Therapists in Dekalb, IL

Feelings of anxiety, depression, inattention, and generally feeling like you are not in control of your mental and emotional state is an experience that many of us have. I have been working with youth, adults, and families in developing skills to achieve mental and emotional health goals for the past 6 years in school social work and domestic violence survivor counseling. I am passionate about supporting you or your child with a variety of presenting concerns. From anxiety and depression, coping skills to trauma-informed care working with me will encompass utilizing the best practices for your presenting issues.

Building a trusting relationship in therapy is the foundation to making progress in treatment. I focus on compassion, validation, and acceptance throughout therapy to empower and encourage my clients to make the change in their life. My clinical experience from the last 10 years has helped me learn about a lot of different therapy styles. I pull from a lot of various different theoretical orientations depending on the needs of the person. I have experience working in the juvenile justice system, community mental health, and foster care system through DCFS.

I use a collaborative model, where sessions feel like two people having a conversation in my living room, versus a stereotypical doctor/patient interaction. I don't view your issues as coming from an abnormal psychopathology, but instead as a reaction to living in a stressful, complex, and contradictory world. I seek to understand your issues in the context of your unique experience rather than viewing you as having something wrong or being broken. My focus is on what you need from me....I take my lead from you.

When working with clients, I look at presenting issues, family dynamics, relationships with a systemic and structural approach. I feel that gaining a better understanding of the innerworkings helps to facilitate and help foster growth. I am a firm believer that therapy should be a collaboration between the therapist and the clients to help foster change. With much compassion and understanding, I work with clients to facilitate healing and growth, grounded in a desire to empower others to achieve their goals.

Whether you are looking for a safe space to explore your gender or sexuality, manage anxiety or heal trauma, continue reading. Whether these are issues that are impacting you personally or as a couple, you will have a non-judgmental space to work on them as we partner to find solutions for you. If you experiencing grief or loss, we can process and find tools to help you get through it. If you are struggling with your self-image, I will help you look for your truth. I also provide LCSW supervision and enjoy providing therapy to other therapists.

To me, therapy is about seeking wholeness; it is a journey of more fully integrating our minds, bodies, & souls. Many of us live trapped in patterns & scripts that weigh us down & that keep us from living full, authentic lives. As a trauma-informed therapist (& former spiritual director), I take into consideration the whole person, noting that past or ongoing traumas, wounds, & injustices shape the way we understand and engage with ourselves and the world. I help clients draw connections between formative past experiences & current ones in order to identify & shift those relational patterns & ongoing struggles.

If you problem is like a mountain, I can't carry you up it. But I can walk with you every step of the journey. Hi, I’m Dan. I’m a licensed psychotherapist with experience working with children, adolescents, adults, families, and couples. I have also worked as a school counselor and as a behavior therapist for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. I believe in making therapy as easy as possible and creating a therapeutic environment in which my clients feel comfortable; sessions with my clients are always a safe space.

Do you feel like you're stuck? Or that it is difficult to manage your life or emotions? I approach my practice with empathy, understanding, and a holistic perspective. Supporting individuals by acknowledging the emotional, psychological, and social impacts stressors can have on their lives. I strive to create a safe and non-judgmental space where clients can express their challenges, fears, and frustrations. My therapeutic approach incorporates evidence-based techniques such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness practices, and relaxation techniques to help clients develop coping strategies and improve their life.

Life can bring all kinds of changes, some good, some unexpected and some difficult. Learning how to approach the ups and downs of life is a personal journey and everyone deserves a safe space to explore the tools that will best work for them. If you are going through changes in life and want to explore how you can bring your own values to find solutions, I am available to collaborate with you. I am committed to creating a non-judgmental atmosphere where we can look at life's challenges and find new approaches for managing the thoughts and feelings which arise.

I believe that dealing with stressful situations can become tough and overwhelming. But, I also believe that you have the ability – with professional guidance – to unlock your own potential and solve the problems that are holding you back from a more fulfilling life. My role is to partner with you in change, create specific and achievable goals, and work together in lock-step to help you reach your full potential. My ideal client has been suffering from anxiety, depression, relationship problems, immigration and acculturation issues, LGBTQIA+, burnout, trauma, and substance abuse and is looking to make a change for the better.

As a clinician working with adolescents and adults, my approach to therapy is collaborative, guided by current research in psychology, and tailored to the unique needs of the individual. I believe it is important to develop a trusting, supportive relationship with each client at the beginning of treatment and to work together to create goals that will guide the process of change. With a safe therapeutic environment, I strive to help individuals face difficulties, produce meaningful change, and live a more valued life.

For over 30 years, I have committed my work to healing the personal and relational damage caused by substance abuse and addiction, emotional disorders, and relational discord. I draw on multiple treatment approaches - particularly systems theory, relapse prevention training, cognitive-affective-behavioral theory, and brief solution-focused theory - in restoring one's dignity and worth.

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I understand that each person has a different story and many complexities that make them who they are. My clinical approach includes examining a person’s life from a systems perspective to identify all the factors influencing the individual. My clinical experience has included treating children, adolescents, young adults, and families who are experiencing behavioral issues or symptoms of ADHD, depression, anxiety, trauma and life stressors.

Reaching out for help during difficult times in your life can feel vulnerable. The truth is healthy people ask for help when they need it. I know, not ideal, but it is what it is. Building a strong connection with your therapist is one of the largest predictors for therapy success. I want my clients to know that I take their care seriously. I am a little fiery and I like to tell it like it is. I have my client's best interest in mind while guiding them toward their goals. It won't be easy, but that is what I am here for! I am proud of the work I do and I feel honored when clients trust me to be part of their journey.

I help parents, children, families, and couples who are frustrated, angry, and hurting to heal and connect in a healthy way, rebuilding their relationships to bring harmony to themselves and their families.

Do you feel like everyone else got a set of instructions on how life operates that you are missing? Do you feel like you are always playing catch up to just meet normal expectations? Do you feel like life is just tougher for you than most other you know? I am here to help make sense of things, to find a tether to help anchor you. I want to help you understand how your brain works and then help you make life fit to your brain's needs. Life is much smoother and more enjoyable when you have the proper tools.

I specialize in working with children and families who are struggling with challenging behaviors and negative parent-child interactions at home. I also work with children who are struggling with feelings of anxiety and worry. The goals of children and families I work with are to develop more positive ways of interacting with each other and to support positive child development. I typically work with both the parents and the child to support more positive interactions and to improve family and school functioning.

I specialize in psychological and neuropsychological assessments. The word "neuropsychological" may be overwhelming, but the experience does not need to be. Assessments assist with diagnosing neurological and psychiatric conditions such as post-concussion syndrome, dementia, vascular issues/impairment post-stroke, attention deficit disorders, autism spectrum disorders, learning disorders, psychological/psychiatric disturbances, and much more. Assessments also provide an avenue for comprehensive recommendations and collaborative treatment with physicians, professionals, and family.

I specialize in working with children, teenagers, and adults and provide individual, family, and couples' therapy. While working with these modalities of treatments, I help clients that are struggling with anxiety, compulsive behaviors, behavioral issues, depression, self-esteem, conflict, parenting, trauma, and life transitions. Clients with these symptoms or situations face many challenges which I love helping them overcome through compassionate understanding and establishment of trust and rapport.