A specialty practice dedicated to the Psychology of Aging

Compassionate Geriatric Psychology Services & Innovation for Older Adults, Families, and Professionals

Collage of three images: an older adult woman stretching outdoors, a young girl and an aging woman baking together in a kitchen, and two elderly men walking in a park.

We help you honor legacies, find clarity, and embrace what matters most.


Strong roots, aligned paths, open skies.

Sketch of a thin, leafy plant with multiple stems and small leaves, stylized in minimalistic line art.
Creates a simple design for this practice - known by many terms: counseling, therapy, psychotherapy, psychology, mental health, behavioral health

Getting older is not for wimps…


Growing older can bring wisdom - and sometimes complex emotional, cognitive, physical, and relational changes. At Jaybird and Oak, we provide expert compassionate psychological care designed specifically for older adults and those who care for them.

We believe aging is not something to “fix” but to understand, support, optimize, and honor. Understanding your values and supporting a life that is more deeply aligned with them can help clarify the path forward.

During storms and times of transition in nature, this is when it is most important to stabilize the roots. At Jaybird and Oak, we can help you find a steady place to land and feel more like yourself through seasons of change.

Schedule a free consultation to learn more about how clinical geropsychology can help.


Who can benefit?


  • Are you or your family dealing with aging issues?

  • Navigating life transitions?

  • Not feeling like yourself lately?

  • Struggling with losses?

  • Coping with health issues, cognitive trouble, or disability?

  • Not able to do what you previously enjoyed?

  • Crunched between caring for aging parents and children of your own?

  • Feeling stuck and unsure how to move forward?


You do not have to travel this journey alone.


A painting of a large tree with green leaves by a body of water, with a bluebird perched on a branch. This was painted by Anna Ostrowski, grandmother of Dr. Allison Ilem

Just need a safe place to land?

Let’s talk about how
Jaybird & Oak can help.

Outline drawing of a leafy plant with multiple oval-shaped leaves

We specialize in…

  • Later life often brings reflection, reevaluation, and meaning-making. It’s not just about looking backwards, it’s about integrating a life well lived. And making this chapter the best it possibly can be.

  • Caring for others can be a big job with many logistical and emotional stressors. Caring for someone else can cause people to dismiss or push aside their own needs. This can become problematic both short and long-term.

  • Sometimes changes cause stress - even the “good” ones. Small and big life shifts can leave us feeling off. It can be helpful to have a place to sort through the adjustments and clarify your path forward.

  • Grief is a painful and natural response to loss. In later life it can take many forms — mourning the death of a loved one, changes in health, shifts in independence, or the loss of familiar roles and routines.

    We understand grief as something that unfolds over time, shaped by life history, relationships, and meaning. Therapy offers a supportive space to honor what has been lost, make sense of complex emotions, and gently reconnect with what still brings purpose, comfort, and connection.


How it Works


01

Reach out

Reaching out can take courage.

Take the first step.

02

Connect

We offer a free 15 minute phone consultation.

Connect, get your questions answered, then decide if you want to move forward with in-person (Grand Rapids area) or virtual services.

If your needs would be better served elsewhere, we will help connect you with another provider who is a better fit.

03

Grow

Growth can happen at any age.

Start living a life that is meaningful, honors your values, and fills you with a sense of purpose and dignity.

Feel more like you.


Want more information?

Where legacy, growth, and emotional wellbeing meet.

Find your aligned path forward.

— strong roots, aligned paths, open skies

— strong roots, aligned paths, open skies