I have my doctorate in clinical psychology and am a licensed psychologist who specializes in treatments proven to increase children's positive feelings and ability to cope. I work with children ages 6-17 and have been providing therapy for the past 12 years. Some areas of treatment interest are anxiety, phobias, trauma, and adjustment issues (such as grief, divorce, food allergies). I have a certified therapy dog named Willow. If clients do not want Willow in session, then she is not a part of therapy. Willow is an mini Aussiedoodle, which means she has minimal shedding and is more allergy-friendly.

**Accepting new clients and have morning, afternoon and evening appointments available*** Creative Counseling Group, Plc. is composed of therapists who are dedicated to helping individuals, families, and couples through times of life transitions and crisis. We provide a safe, confident, and comfortable place for you to come and be yourself. We will help you set goals, find solutions, provide feedback, and monitor your progress. Our team provides knowledgeable, professional, and compassionate care. We ensure that clients feel heard and empowered.

***Currently offering teletherapy only*** I assist in helping clients heal from trauma, sexual abuse, eating disorders, depression, and anxiety. I use a wide variety of treatment modalities to assist in overcoming difficulties. I use several treatment modalities, based on what you need. I am certified in EMDR, which is a first line treatment for helping people to overcome trauma. It is also used to treat other emotional experiences. I also assist with people struggling to cope in healthy manners, and help you to discover and implement new coping skills. You will learn new skills to assist you in having the life you want.

Today's world is difficult to navigate. Am I doing the right things for my children? Am I making the right career moves? Does my relationship need attention? Do my children need extra support? How can I be a better friend? Sometimes the list seems endless. The question we forget to ask ourselves is am I happy? Are my children happy? Unfortunately, some of us are not, some of us feel like we are just going through the motions. Let's change that together. Let's make happiness a priority. Let's get back to the basics.

I am a licensed independent social worker with over 15 years experience. I have provide therapy services to toddlers with their parents, children, adolescents, teens. I am a Registered Play Therapist (RPT) trained in Adlerian Play Therapy and have specialized training in the evidenced based treatment of Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). My office provides a PCIT suite to offer PCIT services effectively. I am also trained in trauma informed Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR).

I believe that each client is the expert in his or her own life and that my job is to offer insights and techniques that "feel right" for the client, while providing the client a supportive, non-judgemental counseling relationship that fosters trust and personal growth. I use cognitive behavioral techniques - developing new ways of thinking about feelings and events, brief therapy - focusing on client strengths, and person centered therapy - where the client and I collaborate on counseling goals.

It's not always easy taking the first step to seek out counseling, but chances are, if you are here, you are recognize that something isn't working for you and you are ready to make some changes in your life. Working collaboratively, counseling can address these issues to help you achieve your personal wellness goals.

I believe individuals have the answers within themselves to produce desired change. My job is to help facilitate discovery of those answers and aid in navigation of life's stressors and obstacles. My doctoral research and education focused on treating individuals living with chronic pain. I see individuals with a variety of presenting concerns and diagnoses, including chronic illness, trauma, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, life stressors, and relationship concerns (amongst others).

As a play therapist, I believe in using the power of play, which is a child's most natural form of communication, to connect with clients and help children resolve their challenges in a safe, nurturing environment. I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Registered Play Therapist with seven years of therapy experience working with children, adolescents, and their families. I was awarded the 2018 Play Therapist of the Year by the Iowa Association for Play Therapy. I have received extensive training under the direct instruction of Dr. Terry Kottman, the creator of Adlerian Play Therapy.

WELCOME! You may be struggling with an unhappy relationship, grieving the loss of a loved one, feeling depressed or anxious, interested in improving your life balance and wellness, or simply wanting a closer relationship with God. If so, I invite you to call me for a consultation. We can identify new patterns, coping skills and strategies so you can feel you are thriving in life with success and joy.

I look forward to helping you seek greater peace and conflict resolution - helping you find an increased overall life balance. I work with individuals, couples, and families to help them work through former and current conflict and stressors. I use cognitive behavioral techniques to assist in challenging distorted thoughts and patterns. I have a focus in helping those who struggle with depression and anxiety, trauma and abuse, relationship or family conflicts, life transitions, and issues surrounding grief and loss.

Relationships are the building blocks of life, and can be joyous and energizing. When issues arise in these areas it often leads to depression, anxiety and other concerns. My goal is to work with each individual, family, and couple to find the unique solutions available to them by identifying strengths, developing skills, and providing overall empowerment to face the challenges that life may present.

*Now accepting new clients via telehealth. * Currently working with clients to provide emotional support and stress management during this difficult time. I focus on radical acceptance, shame reduction, and distress tolerance. My goal is to support you to reach a greater acceptance of self, facilitate healing, and improve quality of life.

***ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS*** Each of us can identify some aspect of our lives that we'd like to change. As your therapist, my intention is to help you learn about the therapeutic process and how it can help you identify the changes you'd like to make; collaborate with you in setting realistic, achievable goals for yourself; teach you to incorporate coping skills to ease through transitions; and fully support you while we walk this journey together. Above all else, your comfort is my priority, and I offer you compassion and understanding without judgment.

Experience matters. I have over 25 years of experience and a record of success in working with adults. I specialize in working with women who are struggling with anxiety, depression, mood difficulties, challenging circumstances or loss due to a difficult history. I also work in conjunction with 12 step groups. My focus is on your thought processes, feelings, actions, stress responses and coping as they relate to current circumstances and past history. I work to help you decrease your anxiety or sadness by processing emotional events, increasing your observational skills and sense of clarity as they pertain to taking healthy action.

Counseling is a process that builds on the strengths you already possess - often leading to a better quality of life. If you are considering therapy and you want someone who can offer a safe, comfortable, confidential environment to share your thoughts and feelings, teach you new ways to cope, assist you with the challenges you're facing and celebrate your successes - then you have found the right person. Once you make the first phone call (which is not always easy) I will be there to answer any questions.

***Currently Accepting New Clients*** I am a Licensed Independent Social Worker and International Alcohol and Drug Counselor. I have over 7 years experience in mental health and substance use. I am client-centered and utilize behavioral, relationship-based, mindfulness, and humanistic approaches to therapy. I am passionate about working with adolescents, young adults, and people working to understand their strengths and utilizing them to get the most of what they want in life.

It takes a great deal of courage to reach out during vulnerable times and making the decision to seek help is a big step, which is why I focus on building a supportive and trusting therapeutic relationship in a safe environment. I focus on empowering clients to gain overall well-being by providing a non-judgmental atmosphere. A cornerstone of my work is to become an ally for clients to assist them in achieving their goals and recognizing their strengths. Although I work with clients with many different concerns, my passion lies in assisting with symptoms of trauma, depression, anxiety, relationship issues, and self-esteem.

We all face difficult situations in our lives that can leave us feeling alone and overwhelmed. My goal is to help you find your true potential to lead a full and productive life. Together we can work to better understand and resolve the challenges that you face. By applying complimentary therapy approaches and techniques, we will identify negative perceptions or behavior patterns that may be keeping you from experiencing a more fulfilling and meaningful life.

Our goal is to help you discover how you can overcome your personal struggles and resolve the issues that are keeping you stuck so that you can live the life you envision for yourself. It's your time now! It's your time to live the life that you are destined to live. It would honor me to serve you now. The Ardent Counseling Center has 18 offices, with 75+ clinicians throughout Chicagoland, suburbs, and down to the middle of Illinois. And all of Iowa. Phone or online video conferencing is also available.