Eating Disorders Therapists in Skokie, IL

Selecting a Therapist to partner in your journey of self discovery and change is an important decision. I have over 30 years of experience treating adolescents and adults with a wide range of issues. My experience has taught me that people have a great deal of internal wisdom, but sometimes need assistance in accessing and utilizing that information. In 2012 I founded Reflections Psychotherapy: Seeing, Freeing, Being. This name mirrors many aspects of my treatment approach.

I am a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in the treatment of Binge Eating Disorder, Bulimia Nervosa, Night Eating Syndrome, Traumatic Stress, PTSD, and Borderline Personality Disorder. I am particularly interested in the relationship between traumatic stress and eating pathology as well as trauma and sleep. I also specialize in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, DBT PE, Exposure and Response Prevention, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Written Exposure Therapy, Prolonged Exposure, and EMDR. I am an Assistant Professor at the Northwestern University Medical School in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences.

Many people come to me saying that they don't recognize themselves anymore or that they are not living the life they want to be living. They might feel plagued with negative thoughts, fear, anxiety and overall feel stuck because the things they were using to cope in the past are not helping them now. If you have been feeling this way, you are not alone! I have spent my career working in clinical leadership and providing care for clients struggling with eating disorders, PTSD, complex trauma, anxiety, depression & body image concerns. I believe in providing empathy + evidenced-based treatments and the power of healing in community.

My first goal in the therapeutic process is to create a trusting, safe and collaborative relationship. Through active exploration, it is my hope that you will uncover insight into thoughts, emotions and behavior that will empower and support you in transforming your life. I recognize the difficulty of developing and maintaining a sense of self that reflects a value of inner worth rather than outer societal or familial ideals and expectations. My intention is for you to become the person you really are and from that place, make choices leading you towards a greater sense of wholeness, peace and well-being.

Offering virtual therapy and member of Psypact. I am a very collaborative therapist who enjoys helping clients to identify their goals for treatment and making direct suggestions as to how to achieve those changes. I understand that it takes tremendous courage to engage in the therapeutic process and do my best to be direct, yet empathetically challenge my clients to make necessary changes in their lives. I strive to help my clients identify the triggers to their thoughts and feelings and guide them in learning new ways to cope with the stressors around them.

I consider it a privilege to work with clients as they navigate through times of pain, sorrow, and self-exploration. I appreciate learning from clients their goals for the therapy process and how they hope to change. I assist clients in understanding possible triggers to uncomfortable thoughts, feelings, or behaviors, while also identifying ways in which they may find themselves stuck. Together, we will identify healthy coping skills for managing and ultimately moving past the distress, leading to a healthier and lighter way of being.

I know that therapy is an investment- both of time and money, and as such, I want it to be effective for you. To this end, I draw from evidence-based treatments including ACT, ERP, CBT, I-CBT, and DBT, and prioritize building a supportive, trusting, and empathic relationship with each of my clients. I have specialized training in the diagnosis and treatment of generalized anxiety, OCD, specific phobias, panic disorder, depressive disorders, and eating disorders.

Fenna provides a holistic approach to care, incorporating the physiological aspects of human anatomy into treatment for mental health disorders and concerns. She focuses on the intersection between physical and psychological health within individuals, families, and couples, such as the the intersection of chronic illnesses and eating disorders. By utilizing a strengths-based approach in conjunction with internal family systems, modified cognitive behavioral therapy, and polyvagal theories, Fenna provides a full-spectrum level of care that focuses on healing from the inside out.

If you are looking for an experienced therapist who is compassionate, insightful, positive, supportive, humorous and directive, then contact me. In addition to teaching coping skills and parenting skills, I help clients to better understand themselves and to fully accept themselves so that true joy can be found. I specialize in eating disorders, substance abuse, behavioral disorders and am a trauma informed therapist. I see ages 7 upward for either individual or family counseling. These sessions can be remote or in-person at either the Ravenswood neighborhood office in Chicago or at another location in Lincolnwood, IL.

Finding the right therapist for your needs can be anxiety-provoking. I want to make it easier for you. I value building a strong sense of rapport with you through transparency, validation, and humor. I believe in working together to process your most pressing challenges, helping you adapt healthy coping behaviors that allow you to not only live a life you love, but one where you thrive.

I am a Licensed Social Worker (LSW), specializing in the treatment of eating disorders, anxiety, and OCD. In addition, I have extensive training and treat Mood Disorders and Grief and Loss. I treat all eating disorders, disordered eating, body image struggles, and weight concerns through a health at every size (HAES), narrative, and humanistic framework.

Have you found yourself struggling with your relationship with your body and food? Do you find yourself feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, sadness, self-doubt, or struggling to heal from painful past experiences? Perhaps you even desire more connection with others in your life, but find it difficult to show your authentic self out of fear that you may not be “enough.” If so, know that your experiences matter and that it is possible to live a life that feels meaningful to you. As human beings we all need support and guidance in our lives and deserve a sense of peace. Therapy can be a remarkable way to heal and live more authentically.

During my past 25 years as a therapist I've worked with several clients with a variety of presenting problems, including anxiety and depression, chemical dependency, emotional abuse, sex addiction, codependency, eating disorders, and childhood trauma. I offer a supportive, confidential and safe place for you, your partner, spouse and/or family to work through obstacles, struggles, and current/past traumas to find success. It is my role to respect your values and the goal you set out to reach in therapy.

"I appreciate that you are down to earth and real. You have a passion for life, for my life". If these are qualities you would appreciate in your therapist, then contact me. I will guide you through identifying and exploring your core concerns and issues, utilizing the expertise developed in 20 years of practice. My style of therapy is respectful, non-judgmental, practical, soothing and solution focused. Collaboratively we will create new, adaptive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to enhance the quality of your life and your relationships.

Thank you for taking the time to review my profile. Helping adults find overall balance and wellness is a primary focus of my practice. I have 20+ years of experience helping people with relationship/family issues, eating concerns, mood/anxiety disorders, interpersonal vulnerabilities and general work/life stress. I offer a therapy relationship that provides a focus on psychological wellness and a non-judgmental and collaborative environment in which to work together on personal growth and a return to a more positive and fulfilled state-of-being.

When we live our lives in a state of constant fight-or-flight, we can go into survival mode. Worries, phobias, panic attacks, trauma, obsessive thoughts, avoidant behavior, and/or repetitive/compulsive behaviors can make us feel hopeless and helpless. We can find ourselves overthinking, overanalyzing, and feeling powerless. If you're feeling like life hasn't been moving in a positive direction, find yourself in a state of hypervigilence due to trauma and/or frozen by fears and uncertainty, you CAN find your way out - sometimes we just need some extra support to do so .

Chances are, you have happened upon this website because you are looking for something to be different: a feeling, a relationship, a thought, a mood... Together, we will determine what needs to change by looking outside ourselves (exploring roles, rules, connection, boundaries, communication, and support) and by looking within ouselves (exploring thoughts, feelings, coping skills, internal dialogue, and how we've made meaning out of different experiences). Through the process of learning, accepting and changing, something inherently will be different...and you will feel different.

Is your anxiety preventing you (or your child) from being who you (or they) want to be? Wish you or your child could just get over it? If it was only that simple. Sometimes we just need someone who can give us the tools to not be crippled with anxiety. Anxiety is a necessary part of life, but shouldn't interfere. You're not looking for someone to just talk to on an ongoing basis; that's what your friends and family are for (and you don't need to pay them!) I'm going to help you get in and out of my office feeling "cured" as quickly as we can so that you can save money and be who you want to be.

I am a trauma informed clinician and specialize in family work. I am an advocate of intentional parenting practices and support clients to create authentic responses to themselves and others in the here and now so they can heal and move forward from generational trauma. I believe that therapy is about helping clients to create the positive changes that they want so they can live more authentically, identify and work toward achieving their goals, and nurture healthy relationships in order to create meaning and purposeful action in their lives.