Alice J. Olson

Backed by more than 40 years of professional expertise, Alice J. Olson, LMHC, LCAC is a licensed mental health counselor, licensed clinical addiction counselor and a nationally certified addiction counselor, specializing in behavioral support for addictions, as well as counseling clients who are hard of hearing and deaf. She first earned a Bachelor of Science in education from Indiana State University in 1972, followed by a Master of Arts in special education from Ball State University in 1978. She later continued her education with a Master of Arts in counseling and guidance from Governors State University in 2001.

For the past six years, Ms. Olson has excelled as an addictions and mental health counselor at the Parkdale Center for Professionals in Chesterton. Prior to her current position, she had worked for the Regional Mental Health Center in Merrillville from 2006 to 2015, having also been a group facilitator at the St. Jude House in Crown Point from 2000 to 2011. Earlier, Ms. Olson served the Methodist Hospital in Merrillville as an addictions and behavioral medicine counselor from 1986 to 2006 and Indiana Vocal Rehabilitation in Highland as a vocational rehabilitation counselor for the deaf from 1975 to 1986. In her first professional role, she taught adult education at Portage Adult Education in 1975.

Alongside her primary roles, Ms. Olson has served as the president of the Indiana chapter of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, as well as the Indiana Deafness and Rehabilitation Association. She has also been chair of the Valparaiso’s Mayor’s Advisory Council for People with Disabilities, an advisor with the Department Mental Health Advisory Council on Mental Health Services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People and treasurer of the Everybody Counts Center Independent for Living. For many years, Ms. Olson taught American Sign Language classes in northwest Indiana.

To attest to her success, Ms. Olson’s honors include letters of commendation from President Ronald Reagan, along with Indiana Governors Robert Orr and Otis Bowen. In accounting for her success, she simply credits her ability to advocate for her patients. To remain abreast of her field, she holds membership in the following organizations: CASA, the Indiana Counselors Association Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Indiana Association of the Deaf, Indiana Deafness and Rehabilitation, National Association for the Deaf, National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors, and Indiana Association of Addiction Professionals. Prior to her semi-retirement, she was affiliated with the American Counseling Association.