Therapists in Kendall County, IL

Dr. Laura Bokar is the CEO/President of Fox Valley Institute for Growth and Wellness and has been an individual, marital/couple and family therapist for almost three decades. Her approach is tailored to the client's need. She is an open, non-threatening therapist with a sense of humor. Dr. Laura is a LMFT, LCPC and an Approved Clinical Supervisor. She is trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). She is also certified in Rapid Resolution Therapy (RRT), Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Critical Incident Response, Prepare/Enrich Pre-Marital Assessment, Primary Care Behavioral Health, and DBT.

I believe in creating a therapeutic environment that is conducive to healing / growth. It is important I develop a strong, genuine relationship with clients that allows me to deeply understand each person's own unique experiences and to accept each person as they are without judgment. I meet clients where they're at in their life processes and collaborate with them in order to help navigate and find solutions to their struggles. I can help with self harming, divorce, relationship issues, identity struggles, anxiety, depression, stress, emotion regulation, etc.

With over 25 years of social work practice experience and over 10 years as a social work educator, I consider it a privilege to be able to partner with others to identify strategies to overcome current challenges, and navigate life stressors. I have extensive experience and expansive knowledge working with children, adolescents, adults, families, and emerging professionals. Empathetic, strengths-based approaches are the core of the focus of my work.

I love working with many different populations. My therapy style is more directive; I ask questions, gently challenge (when necessary), and offer feedback. While my preferred clients are the elderly, those experiencing grief and loss, and those with Borderline Personality Disorder, I also treat many mood disorders as well as provide couples and family therapy. I have also treated domestic violence victims, people with severe and chronic mental illness, and people struggling with daily stress or life transitions. I'm also a lesbian, so familiar with and accepting of queer populations, and I am a fat-positive provider.

When it comes time to move forward, call me. I can help you reach your life goals. If you have been wanting to make some changes in your life but haven't been able to get started, I can help you move forward in just a few sessions. I can help you set goals and develop a plan to achieve them.

I am a licensed clinical therapist with over 25 years of experience helping clients achieve their goals through a collaborative and evidence-based approach. My practice welcomes individuals seeking support with stress, anxiety, trauma, pain management, and a variety of life challenges. I also regularly work with other therapists, educators, and healthcare professionals. I specialize in treating stress-related issues, women's health concerns across different stages of life, chronic medical conditions, and anxiety disorders. My expertise encompasses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based interventions, and EMDR therapy.

I see children, adolescents and adults for individual therapy and couples therapy. I utilize a client centered approach where I give unconditional positive regard to my clients in a non-judgmental therapeutic setting. I have seen clients meet their treatment goals and develop positive coping skills to effectively manage their distressing symptoms. The greatest gift of therapy is the therapeutic alliance between the therapist and the client that elicits change and allows the client to use the tools that they have learned to make lifelong gains.

You are the focus! With over 30 years of experience as a seasoned clinician, I recognize the uniqueness of each person who walks through my door. As the client, you guide the pace of treatment, and together as a team, we identify the steps to enhance your quality of life. Whether you seek short-term sessions or a more extended journey, I'm here to help you create the life you desire and navigate challenges, be it a life transition, a relationship issue, or a lifelong wound. Let's work together on this journey.

I believe that the 'fit' with a therapist is one of the most important aspects of the therapy process. I am the founder of KM Institute; a private practice that is dedicated to customizing your unique needs in order to ensure an effective 'fit' for your therapy process. I bring 19 years of experience working in schools, jail, residential, emergency room, and outpatient settings. I am dedicated to helping adolescents, adults, couples, and families with finding and implementing tools that help them reach their goals, and improve their emotional health. My specialities include trauma/PTSD, self injury, depression, anxiety, and grief.

How We Treat One Another Matters: For better and for worse, across our whole lives, we operate in relationships. Our views of our "self" and how we relate to others develop from how we have been treated in relationships. Our capacities to love, to learn, to become our best, all emerge optimally within healthy relationships. Likewise, wounds of heart and soul emerge from ways we have been treated and/or choices we have made which have hurt us, sometimes very deeply. Persons who have experienced relational trauma and/or overwhelming life stressors are ideal candidates for clinical services at Gateway.

I am Licensed Clinical Social Worker in both Illinois and Florida (telehealth only). I obtained my Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Aurora University in 2006 and my Masters Degree in Clinical Social Work from Aurora University in 2010. I have been working in the field since 2006 in various settings including community mental health centers, residential/group homes, homeless shelters, and hospitals. I specializes in depression, anxiety, mood disorders, relationship issues, parenting difficulties, crisis intervention, and LGBT issues. I work with clients across the life span in both outpatient and inpatient settings.

We all experience ups and downs. When individuals or families are struggling with difficult emotions, behaviors, memories, or events, then therapy is one option for support. My passion is working alongside my clients to support healthy adjustment, effective communication, and healing. I integrate a variety of strategies including cognitive-behavioral techniques (CBT), existential therapy, client-centered, and mindfulness. We will also consider the influence of your family's culture and history. Most importantly, we will create a space to explore your difficulties together, without judgment and in a safe space.

I have a specialty in working with members of the LGBTQIA community. I consider and provide care that is specific to the needs of these individuals. I am able to provide individual, family, couples, and group therapy to these clients. I assist in linking clients to medical professionals, if necessary, for living an authentic life and affirming their gender identity. I have knowledge specific to issues of this population including sexual orientation and gender exploration, gender transition, gender dysphoria, relationship and sexual issues, and family/social issues.