Couples Counseling Therapists in Arlington Heights, IL

Whether you're feeling overwhelmed, disconnected or stuck and powerless, I can help you find your strength and make your way to a more serene and satisfying life. Occasionally people are well aware of how their suffering has emerged, but often the cause is unclear. My aim is to partner with clients to help them understand themselves and confront any life-limiting beliefs. From there, we can facilitate changes that will bring relief and build a positive sense of self, which in turn, will enrich your relationships and your life.

Congratulations on taking the first step to get counseling! This is often the hardest step which may be filled with mixed emotions. I encourage you to approach counseling as a journey through self-awareness and self-fulfillment. With over 18 years of experience working in the mental health field, I have helped numerous individuals, couples and families struggling to cope with a range of issues, such as depression, anxiety, relationship issues, special needs and stress management. I aim to meet each client where they are and assist them in working towards their personal goals.

I help children, teens, parents, couples and families to solve and cope with the challenges that life presents to all of us. I'll listen to you with empathy and caring, and offer my education and long years of experience to help you along your path to change.

I am passionate about helping people get unstuck. You are worth it and have unique strengths and purpose! I work with individuals, couples, and groups to pursue healthy relationships, personal growth, and emotional wholeness. My desire is to bring hope, guidance, and be a safe place for you to process and find solutions to your challenges. I look forward to working with you on the journey of hope and fulfillment.

I specialize in helping men connect to themselves and others with strength, courage, and authenticity. Are you feeling depressed, anxious, or just that life is not all you had hoped? Are your relationships unfulfilling? Having difficulty letting go of past hurts? Using sex, the internet, work, or social media to avoid others or painful emotions? Does it seem impossible to "get through" to your spouse? Retirement not going well? Has the pandemic knocked you off your game? It’s time for a change. “You, he said, are a terribly real thing in a terribly false world, and that, I believe, is why you’re in so much pain" (Autumn).

Annie believes that providing a non-judgemental and collaborative space is essential to supporting individuals and couples in reaching their full potential and personal goals. She provides a safe and empowering environment for clients to explore ways to improve their life, relationships and everything in between. In therapy, she aims to provide you with the skills and strategies to use in real life situations for years to come.

I enjoy helping individuals heal, see breakthroughs, and increase their resilience and ability to find effective approaches to their presenting concerns.  My passion is to empower clients to manage life difficulties that encroach on their envisioned life architecture by gently identifying and removing obstacles, learning adaptive coping, finding meaning and strength, and sometimes rebuilding from the very foundation when faced with life-changing adversities.  Issues germinate and gain destructive power if ignored or dealt with using unhelpful distractions, so you can feel good about taking that first step to call me with no delay.

I am a seasoned therapist who, like my clients, is in an evolving journey of making sense of life and its challenges. I spent the first part of my career specializing in the treatment of adolescents and families. For the past two decades, my practice has come to include a great deal of work with individual adults and couples who are struggling with issues related to mental health, self-esteem, trauma, relationship difficulties, and life stage concerns. I enjoy working with the challenges of emerging adults as well as those in mid-life and beyond.

Couples therapy has been found to be least effective of all therapies, thus it is important for clients to seek out therapists who are versed in the latest research on couples and marital therapy. The unique couples approach I co-created with my wife, called the Couples Synergy model, has helped thousands of couples internationally for over 25 years.

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, who believes in the importance of prioritizing mental health. Seeking out therapy means you value yourself and the relationships you are in. In order for clients to access their most authentic feelings, I feel the therapeutic environment is key. I provide an inviting, non-judgmental space to process the challenges that are present in your life, and work with a strength-based, solution-focused approach.

I am passionate about helping individuals, couples and families both understand their challenges and create a pathway to healing. I believe the first step in this process is to find the right therapist and establish a trusting, honest, and mutually respectful relationship. I meet clients where they are and help them gain skills in such areas as emoitonal regulation, stress management, communication, parenting, problem solving and relaxation techniques.

Thank you for inquiring about who I am. It can take courage to ask for help. I applaud you for reading on and hope I am your choice to support you, your child, partner, parent, family or friend. I am a therapist with over 30 years of experience. I have also served as a school social worker from 2005 – 2021 in both private and public school systems. I am well versed in a variety of clinical modalities. My goal is to evoke positive change in the individuals who choose to work with me. I excel in working with children (4+), adolescents, adults, parents, couples and families.

Everyone's therapy needs are different! I take a collaborative, non-judgmental approach to honor those unique needs. I believe I have a responsibility as a therapist to create a safe, supportive, open environment where clients feel empowered to take an active role in their therapy process. When working with clients on concerns including anxiety, depression, life transitions, relationship concerns, trauma, parenting, and work/school concerns I focus on patterns within and across generations of families, balance between connectedness and individuality, and increasing your ability to cope with and tolerate stress.

The therapeutic relationship and the experiences it fosters serves as a type of mirror—it’s a safe space to explore oneself. My role is to hold space, ask pertinent questions, and listen to you completely. My approach is one of collaboration. I might be an "expert" in mental health, but you're the expert of YOU. We'll co-create therapeutic goals, partner together in devising a plan to achieve your goals, and give space for your expansion and evolution.

I am a Licensed Psychotherapist with experience working with adults, adolescents, and families on issues such as anxiety, depression, life transitions, relationship issues, and trauma. I also specialize in helping young adults transition from college into adult life, navigating relationship and career changes. I am experienced working with resistant clients, but my passion is working with individuals who are open minded and hoping to grow. My goal in treatment is to help clients identify their negative thoughts and behavioral patterns to create change. I also like to help clients reflect on how their past influences the present.

I believe that we all have some area of our lives that we would like to change. My passion is to walk with individuals who want or need this change. For change to take place in treatment we need clear direction with measurable goals, a strong sense of hope, and a good fit between the therapist and client. I take a holistic approach to counseling that addresses the physical, intellectual, emotional, social, ethical, and spiritual needs of the client. I would love to be a part of your change process.

When personal stresses mount, I believe in meeting the client where they are to listen with an empathic ear and provide coping skills to help clients more effectively navigate difficulties. I realize people need support to get by in their daily lives when career difficulties occur or relationships begin to break down or perhaps it is just hard to cope with personal or external expectations. I work with mind-body awareness and may introduce some relaxation techniques to aid clients overcome anxiety.

Our emotions can get the best of us. I work with individuals looking to take control over heavy emotions, and those desiring a more positive outlook on life. Bad, painful feelings often keep us stuck. During therapy, I listen carefully to each client's unique story, helping them explore their emotions and beliefs in a more comfortable setting, and working toward emotional relief. Therapy is aimed at helping each client gain personal growth and lasting change.

I understand that the decision to participate in therapy can be uncomfortable and daunting for many people, so creating a genuine client-therapist relationship and a safe space is a priority of mine. I strive to make the therapeutic process as stress-free and enjoyable as possible. I view therapy as a collaborative process that is founded on the individual’s strengths and goals and respect that each client is unique in their experiences and situations. I am passionate about working with couples, and client's struggling with anxiety, personal identity, and helping to challenge and change negative thoughts and behaviors.