IFSTherapists

The therapist listings are provided by BetterHelp and we will earn a commission if you use our link - at no cost to you.

LMSW

April Hitchcock-Fofana , LMSW

  • Experience20 years
  • LocationMichigan
  • Focus areasStress and Anxiety, Relationship, and Grief
  • Therapy approachesInternal Family Systems and Client-Centered Therapy
Continue with April

Review online therapy options and next steps on BetterHelp.

About April

April Hitchcock-Fofana is a licensed social worker in Michigan with 20 years of clinical experience helping people manage complex emotional and life challenges.

Background and approach

She uses a person-centered, collaborative stance to guide work with depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties, grief, self-esteem, and addictions, along with concerns related to trauma, family dynamics, intimacy, sleep, parenting, anger, bipolar disorder, compassion fatigue, and ADHD. Her LMSW credential signals a graduate-level social work license and clinical practice experience in the state.

Her practice blends evidence-based strategies and empathic listening to support clients through life transitions, chronic health challenges, caregiving stress, adoption and foster care issues, attachment concerns, and blended family dynamics. April also addresses topics such as body image, cancer-related distress, chronic pain and disability, codependency, communication and control issues, and commitment worries.

She frames therapy as a cooperative process focused on understanding internal experience, building resilience, and identifying practical skills for day-to-day living. Therapeutic work is tailored to each person’s needs, drawing on approaches that include Internal Family Systems, client-centered techniques, cognitive behavioral tools, dialectical behavior strategies, and mindfulness practices.

Sessions aim to help clients develop insight, regulate emotions, and make meaningful changes at a pace that feels safe and manageable.

Integrating therapeutic approaches into online care

April draws on Internal Family Systems to help people explore internal parts and their roles; this approach can be useful for unpacking self-criticism, conflicting desires, and patterns that maintain distress. She also uses client-centered therapy, offering an empathic, nonjudgmental stance that prioritizes the client’s own goals and pace of healing. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is employed to identify and shift unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors, making it practical for anxiety, depression, and stress-related problems.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. April partners with clients to determine which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences, and she adjusts the plan over time as progress and priorities evolve.

Online sessions are offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These formats allow clients in Michigan to access consistent care from home or other convenient locations while using therapeutic tools and exercises adapted for remote work.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does April commonly address in therapy?
She works with a wide range of issues including stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and family difficulties, grief, self-esteem, addictions, trauma and intimacy-related concerns.
What is her therapeutic style and approach?
Her style is collaborative and person-centered, integrating evidence-based methods such as Internal Family Systems, CBT, DBT, and mindfulness to help clients gain insight and practical skills.
How much clinical experience does she have?
April has 20 years of clinical experience working with diverse emotional and life challenges.
What credentials and location does she hold?
She holds an LMSW and practices in Michigan; license details include MI LMSW 6801095576.
Does she offer services in other languages or to international clients?
Services are provided in English and she is not currently accepting international clients.
Which session formats are available for working together?
Sessions can be conducted via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to suit different needs and schedules.
How are fees structured for therapy with her?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What steps are required to begin therapy?
To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesGriefSelf esteemDepression

Also works with

AddictionsFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseIntimacy-related issuesSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementBipolar disorderCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeBlended family issuesBody imageCancerCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCo-morbidityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesDivorce and separationEating and food-related issuesEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsForgivenessGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingImmigration issuesImpulsivityInfidelityIntellectual disabilityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMidlife crisisMoney and financial issuesMood disordersMulticultural concernsObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthPrejudice and discriminationSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

20+ years

Licensed

Michigan

Languages

English