Clinical Supervision and Licensed Supervisors Therapists in Evanston, IL

I am a general practitioner whose personal style is warm and interactive. I utilize a psychodynamic approach informed by acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and cognitive-behavioral (CBT) principles. Psychotherapy at Third Wave Wellness provides a unique opportunity to transform one’s suffering. Learning to be more present, create space for discomfort, and mine for greater meaning allows us to take new actions to find joy, calm and purpose. Therapy and coaching are highly collaborative, we work together toward your goals.

To schedule sessions, please book a call with our Client Care Coordinator here: www.calendly.com/adminccbh Starting this process can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. Using warmth, empathy, direct feedback and skill building I can help you more fully understand yourself and your relationships and therefore feel empowered to start living the life you want to live. I firmly believe that healing comes from exploring how our past experiences have affected the ways in which we interpret and interact with our world in the present.

Finding the right therapist is essential in one's journey toward overcoming obstacles. I believe counseling is a collaborative and creative process where we join together to establish the change you desire. I utilize a direct, honest, and genuine communication style in our relationship. My approach combines psychotherapy and the use of experiential therapy as a means of building communication, trust, and decision-making through individual and family treatment. My treatment also involves the partnership of animal assisted therapy with my Labrador Retriever.

Being heard, understood, supported and appreciated can make the difference in how we experience life. Whether it is individual counseling or relationship counseling you seek, we will work together to improve how you think and feel about yourself, your relationship(s) and therefore, your life. I will help guide you to express your feelings, your thoughts and most importantly, learn to take the actions required to achieve the positive outcomes you seek. Making real change is not easy, however, I believe, with assistance, we can achieve great things working together.

I have over 25 years experience treating adults, families, adolescents, and couples. I specialize in depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and psychotic disorders. I am a published author who has presented my research on group psychotherapy nationally and internationally. I am also a licensed massage therapist who practices mind/body work. As a past board member with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), and a past member of APA's Task force on severe mental illness, I am an advocate for individuals and families who struggle with the stigma associated with these disorders. As a retired professor at Midwestern University.

Beginning therapy can be daunting, and I admire the courage it takes to recognize the need for change and take those first steps. I aim to create a welcoming and supportive environment where clients feel safe, validated, and listened to. I have extensive experience in working with folks across the lifespan confronting a spectrum of challenges, including severe mental illness, anxiety, depression, trauma, identity issues, low self-esteem, autism, and navigating interpersonal relationships. My specialized focus is working with neurodivergent individuals, those experiencing significant life transitions, and school refusal behaviors.

Maybe you are reading this because you want something to change in your life. It’s a daring step to reach out to a stranger and trust them. I know therapy can help. It has helped me in my life, and it has helped many of my clients over the years. I offer free consultations with clients before we begin because a good fit is important. Although I have worked in agencies, hospitals and group practices, I think some of my best training has come from navigating a 24 year marriage, raising kids, and launching them into adulthood. I enjoy helping people work through anxiety and depression and get their life back.

My ideal client is someone who has a foundation of wellness and is looking to bridge the chasm between where they are and where they would like to be. They have self-awareness, motivation, and a support system to aid them in their journey. They are looking to learn and implement sustainable tools, practices, and habits that will embody their authentic truth and enhance their lives as a whole. They are curious and open about alternative and holistic methods of healing. They are willing to lean into fear of walking the unknown path of internal alchemy and evolution, knowing they are the ultimately the one that can heal themselves.

The decision to seek therapy can be a difficult one, and I am glad you are here! My approaches are rooted in trauma and healing along with working within an embodied social justice/liberatory frame. I partner with clients to invite curiosity about behavior patterns, reactions and the wisdom bodies' hold. I support client’s examining different identities, and how these identities are impacted by present day context, policies and systems, and power differentials. Gaining more knowledge and awareness of how our bodies hold our experiences will also be an important part of our work together.

Are you looking to make changes in your life? Are you looking for a partner to help navigate relationship struggles, manage symptoms, or just to listen to the challenges you're going through? It would be an honor to partner with you on this journey, whatever the reason that brings you in. Each person is worthy of a space to feel seen and engage in a meaningful therapy experience.

Starting therapy can be trying process, and often what's important is finding the right fit between a therapist and a client. Once therapy begins, it can be an incredible resource where an individual may regain a sense of balance and peace of mind, build more satisfying relationships, develop more effective communication, as well as find the sense of direction and meaning that allows one to thrive. I also work as a forensic expert in women’s reproductive mental health and consult with legal counsel on criminal cases that are relevant to an experience in the postpartum period, this includes murder, infanticide, neonatacide.

August 2024 update: We have immediate openings for new clients for telehealth and in office! If you're anxious, depressed and wanting to live your life with more ease, the guidance and support of an experienced therapist can help you navigate stressful times. Imagine your life with more calm and trust in yourself and your ability to handle whatever may come your way. Imagine feeling more fulfilled in your work and your relationships! Seeing one of our therapists can help you feel more content and purposeful as you navigate life, whether it is through a life transition or dealing with serious mental health symptoms.

Whether for yourself or your child, psychotherapy is an opportunity for you to gain insight, find and hold onto hope, and make lasting change. Rooted in the belief that connection is the agent of change, I consider our therapeutic relationship a partnership where together we explore and understand the difficulties that are getting in the way of your goals. My focus is on understanding how early relationships affect the quality of a person's current life and their abilities to express their authentic self. I help clients gain a greater sense of control over their lives and experience a fuller sense of themselves and their capacities.

One of the pillars of a fulfilling life is the ability to be our authentic selves. Sometimes obstacles, hardships, and missteps cause us to forgo authenticity to survive. As a result, we may feel stuck, lost, or alone in our struggles. As a therapist, I see myself as a partner to my clients in their journey toward healing and growth. My approach is holistic - I consider the whole person and their context in everything I do, and I work collaboratively to ensure that each session feels personalized and effective. I provide a safe space to process where you are and begin to make progress toward where you'd like to be.

Each one of us experiences a time of difficulty in this journey of life. You could be navigating difficult relationships, coping with loss, grief, facing tough transitions in your personal, academic, or professional life, or grappling with existential questions, taking that first step towards professional support is empowering and essential for your healing journey.

Challenging life transitions such as a new school, being away from home for the first time, the loss of a loved one, the postpartum period, or navigating a fertility journey can leave us feeling overwhelmed, isolated and disconnected from our true selves. It may feel like no one understands what you’re going through or like you don’t have the energy for things that used to really matter to you. Perhaps it feels like you lost your identity. You need some relief. You’re ready to feel calmer and more hopeful. You’re ready to feel like you have the tools to handle difficult days. Most of all, you’re ready to feel like yourself again.

My treatment philosophy rests on the belief that the relationship established between myself and my clients is the vehicle in which the various tools, strategies, and interventions of therapy are delivered and made useful. Current neuroscience research suggests that the decision to seek counseling in and of itself may set into motion hard-wired capacities for healing. And while there are myriad compelling reasons to seek therapy, it is not unusual for individuals to hold ambivalent feelings about making life changes; in short, to hold 'two minds' about addressing a significant life issue.

In my practice I strive to make people feel comfortable and safe in both body and mind. Life can be challenging, and sometimes during those challenging times we may forget what it’s like to feel like our true selves or to feel happy. Allow me to help you through this journey. Nobody should have to suffer alone. I have 18 years of clinical experience as a therapist. I work primarily with adults and teens. I utilize a combination of Psychodynamic, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, as well as Mindfulness and Meditation in my practice.

The decision to start or resume therapy can be a difficult one. I believe every individual has their unique story to tell, learn, and grow from. I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor who has been working with students and adults for over 20 years. My style as a therapist is warm and compassionate. I work from a relational client-centered approach, while incorporating cognitive behavioral and mindfulness practices. My goal is to help you to step back from stressful situations, gain different perspectives, and make lasting changes.