Cigna and Evernorth Therapists in Wilmette, IL

There are times in our lives when we face problems that can overburden us with distress and discontent. These can include struggles with troubling moods and emotions such as depression, anxiety, anger and self-doubt; challenges navigating our roles and relationships as parents, partners and professionals; and difficulties adjusting to life-altering events such as a death, a divorce, or a major transition. I specialize in family-focused counseling aimed at helping children, adolescents, adults, and couples to address these concerns in ways that lead them to cope more skillfully, connect more positively, and live more hopefully.

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor. My focus is to help my clients reach their full potential, through emotional stability. I look at the therapeutic relationship as important ground work to establishing the emotionally safe environment required by clients as they face many challenges in the therapeutic process. I provide a counseling experience that allows the client to grow by identifying and using their own strengths to achieve their goals.

I have a restorative and relational approach with the clients I serve. I embrace a strengths perspective which encourages self-sufficiency and acknowledges that individuals have the capability to engage in problem-solving work and improve their own functioning. I also recognize the important role of parents and other significant adults in youths' lives and strive to work together in addressing youth behavior and promoting appropriate parent leadership and family capabilities. I have a collaborative, trauma informed lens to treatment, and provide a warm, comforting environment to address difficult yet important issues in your life.

Sometimes people aren't sure what to work on in therapy. That's okay! We will work collaboratively to identify core concerns, and decide together how to address them. Some issues I've helped people work through include depression, grief, pregnancy loss, life transitions, creative blocks, self-esteem, disempowerment, and spiritual alienation. My approach is insight oriented and psychodynamic, and while I am an art therapist, my work is not always art-based. However, as an artist, I've found that my understanding of the creative process illuminates many life situations that benefit from creative problem-solving.

Are you having difficulties in your relationships? Are you experiencing stress from work or school that you cannot manage? Are you just feeling that you are stuck in life? I can help you find the answers to these problems in therapy. When I work with my clients, I focus on increasing their personal strengths and work toward discovering solutions to their life issues. My goals are simple- to help my clients make meaningful life changes and gain mastery and stability in their lives.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 25 years experience working with children, adolescents and families. I specialize in treating children and adolescents who have faced trauma, abuse, loss and multiple transitions. I believe in utilizing a holistic and strength-building approach to working with children and their families. I incorporate a variety of therapeutic techniques into my sessions in order to meet your child where they are at to facilitate growth and healing. I believe that collaboration with you, your child and their extended support systems is imperative to help them to feel supported and successful in life.

Seeking care can take tremendous courage and finding the right therapist is not always a straightforward process. I see my role as providing a reliable and consistent space where my patients can gradually better understand themselves so that they can live life more freely and fully. I try to help my patients develop curiosity about how their mind works and to recognize when they may be repeating certain unhealthy patterns that interfere with becoming their authentic selves.

My therapy approach is tailored to each individual in a unique way while integrating various theories and styles of practice. Each client takes the lead and I assist in providing them with the proper tools to work in a therapeutic setting.

I believe psychotherapy offers a growth-fostering relationship: one that deepens your understanding of yourself, generating a sense of agency and choice throughout your life. I offer a supportive, therapeutic relationship-one that facilitates understanding you, your feelings, your choices, your losses, and your goals-as integral to the essential work of leading a healthy, meaningful life. I find that people often enter therapy feeling anxious, depressed, isolated or alone, amidst traumatic or ambiguous losses, and when ways of coping have become more harmful than helpful. I work with adults, emerging through older age, to support a transformative process of growth and change.

Have you suffered a recent loss or are impacted by painful experiences from your past? Do relentless "what if" thoughts plague your mind, leaving you wondering if OCD is the culprit? Perhaps you've grappled with both, feeling overwhelmed by shame or fear. Maybe you are a helping professional (therapist, doctor, nurse...) and are experiencing burnout from working in intense settings. As a specialist in trauma and OCD, I'm here to provide the support you need. My approach is rooted in collaboration, honoring your strengths and nurturing the connections already within you.

Life can be an unexpected wave in the water that makes you feel unsteady, or it can be a giant wave that overwhelms you, and it keeps coming, and it is hard to regain your sense of balance. But when a helping hand reaches out, it can help you to find your strength and balance. Whether it feels like a big or small wave, I can be that support and guidance so when the waves come, you can brace them and keep going. I believe in providing empathetic care and guidance through a collaborative therapeutic relationship by navigating the unique experiences that influence each client’s life.

All people can heal, grow, and create positive change in their lives. My role as a therapist is to help you determine where you want to go and how to get there. My holistic approach is guided by meeting each client where they are at and choosing the most effective course of action. Whether we utilize CBT, DBT, ERP, ACT, talk therapy, or some other modality, I will make sure the therapeutic service you receive is tailored directly to your needs.

I have yet to learn your unique story, which I know matters. There are a million and one reasons that could have led you to be here. Your decision to reach out says more than you may think. I am committed to working with you to help meet your desired goals. I believe in meeting you where you are while ensuring you are equipped to get where you would like to be! I work with clients to address, explore, and better manage stress, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, grief, ADHD, PTSD, injustices, relationship/family, women’s and young adult issues, racial barriers, parenting challenges, and various unexpected life changes.

I have an eclectic background, originating in Northbrook, IL, where I played sports and performed as a singer/actor/musician, connecting with all types of people. I attended college at Miami University and had firsthand experience working through my own mental health challenges. It shaped the course of my life and I returned to school for Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology/Marriage and Family Therapy. Living in San Diego, I have been cultivating my therapeutic expertise since 2011.

Choosing the right therapist is important. I am committed to assisting you confront old and new obstacles and make meaningful changes in your life. I have the highest respect for someone who comes through my door. Together, we create a path for personal healing and growth.

My passion for being a Psychotherapist stems from the desire to help others reach their highest potential, no matter the obstacles in life. Individual therapy creates a confidential, caring, and safe environment that promotes self-discovery and growth. My philosophy aims to meet you where you are and to guide and support you by building hope, resiliency, and self–love. I will empower you by using therapeutic strategies that instill aspiration, courage, and progress. Couples treatment provides a safe and trusting environment where we can identify issues and achieve growth.

The quote “Be you, love you, all ways, always” by Alex Elle has always resonated with me. I have noticed when clients are able to be kinder and more accepting of their own journey, when they're able to look at and respond to themselves, they would to their best friend in the same situation. My approach to therapy is meeting the client where they are at and making a personalized plan to minimize feelings of overwhelmedness to help them accomplish their goals. My therapeutic style is approachable, collaborative, and creative. I incorporate art, music, movement, and other imaginative exercises in my practice, empowering my clients.

Are you looking for a safe place where you can access and explore your emotions without shame or judgment? Building relationships is crucial to my approach, which means finding your unique needs within your therapy experience. Clients can gain support addressing many life stressors, overcome depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, low self-esteem, and improve self-confidence.

Hi. Have you ever asked yourself “What does my journey to healing look like and how or can I get there?” The answer is that your journey has already begun. I am a trauma -informed clinician with over 30 years of experience. I believe the first step is building a trusting therapeutic relationship. I offer a safe, open and non-judgmental space for individuals, adolescents and families to begin their healing process. Our therapeutic work together will assist in making desired changes, improving overall well-being and a stronger sense of self.