Therapists in Lake County, IL

Hi! I’m Dr. Marissa, a trauma, grief and loss specialist for children, teens and families. My background includes 20+ years facilitating group and individual bereavement and trauma supportive services, pediatric medical inpatient and outpatient work with children and families, and individual and family therapy in Private Practice.

Life is full of loss, difficult relationships, unmet expectations, and change. Our responses to these experiences can be overwhelming and confusing, leaving us struggling to manage thoughts and emotions, or unable to align our behaviors with our desired path. Each response is truly unique, and can highlight or expand on other challenges in life, such as anxiety, depression, relational problems, and unhealthy coping strategies. No matter the unique experience, all individuals deserve a safe, confidential place to bring these challenges, and specialized care to help them understand, process, and move through their experience.

Counseling is a life calling for me. I work diligently to see hurting people reclaim their lives and be restored to their best selves. It is an honor to partner with my clients to help them rediscover their voice and empower them to choose the life of love, connection and purpose they are seeking. Those who are experiencing loss, trauma, depression, anxiety, relationship conflict, work issues and spiritual struggles can find hope as we work together.

I believe in a strengths- based approach when working with clients. I utilize mindfulness, cognitive behavioral skills, motivational interviewing, and EMDR to help clients achieve their goals. I have an eclectic approach which allows me to tailor my therapy style to the needs of the client.

Life brings many stressors and we can all benefit from having a confidential place to sort out our concerns. I have been in practice for over 30 years helping clients with issues such as anxiety, depression, grief and loss, relationship issues and stress management. I have worked with individuals, adolescents and couples in a relationally based, psychodynamic format. I was also the director of, and involved with, a psycho-educational parenting program for over 12 years. I enjoy working with individuals, couples and with adolescents as they grow through facing the challenges of life.

Clients motivated to change parts of themselves & their lives which are not working are exciting & challenging to work with. In particular, combat veterans & their families who are readjusting to stateside life are a specialty area of my practice. I am also interested in assisting persons who are seeking to live their lives with greater meaning & intention. I assist men who are seeking greater understanding of themselves and want to change their lives in community with other men through the Victories of the Heart program. Assisting people with grief & loss to find greater meaning & who want to live more abundantly are ideal.

I am a licensed professional counselor who specializes in working with individuals and couples experiencing life transitions, anxiety, depression, chronic illnesses, grief and loss, and issues relating to meaning and purpose. I have experience working with those diagnosed with cancer and their caregivers, from early diagnosis to end-of-life. I work with adults of all ages, with additional training in working with older adults. Whether it be navigating life transitions like launching, job changes and retirement, or finding meaning and purpose, I utilize a caring and understanding approach in helping my clients find a way forward.

As a Solution-Focused therapist specializing in Health Psychology, our goal is to help you uncover your true potential and lead a life that is worth celebrating. While we can't change difficult situations of the past, we can work together to better understand and resolve challenges in your life. By applying complementary therapy approaches and techniques, we will unearth long-standing behavior patterns or negative perceptions that may be holding you back from experiencing a more fulfilling and meaningful life. If you're looking for extra support and guidance through a challenging situation, let's work together.

Are you living the life you envisioned? Has grief, a difficult relationship, chronic illness, or life transition left you feeling anxious or depressed and unable to move forward with your life? I can help. I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, and National Certified Counselor, who strives to help adults 18 years and older cultivate the self-awareness and coping skills necessary to create the positive changes they seek in their life.

I am a therapist with over ten years of experience providing assessment, crisis intervention and psychotherapy to individuals in the community. I assist individuals as they find the best solutions to dealing with mental health concerns, life transitions and accomplishment of goals.I believe that all individuals have within them the skills needed to lead an actualized, fulfilling and meaningful life.I will tailor therapy to your individual characteristics and work with you to find interventions that best suit your needs, goals and skill set.

I have over twenty years of experience providing individual, couples, and family therapy. My specialties include depression/mood disorders, anxiety disorders, grief and loss, trauma, self-esteem issues, stress and anger management. I also specialize in working with couples and families for issues related to separation/divorce, communication difficulties, conflict resolution, parenting issues and relationship growth and enrichment.

If you have been anxious, depressed, confused, or overwhelmed, I am here to help. I am committed to provide a safe and supportive space for you to explore, heal, and thrive. I will assist you with understanding how your experiences and values inform your decision making, communication with others, and choices of coping skills. I will collaborate with you on finding healthier approaches and more effective coping strategies. I am determined to use my education and experience to help you become more resilient.

I have experience with treating clients with a variety of diagnoses including Depression, Anxiety Disorder, Bi-polar Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Sexuality Issues, Transgender issues, Substance Abuse, Psychosis, Behavioral and Parenting Issues. I've worked in the Behavioral Health Unit of a local hospital for the past several years and have practiced in clinics in urban and rural areas. I have seen clients from a variety of educational backgrounds including higher education such as teachers and professors. At this time, I am seeing patients by telehealth only.

I specialize in primary and secondary trauma experienced by law enforcement officers, firefighters/paramedics, educators, veterans, mental health professionals, survivors of suicide, survivors of violent crimes, their families, and those struggling with complicated and traumatic grief. I see clients who need help managing their anger and addictive behaviors. Additionally, I work with survivors of Near Death Experiences (NDE) and psychically gifted children and adults. I offer debriefing services to law enforcement officers after critical incident involvement and mandated psychotherapy for fit-for-duty protocols.

We all work hard to take care of ourselves and build positive relationships, but sometimes obstacles get in our way. For more than 20 years, I have worked with people to identify and remove those obstacles, so that they can lead fuller and more joyful lives. You may be derailed by the loss of a job or relationship; feel depressed and not know why, or struggle as a parent. I work with individuals, couples and families to pinpoint your concerns and work toward change. My emphasis is on building honest, open relationships and on using insight to fuel change.

I offer comfort, counsel and clarity to individuals and families facing medical illness, grief, loss and bereavement, and/or life transitions. Companioning folks on these journeys allows me to help them lessen their sense of isolation, to help identify and utilize their strengths, and to manage difficult emotions. Frequently clients are overwhelmed and need help sorting through stressful feelings and situations. Once that is accomplished, much progress is made. In life transitions, identifying and touching the emotions and then re-establishing a life-plan are often the primary goals, crafted to the client's unique needs.

I am a licensed clinical social worker and I have had the opportunity to work in a variety of settings in the mental health field over the past 15 years, with an emphasis on loss and grief. I work with children, adolescents, adults, and families. I create a safe space to support clients so they feel comfortable discussing their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. I use a strength-based interactive therapeutic approach, and I enjoy being an advocate for my clients.

Finding the right therapist for your needs can be anxiety-provoking. I want to make it easier for you. I value building a strong sense of rapport with you through transparency, validation, and humor. I believe in working together to process your most pressing challenges, helping you adapt healthy coping behaviors that allow you to not only live a life you love, but one where you thrive.

I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with strong clinical training and years of experience in private practice, high school and community mental health settings. I obtained a Master's in Counseling and Psychotherapy from the Institute for Clinical Social Work. In addition, I received certification as a Grief Support Specialist from the University of Wisconsin. My main objective is to support you in gaining a deeper understanding of your emotional challenges, while at the same time, empowering you to make healthy and desired changes.