Attachment-based Therapists in Vernon Hills, IL

It can feel intimidating to reach out for help, which is why I approach therapy in a gentle and compassionate manner. My focus is on individuals and couples who want to address their relational, emotional, and sexual wellbeing. It is my frame of thought that the relationships, both with ourselves and with others, are at the core of emotional health. My clients seek to improve emotional connections and empathy, as well as their experience of sex and sexuality. I am clinically trained to work with a wide range of clients and issues.

I wholeheartedly believe that everyone is the expert on their own life, with care and collaboration, I meet people where they are by drawing upon various therapeutic models to address social anxiety, anxiety, depression, addiction, relationship issues, divorce, and life changes.

Positive change in life is something we all long for. To grow in our relationships, to heal trauma from our past, and to arrive at the resilient individual we know that we can be. Change however, is hard and involves many steps. Sometimes we are plagued by our fears, and other times we are too overwhelmed to even know where to start. If you long for change, therapy is a step in the right direction.

If life has presented you with challenges you weren't expecting... If you have conflict in your relationships that you aren't sure how to improve... If you have had a recent death or loss of someone important to you and don't know how to move forward... If you want to live the best life you can... I offer supportive and personalized solutions for you and your family so you can get back to living the life you've always wanted to create!

Life can be difficult and overwhelming at times. I am passionate about helping you where you're at within the context of a safe therapeutic environment. Have you had feelings of hopelessness, anxiety, or depression? Or are feeling stuck, wondering about life and where you fit in? Maybe you're struggling in a relationship or marriage? I enjoy working with young adults, adults, couples and families. I have extra training treating couples conflict, anxiety, social anxiety, depression, Self Injury, and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) I also enjoy working with couples who are struggling in their marriage or relationship.

We all long for hope, healing, and relief, and they can be hard to find alone. If you are here, it probably means you want life to feel better and I can understand that desire. So often, we just want our relationships to change, to experience less stress and anxiousness, to be less troubled by painful memories, and to feel better about ourselves. Sometimes all we need is a safe and comfortable space to be heard and understood and sometimes we need direction, clarity and new skills. The goal is to find the combination of factors that can bring healing for you.

The Couple and Family Clinic is creating connections that heal. We specialize in relational conflict and trauma, partner betrayal trauma, sexual compulsion, cultural trauma and grief and loss. Pain and adjustment is a part of life. I am here to walk with you through the process so that you will arrive at your goal feeling healthy and whole. The client's experience from beginning to the end of treatment are all very important to me and the healing process. We all desire healthy, happy and loving relationships, and this takes courage and will pull us out of our comfort zone. Sometimes loving ourselves is the best place to start.

You deserve a life of hope and healing! If you're here, it's probably because you or someone you care about is being weighed down by life. Conflict in relationships, transitions in life, trauma, and everyday stress can chip away at our joy and vitality. Trust me - it doesn't have to be this way. Yes, counseling is hard work. Making that first, courageous step of getting started can be intimidating. I'll do everything I can to make you feel heard, seen, and accepted. I want you to have a safe, comfortable, and healing environment as we journey together.

Life is full of ups and downs, challenges and joys. My passion is to work with individuals (adolescents - seniors) and couples as they navigate their own respective journeys. Whether you are dealing with stress, loss, anxiety, depression, anger, life changes, health or marital issues - being able to help you overcome obstacles as you continue on your path is my goal. No two people experience life the same way, and being able to develop treatment plans and goals to help you be successful is what I find most rewarding.

Relationships can be difficult. Whether it is familial, romantic or platonic, each of us is the sum of all the experiences, communities, and cultures we have been involved in and around our entire lives. We often struggle to understand how to effectively communicate, as well as making and keeping connections.

“Prioritizing self care means prioritizing inner peace”. I am a bilingual licensed social worker who is passionate about helping others create a positive connection between body and mind. I am here to provide you with unconditional support and work alongside you to achieve your goals. Even through the hardships of life, there is always room for resiliency, growth, and self-care. My approach is collaborative, holistic, and non-judgemental.

When you call me, it is the beginning of a collaborative process where we explore how to get you feeling more capable and hopeful to face life's challenges. I support new and not so new parents who are facing the transitions to parenthood. I have also helped many face infertility, grieve the loss of a pregnancy as well as face the many challenges that come with having a traumatic birth or special needs child. I am well versed in the adoption process and supporting the needs of adoptive families. I counsel adults to face the challenges of work, marriage, divorce and parenting that can trigger feelings of depression and anxiety.

Ariele is a licensed clinical professional counselor, a nationally certified counselor and a board-certified dance/movement therapist. She is trained as a yoga and prenatal yoga teacher. Through her practice, Ariele guides her clients in trying on new qualities of actions/behaviors and thoughts. She assists her clients in learning how to move metaphorically and physically in new and healthier ways, allowing for an increased sense of control, mastery and self-empowerment.

I have worked with a variety of clients and multiple issues. This includes adults, couples, adolescents, children, and families. I have extensive experience with mood disorders, anxiety, trauma, grief, family/relationship issues, and childhood and adolescent disorders. Having worked with a variety of different ethnicities and cultures including LGBTQ, I attempt to bring that cultural sensitivity to my practice. My work with clients includes helping them to identify patterns of problematic thought and behavior, and explore ways these patterns may have developed. My objective is to help clients find ways to enjoy and succeed in their lives.

I have 30+ years of extensive experience providing guidance leading to marital, personal, and professional solutions and growth. I will quickly establish a comprehensive understanding of your current dilemma to lower your distress and achieve your desired results. You may be dealing with conflict in your marriage or you're carrying concerns about your parenting. You might find yourself stuck in sadness and worry or you're experiencing thoughts and perceptions that confuse and frighten you. Perhaps you are finding work very stressful or you're having difficulty moving forward and growing the way you believe you can.

I am committed to providing high quality psychological care for individuals, children and families who are facing a variety of issues in their lives. Whether your needs are for short-term problem solving or long-term growth work, we can work collaboratively to create goals for the future. Helping clients with issues such as ADD/ODD, Behavior Issues, Depression and Anxiety, Divorce issues, Family Counseling, Grief Counseling, Hospice Counseling, Individual Counseling and School Issues.

I use empathy, personal honesty, and clear boundaries to establish therapeutic relationships. My training and professional style enable the development of healthy emotional attachment and the behavioral regulation needed to maintain a secure sense of self and family well being. I am a member of International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT) and also a member of Chi Sigma Iota in recognition of scholastic and professional excellence. I work with couples to promote healthy attachment and communication skills. I also work with children and families utilizing attachment and family system based models.

I enjoy helping people to feel more control over their lives. I am very curious about people’s stories. How can we edit our thoughts to feel better? Is there a different way to think about this problem? Sometimes I use humor to lighten the mood, but I will always uphold professional boundaries. In fact, I love to teach ways to set clear boundaries in our families and our workplaces. I have worked with many trauma survivors, and they describe feeling less trapped in shame spirals, with more confidence and fewer flashbacks.

Life presents us with a series of opportunities and challenges. Having someone trained to come alongside can help you meet the challenges and make the most of your opportunities. I bring my compassion, knowledge, experience, and the counseling process as resources for you. Working together, we will form an overview of your situation and choose a path forward toward greater health and a fuller life, leveraging your strengths, skills, and resources.