Jennifer R. Mertz-Turner, M.A., LMHC, RPT-S, MAC, LCAC 

Licensed Mental Health Counselor / Master Addiction Counselor / Registered Play Therapist – Supervisor

• Jennifer currently has a waiting list and is not accepting new clients.

Jennifer R. Mertz-Turner, MA, LMHC, RPT-S, MAC, LCAC is the owner of J M-Turner, Inc. Counseling and Play Therapy, a private practice located in Kendallville, Indiana in Northeast Indiana. She also provides consulting services, trainings and clinical supervision for registered play therapy certification.

Jennifer incorporates an integrative approach to psychological wellness that includes physical health, emotional stability, healthy relationships and spiritual growth. She has 20 years of counseling experience in anxiety, depression and mood disorders, adjustment issues, childhood disorders (including ADHD and defiant behaviors), trauma and attachment issues, substance abuse and impulse control disorders as well as issues related to parenting, marriage/divorce, grief/loss and stage of life changes. 

Jennifer began working with children and families during her graduate program at Grace College in 2004 and while she was a case manager for children with emotional and behavioral problems. She has worked with children and families since 2003 and serves a diverse population with a variety of mental health concerns and has specialized training in the areas of addiction, EMDR and play therapy. 

Jennifer’s special passion in counseling is helping children, teens and families through the use of play therapy and other evidence-based treatment approaches. She is a member of the national and Indiana Association for Play Therapy (APT).  She earned the highest  designation as a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor. This was attained by attending over 150 hours of play therapy training and undergoing play therapy specific supervision. She continues to enhance her skills with ongoing training for child and adolescent mental health issues.

Jennifer is a Master Addictions Counselor, certified by the national NAADAC organization and a Licensed Clinical Addictions Counselor. She has worked with men, women and adolescents in recovery for substance abuse and impulse control disorders. She has enjoyed her work with couples, families and children who have a loved one with an addiction issue as they adjust in the healing recovery process together. Sometimes, the loved one with the addiction is not ready for change and family members often seek counseling for themselves to help them understand and process their own emotions and challenges that addiction plays in their lives. 

She and her husband, Kyle, enjoy lake and nature activities and parenting two Goldendoodles, Bobby and Luna. Bobby works with her as an Animal Assisted Therapy dog and is named after her father, Robert, who passed away in November 2017. Bobby, now 6, has been a comfort to her and others through the grieving process. Luna Serenity, now 2, also enjoys coming to the office on Bobby’s days off.