Therapists in Wheaton, IL

I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) who has also a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor(CADC) and a Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology(MCP). Much of my training has been centered in client-centered theory and I also have specialized training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). In addition to being traditionally trained, I also incorporate​ a holistic, integrated approach toward psychotherapy which includes aspects of mindfulness and Eastern philosophy, providing individual, family and couples therapy as well as intervention work.

Life can be hard. Being a college student can be hard. Life transitions (like starting college) often make it clear that some things just aren’t working. Maybe you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, anxious, alone, or depressed. Emotions, worries, or confusion become overwhelming and lead to unhelpful patterns. You've tried everything, but nothing has worked. You wonder if it will ever get better. All you want is peace, stability, and confidence in the direction your life is going. To feel good about yourself and your choices. To feel comfortable in your own skin and to believe in your ability to succeed.

I believe that getting to the root of the problem--not just managing symptoms-- is key to transformation. I enjoy being part of the healing process; empowering people to discover their own capacity for growth and change. I believe each of us already holds the keys to our highest good. I have helped a range of people, men, women, teens, and members of the LGBTQ community, examine their lives from new perspectives and discover new solutions. I would love to help YOU blossom! My passion is helping people navigate a path to safety, wholeness & healing.

Welcome! We provide traditional and holistic healing for mind, body & spirit health. We work with individuals, couples, families & groups age 5 and up. The facility is located on a main street with free parking. This is a private practice with a private waiting room in a very comfortable & soothing setting. Look for the yellow house with raspberry trim. Hours are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and from 2:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. When you call, we will do a brief intake, verify your insurance benefits & schedule your first appointment. We do not have a waiting list and can schedule your first appointment within the same week.

I support long-term couples struggling with conflict and disconnection who may feel unsure how to solve their challenges or rekindle their loving dynamic. I help couples improve communication skills, identify and express underlying vulnerable emotions, and ultimately deepen their intimacy and romantic connection. I also support folks with dysfunctional family and/or religious histories, who are interested in alternative healing approaches. This may entail witnessing the pain and patterns of the past, and then potentially reclaiming and reimagining their relationship with spirituality.

Along the journey through life challenges are inevitable and there aren't always easy or clear answers about why things happen and what to do about them. We want our lives and life itself to have value, meaning and purpose; and finding or creating these things for ourselves can be confusing, frustrating and even scary. However, finding our deeper reason(s) in life can also be rewarding, exciting and empowering experience that provides the hope, courage, strength and tenacity needed to face life's challenges. Having the courage to begin this process and asking for support along the way doesn't mean you're weak, it makes you strong!

My entire therapeutic practice is based on three words: I believe you. How often in life (both past and present) have individuals struggled with someone believing them? How easy it is to be judged and misunderstood. A lack of being believed, coupled with being both judged and misunderstood are often what create low self-esteem, depression, trauma, fear and anxiety: all of which can affect relationships, friendships, family life, work, school etc. With support, change and healing are realistic possibilities.

My approach to therapy is collaborative, whether you come in alone, with a partner, or with your family. Together we explore your therapeutic goals. I firmly believe in the power of relationships to foster resilience and healing. In my work, I strive to cultivate connection and curiosity in an active, direct, and compassionate manner as you explore life's challenges -- deepening your understanding of yourself and learning to connect more meaningfully with others.

The clients who are the best fit for my clinical approach tend to be people who want to build a stronger sense of self, learn how to center their own needs and set boundaries, and are open to inner child healing. The clients I work with want to change their relationship with themselves to be more compassionate and nurturing. They are recovering people pleasers, people who want to learn how to be more assertive, often have unresolved trauma, and are ready to break cycles in order to establish new patterns. They seek support from me to discuss dating, relationships, sex, childhood traumas, identity, and healing from abuse and neglect.

To me, therapy is about seeking wholeness; it is a journey of more fully integrating our minds, bodies, & souls. Many of us live trapped in patterns & scripts that weigh us down & that keep us from living full, authentic lives. As a trauma-informed therapist (& former spiritual director), I take into consideration the whole person, noting that past or ongoing traumas, wounds, & injustices shape the way we understand and engage with ourselves and the world. I help clients draw connections between formative past experiences & current ones in order to identify & shift those relational patterns & ongoing struggles.

As a therapist and mental health advocate, I believe everyone deserves one hour a week completely dedicated to them and what's coming up in their life. Whether you're experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, LGBTQIA struggles, or relational issues, I can offer you a nonjudgemental and engaging space to get to know yourself on a deeper level. Through a process of self-understanding and self-acceptance, we lay the groundwork for your desired life shifts.

As human beings we know life has a way of creating challenges we may find difficult to face on our own. I firmly believe each of us possess fundamental inner-strengths that can not only help us cope with these challenges, but flourish and thrive together. My goal as a therapist is to come alongside clients in a compassionate nonjudgmental stance to help identify your strengths and how to translate them into meaningful growth both within yourself and in your relationships. I value using a mind/body approach and a warm, relational atmosphere in therapy. I am LGBTQIA+-affirming, sex-positive, kink and poly-friendly.

I currently specialize in supporting neurodivergent and/or queer emerging adults as they navigate the anxieties and stressors of late stage capitalism. I particularly enjoy working with late-diagnosed or self-diagnosed autistic young adults. I also work with trauma survivors, people with chronic illnesses and pain, and LGBTQ2IA emerging adults. I am sex/kink/polyamory-positive, body-neutral, and sex-worker affirming. I strive to acknowledge and to combat the systemic impact of White supremacy, including its relationship to fatphobia, transphobia, and ableism.

Healing can be a journey. Engaging in a space where your authentic self can shine can make that journey a bit less difficult. I try to create a space that is welcoming to your thoughts, feelings, and self-energy. I mostly work with people of marginalized communities (i.e. BIPoC, LGBTQ+, First-Gen/Immigrants), trauma survivors, and creatives. My past experiences including working with people with psychosis, sexual violence trauma, and gender affirming/supportive care.

Painful past experiences and current life stressors can equally challenge our sense of self and our connections with others. Often without realizing it, we can continue to operate from old patterns long after they have stopped serving us.

Healing is a circular and cyclical journey with many paths, choices, & discoveries. We meet you where you are today, acknowledge that you are ever-changing, ever evolving. We know how hard it is to ask for help…to embrace, hold, and make space for change…we know how challenging it is to have a dissolution of self, or a version of yourself that no longer fits. Together, we can uncover & compost outdated & stifling beliefs, unrealistic expectations or goals, let go of worries & fears, discover self-sabotage, burrow through behaviors & deeply hidden feelings & emotions that keep us stuck, fearful, unable to step into empowered selves.

Hi. Come talk about what matters to you most. Together, we walk. Explore. Meander. Clarify. I love what I do and will help you feel better. I can help with multicultural issues, relocation, or if you're struggling with addiction, overcoming trauma, relationships, questions about polyamory, depression or abuse. If life has lost its meaning and you’re missing adventure, intimacy, greater self-expression and passion, let’s go. If you don’t talk about it, it won’t get better. I’m supportive, alternative, warm and kind. You’ll feel comfortable, and challenge thoughts and perceptions preventing you from getting out of your own way.

New availability! As of May 2024, Wednesdays at 1p and 3:15p - virtual only. Sometimes the hardest part of therapy is making the choice to begin. If you are here, you’re ready or at least thinking about starting this journey. Welcome and bring your curiosity! You don’t need to have answers when you come to therapy. You may not even know what the exact issues are. That’s okay. We will work in collaboration to find the path forward that benefits you most. There’s no “one size fits all” therapy so we may “try on” a few different things to see what works for you!

Do you feel like you're constantly "on", doing everything for everyone else, feel disconnected, or misunderstood by people around you? Does the thought of relaxing stress you out even more? You're in the right place. It is very common when you experience stress or trauma to feel overwhelmed, stuck and alone. This can impact how you feel, make decisions, and connect with others. Next thing you know, you're scrolling on your phone and it's 3 am. Welcome to your first step towards change. You've already done something different than usual, acknowledged that you need help.