Gottman Method Therapists in Elmwood Park, IL

I work best with adult clients (18+) who hope to better manage anxiety and depression or cope with life transitions such as career changes, sudden loss/grief, pregnancy/postpartum, or relationship challenges. In addition to supporting individuals, I work with couples using the Gottman Method. I belong to a group practice (Wildflower Center for Emotional Health, LLC), where I receive ongoing training and consultation in evidence-based modalities, perinatal mental health, and couples therapy. I am also a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) Knowledgable Therapist and enjoy supporting people with this trait.

I am passionate about working with adults who are dealing with challenges including but not limited to: identifying and healing from trauma, identity exploration, interpersonal conflict, relationship with food and body, addictions, life transitions, eating disorders, mood disorders, stress management, and ADHD. The goal of my work with clients is for them to increase authenticity and vulnerability within the therapeutic relationship first, then translate that success to their lives outside of therapy. I empower clients with coping skills and provide a safe space for learning effective communication of and connection to emotions.

Are you experiencing stress, anxiety, trauma, or depression? Do you want to feel better and meet with someone who can hold space and help? I have over a decade worth of experience working with women who are wanting to heal from past hurts and live with more confidence, clarity, and purpose.

Living well is an extremely difficult affair. Whether a hard relationship, a traumatic event, or a rough season of life that makes little sense - there is hope. As a lover of stories, I have found that the most potent ones often lie buried beneath layers of pain, guilt, and shame, where they subconsciously influence the way we think, feel, and connect with others. The process of healing can only begin as we tell the very stories that bring us pain and choose to love the parts of ourselves that may seem most frightening. Whatever you're facing, I know having a safe space to better understand your world will make it more manageable.

I am an Arab-Latina therapist, supporting adolescents, teens, young adults, couples, and families. I utilize evidence-based techniques to foster healing and resilience with a trauma-focused lens to navigate developmental and transitional challenges while unraveling issues such as grief, intergenerational traumas, anxiety, and depression. I am cultural, sexual, LGBTQIA+ and neurodiverse affirming. I provide a nonjudgmental space where clients can explore their experiences safely.

Through more than 20 years of experience, I have worked extensively with individuals, couples and multi-generational families providing treatment for a wide range of conditions that affect mood, thinking, and behavior. I grew up in a large & humble home; learning and understanding the complexities of dealing with different types of personalities, sometimes in difficult circumstances at an early age. My goal is to see clients do amazing work in treatment by strengthening their coping skills, removing limiting beliefs, resolving conflicts, and lifestyle changes through a positive way of thinking, feeling, and behaving.

Our life's work is helping clients achieve a better sense of self and happiness...more recently we've recognized that without good mental health providers, finding this balance in life can be more difficult and stressful. As a result, we tend toward an Integrative approach and help our clients transform into the people they want to be. We see each client as an individual with many parts to their identity. Utilizing a holistic and systemic approach we help clients reintegrate the parts of themselves to function better as individuals and within their systems. Our focus tends toward a systems based approach using behavior methods.

You are not alone. It is so easy to shame or become critical of ourselves when we feel like we did not meet our own expectations. It is easy to compare ourselves to others and feel like everyone else seems so secure and confident. In this therapy space, we will journey together as you unravel all you need to feel grounded and equipped for new challenges. I bring warmth, light, and peaceful energy into the therapy space so that you feel comfortable showing up as your whole self. Our space will help support you as you obtain the tools, such as mindfulness and self-compassion practices, to best heal and care for yourself.

Life can be hard and having a counselor who truly hears you is life changing. You deserve to feel amazing and we're experts at making that a reality. As a niche based practice we have counselors that can help you navigate challenges in life & love. We have expertise in break-ups/divorce recovery, anxiety/stress, grief & loss, post-college transitions, trauma, relational discord, self-esteem, ADHD, non-traditional relationships and LGBTQ+. Our strength lies in walking with you through difficult transitions quicker and with more ease, insight and coping. We love supporting our clients because our life's work is to improve yours.

Angry, anxious, confused, or depressed because of relationship problems? Feel your partner never listens to you? Keep having the same old fights over and over? Imago Relationship Therapy is very helpful in restoring connection, safety, and romance. As a Certified Imago Therapist I enable each partner to be heard and understood so the needs of each can be met. Usually couples experience some immediate relief from the pain of alienation and begin to rediscover the love that brought them together. If your spouse won't come for counseling, come alone! I also do individual therapy, including EMDR for trauma resolution..

Welcome to my profile. If you're seeking a therapist, you're taking an important step toward creating a shift into resilience, growth, and well-being. I have over 15 years of experience supporting clients using a collaborative, DBT (skills-based) approach. I partner with clients to create a safe space where they can connect more deeply with themselves, their emotions, their needs, and their potentials in order to become their most fully-realized selves.

My clinical areas of specialty include sex and sexuality, reproductive mental health concerns (e.g. postpartum mood and anxiety concerns, navigating infertility, perimenopause & menopause, PMDD, etc), anxiety/mood, and relationship challenges. Some folks I work with also might describe themselves as sensitive, deep thinkers/feelers. Overall, I often support clients in growing self-compassion, increasing self-awareness, living more aligned with their values, and in creating a life that feels sustainable and meaningful.

Begin Within Therapy was established in 2015. We believe within every person lies a meaningful story. We are a group of therapists who are all attachment-focused and trauma-informed and ready to understand your story. We offer a variety of therapy options to help you meet your goals, that include options outside of traditional talk therapy, as well as more traditional therapy modalities. Please give us a call to speak with our director and determine which therapist would be the best fit for you.

I am a National Certified Counselor and Licensed Professional Counselor. I earned my Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Adler University in Chicago in 2017. Along with my counseling education and skills, I had a successful first career working as a special education and traditional elementary teacher, reading specialist, and literacy staff developer. Recently, I worked in higher education as a doctorate level college professor for 18 years, at a community college teaching developmental and traditional English classes.

My goal is to provide you the space to heal and the opportunity to journey into the parts of yourself that you love, judge, the parts that you only somewhat know, the places you avoid, or the places you do not know at all. Together, we will learn about your resilience, pain, and possibilities. The process of growth takes sitting through our discomforts and using them as opportunities to heal our invisible wounds. Once we can increase our self-awareness, we can respond in the best ways we know how. Whether you are an individual, couple, or family, I provide the space for healing and growing - individually and relationally.