Grief Therapists in Downers Grove, IL

I work best with clients that are open to exploring their feelings and emotions in new ways. Grief support is my specialty, I also work with anxiety and depression. When I support grievers, we work together to determine how and if you'd like to honor your person that died, explore feelings around their death , and what life looks like now.

Helene Jacques is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and a National Certified Counselor who has been in practice since 2000. She sees adolescents and adults for individual and family therapy. Helene has extensive experience working with clients dealing with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues, depression, anxiety, grief and loss , adoption concerns, relationship problems, stress management, medical and health concerns, and post-abortion issues. Helene was trained in an eclectic model of therapy and relies on this knowledge base to select effective treatment approaches for each client or family.

My method is wholistic and compassionate counseling for individuals and couples. I try to create a safe harbor for change for adults dealing with life issues such as self-esteem, relationships, grief or loss , goal-setting and anxiety. I try to get people in touch with their own truth in a safe, non-judgmental, empathetic environment. I enjoy giving couples tools for resolving conflict and learning to fight fairly.

As a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and a National Certified Counselor I am dedicated to treating my clients as individuals by celebrating their uniqueness. No matter what your individual situation, I offer a safe place to begin your exploration of change.

As a licensed professional counselor, I work mainly with adolescents and adults suffering with anxiety and depression. I also work with those grieving the loss of a loved one, and those adjusting to changes in their lives. I believe you carry the power and ability to effect change in your life. I am here to help guide you and provide you with tools and resources so that you can make positive, lifelong changes in your life.

An Invitation to come as you are...Sometimes it's easy to forget or move away from who you are and your story. There are many life circumstances that may impact and influence how you feel about and perceive yourself as well as others. Shame, guilt, fear, anxiety, anger, disappointment, sadness, illness, grief , loss and broken relationships are a part of many peoples' life stories yet sometimes it can be difficult to accept those parts of one's journey. I invite you to come with all the pieces of who you are and share your story.

When life is overwhelming, I want to give you tools that can bring immediate relief. My approach is to tailor our work to your needs. Although I have worked with many clients with varying issues of all ages, my specialties include issues of grief / loss , chronic medical illnesses (cancer, diabetes), depression, anxiety, relationship issues, LGBTQ and fertility issues. I strive to help you concentrate on the present, focus on the future and explore the past to understand current behaviors and coping. I create a safe place where you can share and acquire more coping tools to adjust to life changes.

I have over twenty years of social work experience. I have worked in foster care and adoption, in a psychiatric hospital and am currently working in private practice. My patients include children, adolescents, adults and couples. I treat depression, anxiety, PTSD, grief issues, conflict resolution, borderline personality disorder, bipolar disorder, social anxiety, OCD, addictions, issues related to divorce and family/marital conflicts. I use a variety of treatment modalities based on the individual needs of the patient. My therapeutic approach is a non-judgmental blending of eastern and western philosophies thereby helping patients develop acceptance and develop better coping strategies to deal with their challenges.

I offer caring, insightful, professional help in navigating through experiences of grief , loss & life transitions. Whether you are facing acute grief brought on by a recent loss or suffering the cumulative effects of losses long past yet still painfully present, these experiences can be catalysts for profound growth. It would be my privilege to assist you in identifying and gently letting go of your obstacles to more authentic, centered, full and satisfying living.

I believe in the innate dignity of all people, and the work I do as a counselor is to encourage and empower people to live up to their personal values and embrace a more abundant life. When I work with a client I meet them where they are, without judgment, and enter into a working relationship built on trust, empathy, vulnerability, and communication. I have a person-centered approach to therapy, meaning that I respect the people who walk into my office enough to trust them to make decisions for themselves. I believe change is inevitable, but also, often painful, but that doesn't mean we can't work to find hope and grace.

Everyone deserves to be the best version of themselves. I help clients identify the obstacles that are preventing them from being the best version of themselves and help them find ways to make meaningful changes to live the most fulfilling life they want to live. Life can be difficult, but I am here to help support you to make life better!

The process of therapy is a highly personalized journey, and I approach the therapy relationship from an open and collaborative perspective. I predominantly utilize interpersonal, mindfulness, and family systems theories to inform my clinical work. My commitment is to actively listen; to witness your journey; to learn about your worldview and experiences; and to provide support on your path towards insight, growth, and self-fulfillment.

I like many different types of clients. However, the ones that are truly interested in change and growth are the ones that seem to find their way to health the most quickly. My clients create their own goals and, hopefully, gain hope and strength to move towards achieving them.

People are compassionate beings and I treat each with care, support and respect. Over the years, I have learned to treat the whole mind and whole body. I have learned you can not treat one without the other. Understanding the interconnectedness of the mind and body has been my life's passion. In the 22 years of providing clinical treatment, I take a multidisciplinary approach to therapy. I use an innovative array of therapies and techniques depending on your situation and way of learning. I believe every one experiences life differently and every one is a teacher to each other.

Often, there are mental health complications that arise during major life transitions such as relationship and career changes, marriage, divorce, pregnancy and birth. I enjoy working with people during these difficult and stressful periods. I believe in creating a safe and comfortable space for clients as they confront challenges in life. I am a licensed clinical social worker in the state of Illinois and earned a Master's degree in Social Work at the University of Chicago. I have worked in a variety of mental health organizations and have completed advanced certification and training in perinatal mood disorders.