Couples Counseling Therapists in Downers Grove, IL

While not everyone needs therapy, I believe that almost everyone can benefit from it. As a therapist, my greatest reward is to be a part of the process in which my clients discover their own resources, wisdom, and integrity as they overcome obstacles and move toward healing. My areas of specialty include treating anxiety, depression, eating disorders, PTSD, and life transitions.

We live in a stressful world. There may be pressures coming at us from every angle...work, parents, children, friends, spouses, world events. Sometimes it's a bit overwhelming. We are doing the best we can, but perhaps we want to make things a bit easier for ourselves. We can all benefit from having someone to talk to to process our thoughts and emotions.

I believe therapy is a collaborative effort that can help build healthy boundaries and coping skills to live and maintain a healthy, productive life. My goal is to create a safe, non-judgmental environment for my clients to allow them to reach a level of vulnerability that allows for change. I utilize an integrative and holistic approach to help clients form treatment goals that best fit their needs.

I work primarily with adolescents (ages 10-25), marriages, and men's issues. I currently supervise a team of therapists through Unbroken Family Counseling. I work within this team and, when necessary, work with schools, psychiatrists, and other community resources to help my clients. My ideal client is a teen who doesn't think he/she needs counseling, a marriage that is on the rocks, or a guy dealing with guy stuff (guys know what I'm talking about). If I cant help you I can help find someone who can.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been hard for everyone. You may feel stressed, anxious, confined, angry, or depressed. You may even feel **guilty** for feelings those things. You don't have to deal with it alone. Let me help you cope and find ways to adjust to these new challenges. If you are ready to take the next big step but you don't know how - If you are willing to try out new things once our session is over - If you are able to open up to a new perspective... Then you are ready, willing, and able! We can start moving you in the right direction. Seriously - let's get going.

Feeling anxious, stressed or depressed? Many people are overwhelmed these days. There is help.

It's amazing that even despite our similarities as humans, we are all so very different individually. We all have our own unique experiences, challenges, and struggles. It may even feel lonely being the only one who knows your exact feelings. However, if someone could just understand a fraction of what you are going through, there can be a sense of hope - and a sense of connection.

As a therapist, I aim to meet my clients where they are and provide guidance and skill development that allows them to meet their goals. I work with substance use, addiction, anxiety, depression, OCD, grief and loss, suicidality, and expected and unexpected life changes. I am here to listen and support you if you need to find hope or are struggling with life's challenges.

Whether I am working with you as a couple, a parent, or on your own personal development, we will ask and answer the tough questions and put in real work in an effort to uncover why things are the way they are, strengthen your relationships and provide actions, skills and approaches aimed at positive change.

We all feel things in ways others cannot understand. I get it. I am definitely not your typical counselor, I have a back story that goes on for miles. I also started out with goals in life, dreams, and thoughts about how I wanted life to be. Just like you, my journey was sidetracked by paths that were unforeseen. At times, fun, tragic, and potholes and bumps that challenged my core. Making the choice to come to counseling is awkward. To have to admit to yourself we have unresolved issues is a milestone. The secret is if you are reading this, you are stronger than you believe.

Our experienced and diverse team of counselors are ready to work with anyone and everyone who’s looking for things like clarity, understanding, acceptance, calm, courage, hope and change. Counselors use a wide variety of client-focused and goal-oriented therapy techniques in a broad range of specialty areas, so you’re sure to find a counselor who suits your needs.

COVID entered our lives in 2020, and has changed just about everything we do in our day to day lives. Some of us are working from home, back to zoom, and for others the workplace has changed. Travel restrictions, and fear of catching COVID has isolated many families. Variant after variant, we haven’t had much of a break from COVID. In 2022, many of us are tired of living this way, often struggling with anger, irritation, depression and anxiety. Going into the third year of COVID, nothing really has changed despite our belief that vaccinations would solve everything. Vaccines have helped but it has not led to pre-COVID normal.

I work with all aged clients. I have long -term school experience: teacher, counselor, administrator. I enjoy all ages.Many people enjoy my mix of therapeutic and personal coaching styles. During the years, I have advanced my training into divorce mediation and custody mediation. I have also expanded my clientelle to include people who have long-term illness with pain. I work with health issues to help people learn to better adapt to their condition while also finding and concentrating on creating healthy lifestyle choices and personal calmness. I consider my background in addiction as a pathway to help people achieve wellness.

I work with a variety of people with a common set of experiences-the after effects of trauma, both childhood and throughout the lifespan. Untreated trauma is often accompanied by anxiety, depression, physical problems and addictions.

Are you feeling overwhelmed, stressed out, anxious or depressed? Are you ready to make a change? Whether your problem is due to a current situation or a long-standing issue, therapy can help you make the changes to get you to start feeling like yourself again. I help people find their inner strengths, learn how to be true to themselves in identifying wants, needs, and desires and figuring out a way to achieve these dreams.

Utilizing depth psychology, psychodynamics, CBT, DBT, and creative modalities, I work to recognize the root of the issues. Drawing on 20+ therapies, I seek to guide people to discover their gifts, understand dreams, and develop integrity-filled, meaningful lives. By gaining vital knowledge of the psyche, clients learn to understand themselves to empower them to reduce symptoms and make inner and outer changes. Additionally, I provide professional consultation and supervision to helping professionals seeking to develop their skills or prepare for licensing. Aiding other clinicians development is a great joy in this part of my career.

I specialize in the treatment of behavioral health disorders for motivated clients who are interested in collaborating and working to attain their goals. We will work together, primarily focused on the current situation and its solution, rather than the past. Through scientifically- supported methods, we will concentrate on your views and beliefs about your life, and how they are tied to your behaviors and emotions.

Trying to figure out this journey called LIFE, one can become overwhelmed and scared. The feeling of not knowing the end result increase one's anxiety. LIFE is a daily learning process one must be able to learn from past losses, relationships, and experiences which help shape TODAY. Learn how to cope with these things and focus on your purpose to enjoy each moment.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Ordained Minister of the United Church of Christ. I am also certified as a Sexual Addictions Therapist and Therapist Supervisor through the International Institute for Trauma and Addictions Professionals.