Experiential Therapy in Downers Grove, IL

Do you feel like you are just barely surviving in life? Does your child show some signs of anxiety and struggle to socialize with others? Or maybe you have gone through a traumatic experience in your past that lingers in the present and keeps you from feeling like yourself. If you resonate with any of these and don’t know what to do, I could be the therapist for you. I like to think that the bravest thing a person can do is ask for help. Although life inevitably comes with its hardships, it does not have to be an endless experience consisting of anxiety, depression, loneliness, and past traumas constantly coming to the surface.

*Offering video, phone & safe online options during COVID-19* Feeling safe, heard, and respected is important in therapy. By using compassion, empathy, and humor I work to create a warm and healing environment where we can work together to accomplish your goals. I am passionate about working with individuals to find effective ways of managing life’s stressors.

I provide support to individuals who are navigating a variety of life’s challenges, such as anxiety, mood disorders, trauma, and identity formation. She also specializes in providing mental health counseling to neurodivergent adolescents and adults (ASD, ADHD, 2E), struggling with emotional and sensory regulation, executive functioning, and social skills. I have a heart for helping others utilize their strengths to build the skills necessary for a well-rounded and balanced lifestyle.

My goals for my clients in therapy are to help them to develop a kind mind to enable them to achieve successes in the areas of Eating Disorder, Body Image, Depression, Anxiety, Self-Injury, Life Transitions, and Crisis Management. Together we build hope, health, and healing through cognitive behavioral strategies, mindfulness training, coaching, and self-esteem building. The focus is on the integration of the mind and body connection to create wholeness and wellness.

With over a decade of clinical experience, I emphasize the importance of psychoeducation, coping strategies, and mindfulness. I also try to bring an inherent authenticity, trust, directness, and a little bit of humor to foster a secure and welcoming environment to each and every client. Therapy is a challenging, yet warm process that entails self-reflection and honest conversation.

Loqui Wellness Center is where profound transformation meets authentic connection. Our boutique psychotherapy practice, located in the western suburbs of Chicago, is dedicated to helping individuals grow and achieve their goals through evidenced-based therapies and the power of authenticity. Our therapists are not only highly trained but also deeply committed to being our warm, compassionate selves in session, as a catalyst for motivation and connection as you begin your wellness journey.

I provide a judgement free place to find your way & figure it out. Commitment to my clients begins with a belief in the ability of individuals to advocate for themselves & choose their own path. You decide how you want to live your life. Our instincts, emotions & feelings are a gift; they are the natural barometer for navigating our lives. Often we misinterpret or fear those emotions & fall into a holding pattern as to how to move forward. We all get stuck. Let me help you move forward. I have extensive experience working with children (ages 3-17), families and adults.

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.

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.

My therapeutic approach is supportive, engaging, and collaborative. I work to foster trust and compassion with every client and family I see using a more interactive approach. My goal is to help my clients identify goals and learn strategies to achieve these goals through techniques tailored specifically for them. I also enjoy using humor in my sessions to engage clients and help them feel at ease. I have 15 years experience working in mental health and a Master of Arts degree from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in Counseling.

I specialize in treating Trauma (single event, long-term and attachment) with experiential therapies, including EMDR & Somatic Experiencing. These interventions recognize the need to go beyond changing your thoughts and focus on helping people regulate the body sensations and emotions that continue to be experienced. For example: a person may know that a traumatic event is over and yet continue to feel the emotion of anxiety and the body sensation of muscle tension (never truly relaxing or feeling safe). This can activate an impulse to run away from situations, become angry/defensive or shut down (depressed/ avoidant/dissociative)

I love working with clients who want to fully participate in their healing process. It may be uncomfortable at times, but as you move forward it is worth the effort. I will be honored to join you on your journey to a more balanced and joyful life. I will work collaboratively with you, providing you with tools to help you overcome the struggles that you are facing. As you begin utilizing these tools to help you regulate your nervous system and feeling a greater sense of wellness, you will feel empowered and able to fully embrace life.

We provide evidence-based CBT/Exposure Therapy for anxiety disorders, specializing in social anxiety, selective mutism, separation anxiety, panic disorder, & related issues. The goal is to live a valued life in the presence of anxiety and, to do this, we treat the anxious-avoidance cycle you may find yourself in. Anxious avoidance is when a person avoids something that makes them anxious (which is normal and expected). However, when avoidance interferes with your life and keeps you from living out your goals, that’s when avoidance (not anxiety) becomes problematic. We are specialists who can help you learn how to approach vs avoid.

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.

Feeling stuck? Feeling like you have lost control of your life? Your relationships? Let me help you get unstuck and regain control! Individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, PTSD, and self-esteem and couples facing a variety of life situations and/or reconfiguring as step-families have created success stories as a result of our work together. These 20+ years of success stories stem from collaborating with clients to create realistic therapeutic goals and unique plans to attain them.

Many parents feel helpless when their kids are acting out of control or regressing in their development. And, an increasing number of kids are struggling with their mental health and parents feel frustrated because they don’t always know how to help. But it doesn't have to stay that way. I provide transformative child counseling so kids can find relief from mental struggles and I work to equip parents with tools to make meaningful connections with the kiddos for a lifetime.

Often more traditional verbal therapies aren't able to get to the root of one's issues. If you are finding yourself hitting a wall with with your healing and would like to push past this. Or you desire to work with a seasoned clinician who utilizes a holistic, body-based approach to treatment, please reach out so you can get on my calendar or one of the clinicians that works for me.

It is my life's purpose and passion to help others live meaningful and Joy-filled lives. I have invested many years in my own self-healing, growth, and professional development. Successful therapy draws upon the quality of the therapeutic relationship. I value the time you are spending as you make this very important decision for yourself. Together, let's explore the mental, emotional, spiritual, and behavioral patterns which are interfering with your ability to maintain harmony within yourself, and in your relationships with others. Come to create the shift you need to blossom into the fullest expressions of your authenticity.