters of Social Work along with a Trauma Across the Lifespan Specialization and a Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Certification. Breanne completed her 500-hour internship and Bridges of Courage Counseling. “My internship at Bridges of Courage Counseling showed me my true passion and calling in life.” Now, as a member of the team, Breanne continues to live out her passion daily in working with children who have experienced trauma. “There is great joy in walking with a child on their journey. No words can describe the internal reward I receive when I see a child healing in front of me. There really is nothing more rewarding in this life.”

Molly Triemstra

Molly has always been someone who sees people differently. While others may see a person who behaves poorly or is “difficult”, Molly sees and understands that people typically have a reason for acting the way that they do. She desires to understand those reasons and work alongside people to change their future for the better.

Molly’s passion for working with kids from hard places blossomed through her experience as a foster parent. Her family’s fostering journey began in 2017. Through this labor of love, Molly has gained experience and understanding in the systems kids work with, the struggles kids and families experience and some of the resources available to help. Molly has a special understanding of the ups and downs of the foster care system, and can provide unique support to kids and families in this area.

As an experienced social worker, Molly has worked with many different types of people and systems in a variety of roles. After graduating with a BSW from Calvin University (2007) and completing her MSW at Grand Valley State University (2008), Molly moved to St. Joseph where she began working with the elderly and disabled population. As Molly’s knowledge of trauma grew, she began to recognize how many struggles in the lives of older adults might have been lessened if they would have received support and treatment while they were younger. It is this recognition, in part, that led Molly to working with kids who have experienced trauma. She believes that by impacting 1 kid for a lifetime, not only that child, but his/her family and community will also see positive change. That potential is exciting!

Contact Information:

Phone: 269.944.9274

1465 Pipestone Rd
Benton Harbor
Mi, 49022