Parent-Child Interaction (PCIT) Therapists in Oak Park, IL

Hi, my name is Dr. Celia and I am a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who opened my practice to help those who want to make a change in their lives. I specialize in working with trauma across the lifespan, which is how I know how significantly our brains and bodies can shift after a difficult event and/or a series of difficult life circumstances. Therapy is a space for us to explore how our past informs who we are. Being able to form meaningful relationships is a key part of our mental wellness, but it isn’t always so easy to do.

Mental Wellness is very important. With over 7 years of experience, I have worked with individuals and families in a variety of community, tele-health, and hospital settings. I earned my Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Adler University in Chicago, IL . My hopes are to assist you and your family in making changes for the better. The population I work in range from ages 6 to 64.

I am a licensed social worker, that has been in the field for over 7 years. I obtained my Master of Social Work from Loyola University of Chicago in 2018. I am well-trained in helping all age ranges manage symptoms related to depression, anxiety, self-esteem, and past traumas. I like to ensure therapy is a safe space and at the pace of my clients. My overall goal is to ensure my clients improve their overall mental health and build skills. Some of my favorite treatment approaches are mindfulness, CBT, DBT, narrative therapy, and expressive therapy.

I've been a therapist for over thirty-three years. I'm passionate about helping clients navigate through debilitating mental health illnesses such as anxiety, depression, traumas, grief/ loss, medical conditions, and other personal, relational, cultural, and social and spiritual struggles by providing knowledge and strategies to establish better ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving.

Our life's work is helping clients achieve a better sense of self and happiness...more recently we've recognized that without good mental health providers, finding this balance in life can be more difficult and stressful. As a result, we tend toward an Integrative approach and help our clients transform into the people they want to be. We see each client as an individual with many parts to their identity. Utilizing a holistic and systemic approach we help clients reintegrate the parts of themselves to function better as individuals and within their systems. Our focus tenhers and fathers navigating prenatal/postpartum depression.

Through more than 20 years of experience, I have worked extensively with individuals, couples and multi-generational families providing treatment for a wide range of conditions that affect mood, thinking, and behavior. I grew up in a large & humble home; learning and understanding the complexities of dealing with different types of personalities, sometimes in difficult circumstances at an early age. My goal is to see clients do amazing work in treatment by strengthening their coping skills, removing limiting beliefs, resolving conflicts, and lifestyle changes through a positive way of thinking, feeling, and behaving.

I have extensive experience in helping individuals of many backgrounds rise above the inevitable challenges of life. I have assisted people just like you to access and utilize the personal, emotional/mental, and spiritual coping skills that help individuals, couples and families address issues that cause inner pain and turmoil. I have a PhD in Clinical Social Work, a Masters in Jurisprudence both from Loyola University and a AM from the University of Chicago. I am licensed in Illinois, Arizona and Puerto Rico providing in-person (depending on my residence at the time) and Telehealth sessions.

Welcome to mental health care! I thrive to provide all my clients with a caring and compassionate therapy experience where they can feel safe. I have 25+ years of mental health experience. As a Latina Clinician, I love working with the Latino community. My training includes trauma, domestic violence, family therapy, depression and anxiety, mood disorders, ADHD and behavioral modification. I am incorporate many skills and interventions and I am very person centered. I have CBT and DBT training as well as safety planning and group work. I look forward to working as a team with you.

Everyone goes through times of struggle and needs someone to listen, reflect and help them move forward. We specialize in working with persons who have experienced trauma, abuse or neglect. Trauma can lead to many life issues & symptoms that we can help you manage & alleviate. Using trauma-informed attachment focused psychotherapy we provide parents with therapeutic skills to help their children heal. I have worked with families, kids, & adults for 25 of years who have various mental illnesses and emotional challenges. Everyone deserves happiness & we can help you through the healing process to restore your mind, body & spirit.

Our life's work is helping clients achieve a better sense of self and happiness...more recently we've recognized that without good mental health providers, finding this balance in life can be more difficult and stressful. As a result, we tend toward an Integrative approach and help our clients transform into the people they want to be. We see each client as an individual with many parts to their identity. Utilizing a holistic and systemic approach we help clients reintegrate the parts of themselves to function better as individuals and within their systems. Our focus tends toward a systems based approach using behavior methods.

I work with a variety of different clients seeking help with many different issues. Many of my clients are teens and emerging adults seeking treatment to ease depression, anxiety, need help managing their time, or the time and space to discover their purpose. I also work with parents of teens and emerging adults seeking to find ways to relate to and ease conflict with their children. My clients seek treatment in order to feel heard from an unbiased person. They seek clarity and a path through life’s difficult twists and turns.

I believe our primary desire is to form satisfying, balanced relationships. I work from a Developmental, Attachment, Relational perspective and frequently incorporate Trauma & Family Systems Models into my work. I have extensive experience with infants, young children, teens, families & adults. When working with children I strive to work collaboratively with all relevant members in the child's life to understand & treat that child.

I work with all aged clients. I have long -term school experience: teacher, counselor, administrator. I enjoy all ages.Many people enjoy my mix of therapeutic and personal coaching styles. During the years, I have advanced my training into divorce mediation and custody mediation. I have also expanded my clientelle to include people who have long-term illness with pain. I work with health issues to help people learn to better adapt to their condition while also finding and concentrating on creating healthy lifestyle choices and personal calmness. I consider my background in addiction as a pathway to help people achieve wellness.

If you’re struggling to cope with past traumas, I can help you identify how this is showing up in your present and offer the tools that will create the path to your desired future. Trauma impedes our natural ability as humans to be able to identify and reach goals, and connect and form relationships with others. I know that this can all be worked through with a positive therapeutic relationship and guidance to rediscovering the inner knowing you possess about what you truly need to thrive. My personal approach to therapy is what allows for others to connect with me- I am laid-back, direct, funny, caring, and non-judgement.

Elena Vassallo has twenty-eight years of experience helping people with anxiety, depression, grief, phase of life transitions, low self-esteem, feelings of meaninglessness, relationship issues and more.

I welcome clients who see themselves aligned with values in my profile, especially those who seeking a better therapy experience grounded in emotional connection, social justice, and authenticity. Therapy has the potential to be incredibly healing, but also comes from a history of harm, having othered people on the basis of age, race, gender, sexuality, spirituality, and disability. I offer a trauma-responsive relationship through which we can explore narrative healing of your authentic self, commitments to anti-oppressive and anti-racist living, anti-adultist parenting support, and supportive community and relationship building.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 15 years experience working with Adults, Teens, Children, and Families to address a variety of issues. My specialty areas of focus are Child and Adolescents, Family Conflict, ADHD in children and adults, PTSD, Traumatic Events, Grief, Anxiety, Depression and Parenting. I am a non-traditional and creative therapist that incorporates a number of techniques and am respected in the field and by my clients for my unique and straightforward approach to engagement and treatment.

I provide a judgement free place to find your way & figure it out. Commitment to my clients begins with a belief in the ability of individuals to advocate for themselves & choose their own path. You decide how you want to live your life. Our instincts, emotions & feelings are a gift; they are the natural barometer for navigating our lives. Often we misinterpret or fear those emotions & fall into a holding pattern as to how to move forward. We all get stuck. Let me help you move forward. I have extensive experience working with children (ages 3-17), families and adults.

Are you experiencing stress, anxiety, trauma, or depression? Do you want to feel better and meet with someone who can hold space and help? I have over a decade worth of experience working with women who are wanting to heal from past hurts and live with more confidence, clarity, and purpose.