Christine Vander Wielen, MSW, LCSW
Founder and therapist of Rising Hope Family Counseling Center, Christine has been providing counseling services for over 25 years. A frequent guest on the long running Practical Family Living radio broadcast, Christine has been a sought after speaker at retreats and community events. She was a psychotherapist at Center for Family Healing for 23 years until its closure in 2023. Clients often describe Christine as warm, caring, and extremely knowledgeable. Her positive outlook and gentle demeanor provide a place where clients can find help and hope that is always seasoned with compassion.
Earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a psychology major from Marquette University, Christine worked in the social service field upon graduation. She worked in an Adult Day Health and then as a protective service worker for the elderly. Recognizing the importance of healthy family relationships, Christine was led to work as a caseworker with a specialized foster care agency. In this capacity, she primarily worked with children and adolescents who had experienced significant loss, abuse, and trauma.
Before long, Christine was asked to supervise and help develop a national pilot program, a psychiatric hospital diversion program for children and adolescents. Through her experience, she saw the impact a disruptive and chaotic home environment had on the mental, emotional, physical, and psychological health of children and adolescents. She witnessed how the marital relationship and parental figures sets the tone for the other relationships in the family.
Wanting to be better equipped to serve others, Christine headed to graduate school at Boston College where she earned her Master of Social Work degree. Upon graduation, she worked as a clinical social worker at the nationally renowned Gosnold / Thorne outpatient mental health clinic until returning to the Midwest.
In addition to her role as clinical therapist, Christine has worked as the Office Manager at Vander Wielen Health & Wellness Diagnostic Center since 2009. She has been blessed to work alongside her husband and help patients realize improvements in their health and achieve their health goals.
Christine and her husband are the parents of two strong-willed adult children which has given her much opportunity to learn, grow, and even sometimes struggle with parenting. Besides spending time with family and friends, Christine enjoys traveling, exercising, cooking, and learning.