Lawrence A. Viers, PhD, FAGPA
Dr. Viers earned his bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt in 1970. He majored in Philosophy and History. He attended the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago for three years, including an internship year, before transferring to the California School of Professional Psychology at Fresno, now part of Alliant University. There he earned his MA in 1975 and his PhD in Clinical Psychology in 1977.
He joined the staff of Porter-Starke Services in 1977. In 1980, he was promoted to clinical director of the inpatient unit. He later gained managerial experience running intake and emergency services, satellite services, and adult outpatient services. During this time, he founded and ran a program for evaluating custody and parent time.
He took and passed his private practice licensing examination in 1982 and opened his offices in Munster that year. In 1984, he was promoted to Co-Chief of Operations for Porter-Starke. In 1986, he left Porter-Starke to begin full-time private practice. Since that time, he and his partner, Thomas Nimtz, MSW, purchased and operated offices for mental health professionals in Valparaiso and Munster.
Dr. Viers is a clinical member and Fellow of the American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA) and a Certified Group Psychotherapist. He has served as a board member, treasurer, and president of the Illinois Group Psychotherapy Society (IGPS), DBA Great Lakes Group Psychotherapy Society (GLGPS). He held the position of Adjunct Assistant Professor at Valparaiso University for six years, during which time he taught group counseling in the graduate department. Dr. Viers has also been a trainer and presenter in group psychotherapy at the regional and national level for IGPS and AGPA.
He joined the staff of Porter-Starke Services in 1977. In 1980, he was promoted to clinical director of the inpatient unit. He later gained managerial experience running intake and emergency services, satellite services, and adult outpatient services. During this time, he founded and ran a program for evaluating custody and parent time.
He took and passed his private practice licensing examination in 1982 and opened his offices in Munster that year. In 1984, he was promoted to Co-Chief of Operations for Porter-Starke. In 1986, he left Porter-Starke to begin full-time private practice. Since that time, he and his partner, Thomas Nimtz, MSW, purchased and operated offices for mental health professionals in Valparaiso and Munster.
Dr. Viers is a clinical member and Fellow of the American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA) and a Certified Group Psychotherapist. He has served as a board member, treasurer, and president of the Illinois Group Psychotherapy Society (IGPS), DBA Great Lakes Group Psychotherapy Society (GLGPS). He held the position of Adjunct Assistant Professor at Valparaiso University for six years, during which time he taught group counseling in the graduate department. Dr. Viers has also been a trainer and presenter in group psychotherapy at the regional and national level for IGPS and AGPA.