Attachment-based Therapists in Western Springs, IL

I provide individually tailored treatment in a safe and supportive environment that draws and builds upon each person's strengths, resources, wisdom and goals. My style is collaborative, warm and interactive. I enjoy working with a range of clients from children to adults. I specialize in the treatment of anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, healing from trauma, major life transitions, grief & loss, identity development, self-esteem difficulties, coping with medical health issues and illnesses, dual diagnosis (substance abuse and co-occurring psychiatric disorders), mindful living, and cultivating self-compassion.

Everyone has a story. I want to know yours. Are you feeling unfulfilled and unsatisfied in your current relationships? Find yourself doing the same things over and over, hoping somehow things will be different? I specialize in working with individuals and couples experiencing conflict and relationship stress and understand your desire to feel understood and accepted. I offer a compassionate, creative and solution-oriented space to explore the questions and answers that will bring you closer to creating the relationships you desire. Let's write the next chapter together. Reach out today and let's get started.

I specialize in the treatment of adolescents, emerging adults, and parents who need help addressing anxiety, mood disorders, perfectionism, relationship issues, trauma, self-esteem, ADHD, and life transitions. As a former high school teacher and athletic coach, I understand the complex roles and pressure that my clients must navigate in order to succeed. I have parent-coaching experience. I believe that a strong relationship and authentic connection is the key to a successful therapeutic process. Together with my clients, I create a safe, non-judgmental space that is rooted in honesty, transparency, mutual respect, and trust.

Completing challenging graduate degrees and clinically practicing in Social Work, Psychology and Psychoanalysis has provided me with a broad range of experiences with many types of people, enabling me to offer the option of psychotherapy or psychoanalysis as needed. These combined trainings and professional work have provided the necessary tools, perspectives and resources to address people's ongoing unhappiness, unexpected pain and crises and the sometimes stunning blows of grief. Areas of expertise include: anxieties/phobias; low self-esteem/depression/post-partum depression; complicated bereavement--loss of babies/children/parents/spouses; relationship conflicts--between adults or parents/child; and underachievement.

Many parents feel helpless when their kids are acting out of control or regressing in their development. And, an increasing number of kids are struggling with their mental health and parents feel frustrated because they don’t always know how to help. But it doesn't have to stay that way. I provide transformative child counseling so kids can find relief from mental struggles and I work to equip parents with tools to make meaningful connections with the kiddos for a lifetime.

Thank-you for visiting my profile! I believe it is very important to find a therapist with whom you feel comfortable. I am a body oriented therapist, and I strive to create a therapeutic environment that is safe, respectful, and optimal for healing and growth.

I have over 20 years of experience working with individuals, adolescents, couples, and families coping with a variety of issues. My passion is seeing people find their own potential and realize they are the masters of their own change, healing and happiness. I practice from a belief that often people become stuck in overwhelming problems from their past; current life stressors; or fears of the future and change. My goal is to help you move forward and be able to have new skills to take with you to apply as needed as you move on with your life.

My clients often feel like they are running on empty and always fall to the bottom of their to-do list. They have a hard time asking for help. They work so hard to be the best mom, partner, daughter, friend, and professional. They will sacrifice their sleep, diet, and overall well-being for everyone else. My clients are strong and independent, but often feel overwhelmed and unsupported due to generational patterns of anxiety, stress, and burnout. Together, we find the confidence and strategies they need to create a more peaceful and fulfilling family life, without sacrificing their own goals and desires.

Most come to therapy for relief from distress. While therapy can relieve this, it can also be the gateway to deeper self reflection & discovery that awakens new meaning in our lives. I strive to build a therapy that honors your unique preferences & personhood, focused on the power of exploring your own experiences, strengths, & values. I am passionate about challenging the systemic oppressions that do us harm, and creating compassionate practices of resistance in response. My specialties are in facilitating connection in relationship, cultivating radical self acceptance, & growing trust in both mind & body.

With over 30 years experience, I have worked with children, adults, families, and couples. I value trust and empathy in the therapy relationship. I value conveying the sense of hope for change and wellness. I have extensive training in the psychodynamic process, CBT, and substance use disorders. I also am trauma informed. I am passionate and enthusiastic about my work with clients. I incorporate a client's strengths rather than just "problems" when talking with clients. I work with clients of all ages, ethnicity, cultures, religious backgrounds, and gender identity.

I am a Neurodivergent LCSW, experienced in navigating Autism, ADHD, and Trauma - including depression, suicidality, anxiety & panic attacks, and substance use & abuse. I utilize a trauma-informed, inclusive, holistic, and biopsychosocial approach in therapy. Please follow my website link to schedule a consultation.

Are you struggling with uncertainty? Are you a new parent and feeling overwhelmed? Co-Parenting? Change? There’s no need to hide; There is no shame in the struggle! I am a mother, a partner and a human being; I understand the struggles. You are doing yourself a great service by asking for support and assistance. I am here to help! I am passionate about assisting people in getting some relief from the pain or discomfort they are experiencing. I believe that it is imperative to treat the whole person in order to get long-term results and sustainable change. I am eager to assist patients in being able to restore balance in their lives.

Life’s stressors can gradually chip away at our spirit and energy, impacting our moods, physical health, sleep, and overall well-being. Whether the stress stems from feeling overwhelmed by life's demands, revisiting painful experience(s), or grappling with societal pressures to "have it all figured out,” finding a path to relief often begins with identifying the root causes and exploring the mind-body connection. Gaining insight into these underlying factors can be a crucial first step towards feeling better.

As you navigate the path to seeking support, I commend you for taking the courageous first step towards healing and self-discovery. I understand the significance of this journey and I am committed to walking alongside you with empathy, respect, and professionalism. I specialize in a broad spectrum of mental health issues. Whether you are an adult facing personal challenges, or a parent seeking support for your child, I am here to offer guidance, support, and the tools you need to thrive. Together, we will explore your experiences, address your concerns, and celebrate your successes.

Supervising since 2005, and a previous Director of Training with over 20 years of experience, I consider it a privilege to offer meaningful work for children, adolescents, adults, couples, parents, and families. Through a genuine caregiving, positive lens we provide support to others. Through the relationship-oriented, Inner Humanism approach, we offer an understanding of development across the lifespan. The care individuals receive is characterized by achieving an inner well-being and happiness that remains stable and conflict free regardless of life obstacles, family changes, and daily ups and downs.

Life comes with a lot of constant worries and concerns. Most people can start to feel lost in life on some level, unsure of how to find their way. Perhaps you can relate. You may know you'd be happier if you made changes but it feels safer and more comfortable to stay the same. You are not alone in feeling like this. I am here to help you one step at a time. Improve your relationship with yourself and those you choose to share yourself with. Get to the root problems and solve those instead of using band-aids. Really feel joy. Stop letting anxiety affect the way you live or make any decisions for you.

We are all on this journey to find meaning in life while alleviating suffering. We want change, but don’t always know how to make it happen. Without realizing it, we may have developed an inner voice that is self-defeating, and habits that are holding us back or causing us to feel stuck in the same patterns. Therapy is an opportunity to grow, heal, and activate long-lasting change. By fostering a mindful and cognitive-behavioral approach, we can tune into our inner world to better understand who we are and how we function in our relationships. When we deepen our understanding of the self we can truly heal and show up authentically.

While it may be difficult for you to seek help for yourself or your family, my goal is to work together in a supportive and encouraging way to meet your needs.  With over 20 years of professional experience, and as a former classroom teacher and school counselor I have developed my practice and included therapists to focus and specialize in working with school-aged children and adolescents to overcome challenges while providing support and psycho-education for the entire family. We also specialize in women's counseling and provide counseling and therapy to children, adolescents, adults, families, and couples, and women.

Now accepting new clients. I seek to provide a haven where clients can feel safe to explore whatever surfaces in their present challenges, transitions and internal experience. Many times thoughts, emotions, behaviors and experiences are understood, and personal truths can surface, particularly because of the safety and trust found in the therapeutic relationship. Ultimately this place of trust and non judgement is the core of healing and where personal growth occurs. While there are many models of treatment this is the essence of what I seek to offer and value most.