Michigan Psychological Care

04/09/2026

Meet our Medical Assistants!

Audri Wight, MA (Alma)
With over six years of experience in patient care, I bring both clinical knowledge and a compassionate approach to my role at Michigan Psychological Care. I am a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and recently completed my training as a Clinical Medical Assistant. I’m deeply passionate about patient care and strive to ensure every individual feels heard, seen, and valued.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my husband, our daughter, our two dogs, and our extended family. I’m proud to be part of a team that puts people first and look forward to making a meaningful difference in the lives of our patients.

DeQuasha Poplar, MA (Howell)
DeQuasha received her certification at mott community college. She worked in education for eight years prior to this role and her passion is for the betterment of the health of my community. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her son and other immediate family. She enjoys painting and reading as well as being outdoors with her child.

Jennifer Sharp, MA (Midland)
Medical Assistant
Jennifer has been a Medical Assistant for 14 years with experience in all different settings including urgent care, family practice, cardiology, and pediatrics. She loves helping people in all aspects of life, which definitely shows through her work. In her spare time, she loves spending time with her husband, five kids, and two grandbabies!

Cori Parker, RMA (Saint Johns)
Cori is a seasoned Medical Assistant with over 20 years of experience in providing compassionate, hands-on care in the healthcare field. Known for her dedication, professionalism, and heart for helping others, Cori has built strong relationships with both patients and medical teams throughout her career. Outside of work, Cori shares her life with her husband and is the devoted mother of three beautiful daughters. She has a deep love for the outdoors—spending her free time gardening, fishing, camping, and enjoying nature. At home, she cares for a variety of animals, reflecting her nurturing spirit in every part of her life.

04/08/2026

Update!

Howell office will run as usual tomorrow! Thank you for your patience!

-MPC Howell

04/07/2026

TIP TUESDAY

Today is World Health Day! For World Health Day, let's all take a moment to schedule doctor's appointments, dental appointments, therapy appointments... or even look into insurance plans. Today is a great day to focus on caring for ourselves even if that means just drinking an extra glass of water.

If you're interested in therapy, give us a call at 989-292-3572 or visit our website www.michiganpsychologicalcare.com

04/07/2026

ANNOUNCEMENT:

Due to an issue in the Howell building, all Howell clients will be switched to virtual. Our front desk is working diligently to get ahold of anyone this may impact! We will make sure to post an update when we return to the office! Thank you!

-MPC Howell

04/06/2026

Mental Health Monday
Silence as a Tool

In a tense situation, our brains are wired for "ping-pong." Someone says something aggressive, and we feel an immediate, physical urge to hit the ball back. By staying silent, you "break the table."

1. Why it Works:
The "Vacuum Effect"
Humans are naturally uncomfortable with silence. When you stop talking, you create a conversational "vacuum." Most people will reflexively try to fill that hole by:

Elaborating on what they just said.

Softening their previous harsh tone.

Giving up the "real" reason they are upset.

2. The Science:
Lowering the Amygdala Hijack
When someone is shouting or tense, their amygdala (the brain's emotional alarm) is in control. If you speak, they have something to react to, which keeps their alarm ringing. If you stay silent and maintain neutral body language, you aren't giving their brain any "fuel." Eventually, their prefrontal cortex (the logical part) has to kick back in to figure out why the room went quiet.

3. How to Do It (The 4-Second Rule)
You don't have to stay silent forever. That can feel like a "silent treatment" punishment. Instead, use the 4 second rule:

When they finish a heated sentence, count to four in your head before responding.

Keep your eye contact soft (don't stare them down).

Keep your body language soft and open

4. What to Say After the Silence
If they don't fill the space and just look at you, use a "bridge" phrase.

"I want to make sure I’m processing everything you just said. Tell me more about xyz."

"It sounds like there’s a lot behind that. I’m listening."

Lastly, sometimes the most important thing you can say is nothing at all.

04/02/2026

Type BRAIN if you want the link to this poster and lesson that goes with it and I’ll send it to you.

When a child yells, shuts down, runs off, or completely freezes, it is not random. It's most likely the stress response.

Fight.
Flight.
Freeze.

That reaction comes from the hardworking part of the brain that is wired to protect us. When something feels threatening, even if it is just a hard assignment or a social problem, the brain reacts fast. Thinking gets harder. Listening gets harder. Making good choices gets harder.

And Your Brave, Hardworking Brain lesson teaches kids what is actually happening. What fight can look like. What flight can look like. What freeze can look like. And why their body feels buzzy, angry, panicked, or stuck. And most importantly, what helps the brain settle so the thinking part can come back online.

When kids understand the stress response, it stops being “What is wrong with me?” and starts being “Oh. My brain is trying to protect me.”

If you want the full lesson, type BRAIN and I’ll send the link.

04/02/2026

Meet Madison! Madison is one of the testing providers in our Saint John's office. She is AMAZING and we receive nothing but the best compliments about her.

Madison started her education at Alma College, and ended her education with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Central Michigan University. She would like to further her education with a Master’s in the future. She has always found interest in Mental Health and helping others. She administers psychological testing at the Saint John’s location. Outside of the office she enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, and being outdoors.

04/01/2026

03/30/2026

Mental Health Monday
The Sugar & Carb "Crash"

Easter is the second-largest candy holiday in the world. Even if you aren't religious or celebrate Easter, the proximity to high-sugar foods is statistically higher this weekend.

A high-sugar spike causes a massive release of Insulin, which then leads to a "glucose dip."

This "dip" mimics the symptoms of clinical anxiety: shakiness, irritability, and "brain fog."

What do you do to balance the glucose dip and symptoms?

03/26/2026

Let's welcome one of our new clinicians in the Alma office to the company. Welcome, Chris!

Chris received his Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Michigan- Ann Arbor, and his Masters degree in Counseling Psychology from Wayne State University. He has over 10 years of experience working in outpatient mental health, treating clients of all ages. Chris takes a client-centered approach, focusing on empathy, warmth, and developing trust with the client as the foundation for therapy. Chris also utilizes techniques from cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), ecological theory, and family/couples therapy to help with diagnosis and treatment. Outside of the office, Chris enjoys spending time outdoors, music, and being with friends/family.

If you'd like to schedule with Chris or another clinician, give us a call at 989-292-3572 or visit our website at www.michiganpsychologicalcare.com

03/24/2026

TIP TUESDAY

Are you looking for something beyond the standard "grounding" toolkit? Let's look at The Mammalian Dive Reflex (a biological "kill switch" for the sympathetic nervous system)

The "Ice Water" Reset 🧊
When anxiety spikes, your heart rate climbs, and your brain enters "fight or flight." You can manually override this by tricking your body into thinking it’s underwater.

Splashing ice-cold water on your face (specifically around the eyes and cheekbones) triggers the Vagus Nerve.

This activation can drop your heart rate by 10–25% almost instantly.

The Tip: Next time you feel a panic spike, head to the sink and splash your face with the coldest water possible for 30 seconds.

Why it Works: It forces your body to shift from "Anxiety Mode" to "Survival/Conservation Mode," effectively "rebooting" your nervous system without you having to say a single mantra.

Have you heard about the sour candy method?

03/24/2026

Jeff Moore