Therapists in Downers Grove, IL

Listening is a lost art in modern psychotherapy. Change begins when you are heard and understood. I use simple, effective, proven techniques to lead my clients to greater insight, which leads to change. Individuals, couples, and families are my focus from adolescents through senior citizens. I help folks manage life's many stressors including but not limited to loss, grief, separation, substance abuse, and illness.

You've realized something isn't right in your life, but aren't sure what to do about it. You try to keep it together and just deal with it, but that's not working so well anymore. Whether it is an issue in your relationships, your job, or school, you find yourself looking for ways to cope that aren't really helping. Maybe you struggle with taking care of yourself and are overwhelmed or exhausted at the end of every day. After trying to be everything to everyone and get it all done, you still feel as if you're failing somehow. We can change what's happening and help get you back on track.

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.

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 and feeling a greater sense of wellness, you will feel empowered and able to fully embrace life.

When you feel safe and supported, then and only then are you able to let your guard down and get in touch with your core issues and feelings. The most important measure of whether therapy will have a positive outcome is the connection between you and your therapist. For this reason, my goal is to create a warm and supportive environment in which you will be respectfully heard, cared about and not judged in any way. My overall approach is conversational, non-judgemental and solution focused with humor and laughter always welcome :)

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)

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.

Are your feelings of sadness and anxiety preventing you from enjoying life? Are you struggling with relationship difficulties or life transitions? Do you feel stuck? Do you desire closeness and greater intimacy with your partner/spouse? Do you want to improve your communications? You are not alone. Seeking therapy is the 1st step toward achieving a more satisfying life and/or relief from suffering. The decision to seek therapy can be difficult but helpful when we are overwhelmed by life experiences and unhappy with relationships in our lives. Treatment is confidential. My office is located in a private, safe & comfortable setting.

With over 30 years of clinical experience, Valerie takes a collaborative and direct approach to effectively create a safe space for families who face issues associated with chronic illness, divorce, eating disorders and addiction recovery. Some situations are best handled with traditional “talk” therapies, while other concerns may need more active interventions to modify an unproductive behavior pattern or lifestyle.

Are you feeling stuck? Feeling like you lost control of your life or relationships? I work with each client to create a unique plan to reach their therapeutic goals. As a licensed marriage and family therapist my unique background, skill set, and experience are what make me an excellent therapist. I believe my success in working with individuals, couples and families can be attributed to both skill and wisdom.

As the founder and president of Eunoia Counseling, I embrace working with many different types of clients. I am versatile and customized in the individual, couples, teen, and family psychotherapy approach I use. It is my calling, my passion and my purpose to help people move forward. I enjoy meeting different people from all walks of life and different philosophies. I meet my clients where they are and we take the next steps towards their goals together.

At CounselCare Connection, P.C. we serve people in personal, emotional, mental or relational crisis. We provide helpful guidance to people struggling with depression, anger, anxiety, stress, addictions, abuse, grief, marriage, family, relationship or spiritual issues. Mrs. Hoy is a National Certified Counselor and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. Lynette is credentialed by the National Anger Management Association as an Anger Management Specialist-V, Diplomate, Supervisor and Consultant. She is the author of What's Good About Anger? books, resources/courses and the founder and President of the Anger Management Institute.

Intimate relationships can be our greatest source of joy or pain. Unfortunately, many find their relationships slipping toward the second option. It is very unpleasant to feel lonely when in a relationship. And walking around on eggshells is exhausting and can make you miserable. It is possible to restore the connection you want with your partner and go forward in life feeling like a team. That is my purpose and the focus of my practice. Our society tells us relationships are supposed to be easy if they are right. Healthy relationships are some work but are also worth it.

Are you feeling overwhelmed? Are suffering from anxiety, depression or PTSD? Are you ready to make a positive change in your life? What change would you like to see happen in yourself and your life and how would you feel different as a result? Life can sometimes feel overwhelming and counseling can help. We can discover long-standing patterns that may be holding you back from experiencing a more meaningful life. Whether you are looking for extra support and guidance through a difficult situation or you are just ready to move to a new direction in life, I look forward to working with you.

Men's lives are undergoing a remarkable evolution. Only a generation ago to become a strong man generally meant learning to avoid being tripped up or held back by what you felt. Now men are encouraged and even expected to "know themselves" and be more emotionally present in their marriages and other important relationships. The advantages of greater emotional self-awareness include: (1) greater depth of connection with your spouse, children and close male friends, (2) better access to your own emotional strengths including your stress tolerance and resilience, and (3) an enhanced sense of purpose and personal meaning.

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.

I look forward to working with you on making and taking the choices and actions that move you towards building a life filled with meaning based on your values and goals. The struggles we all face, large and small, are part of what define our humanity - be it anxiety, trauma, or confusion. It is the compassion and willingness for intimacy we show to ourselves and others that defines much of the rest. I enjoy working with my clients as they go through the process of defining who and what they want to be and then help them go about achieving it.

I am passionate about working with children, adolescents, families, and individuals and am committed to collaborating with each person to provide a non-judgmental, personalized therapeutic experience. I am dedicated to helping others to understand their difficulties and to create healthy ways to value themselves and others.