Family Therapy in Highland, IL

We all have a story with puzzle pieces that we sometimes can't see how they fit. My hope and passion is to help identify how these pieces can be placed to help make sense of who we are and how we can fit them in to make us feel less confused. I have discovered that helping and healing is my calling and have worked on these puzzles with adults, families, couples, and young people. My hope and goal is to help individuals feel comfortable in a non-judgmental safe space to work through the difficulties they are experiencing towards their goals of self growth, and an encouraging atmosphere to help the individual not feel so alone.

Unsure if your child's behavior is age appropriate? Is your adolescent having difficulties in academics or social connections? Are you struggling with adjusting to life changes or reflecting on past experiences that cause you to feel uneasy? Not sure how to work out differences between you and your partner or within your family? I am here to help your child play out any fears, worries, and past traumas, help your adolescent feel empowered, find solutions, and discover self identity, help adults navigate life transitions, and help couples/families explore conflict. Most of all, I focus on your needs to cultivate trust and safety.

I serve people across the lifespan. I specialize in trauma treatment, conscious parenting, and spiritual development. I serve clients who want to heal their trauma and are hoping to create permanent peace and fulfillment in their lives.

No two people are alike and that's the same way I treat therapy. Your therapy is just that.. yours. I take a multidisciplinary and individualized approach to offer support that is genuine and non-judgmental. I offer a comfortable atmosphere that allows for genuine growth that creates a positive change.

Therapy is sometimes perceived as a one sided conversation without experiences of meeting and talking with someone as a real person. I can assure you, I am as real as it gets! I want to work with clients that suffer from various issues like ADHD, anxiety, depression, trauma, etc., to ensure you are able to cope with these while working through every day life in a realistic manner. Life is too short to feel like you have to only go through the motions every day, you should be living your best life, despite life's ups and downs.

I specialize in testing services ranging from the identification / diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders (ADHD, autism, learning & intellectual disabilities) to complex psychiatric presentations in which mood, personality, social, and cognitive factors may be at play. My goal is to empower individuals who are struggling with emotional, behavioral, social regulations, or other challenges to utilize their strengths to achieve their goals. These goals vary by individual; from goals to improve their academic or occupational functioning, foster healthier relationships, take control of emotional responses, or to understand themselves.

Do you struggle with fluctuating emotions, repetitive thoughts, trouble focusing, social deficits, anxiety, impulsivity, or is your child struggling emotionally, or behaviorally? It may feel like it, but you are not alone! We will work together to effectively understand and naturally manage your emotional health by providing a private, safe, and supportive environment. We will work to foster real change that will lead to personal success.

Sometimes in life we struggle with understanding why or how we ended up where we have. I believe that most of us attempt to manage the best we can given our current circumstances, struggles and challenges. Even then life can still seem insurmountable. I want you to know that change is possible, but doing it alone may feel like an added burden. I will work with you collaboratively to navigate the challenges at hand. My goal is to provide an unbiased, welcoming, and therapeutic environment.

Courage isn’t having the strength to go on - it is going on when you don’t feel like you have the strength. You need an immense amount of courage to stay the course and struggle even when you are almost ready to give up on life. I am here to listen, and walk beside you even when it feels like everything and maybe everyone is against you.

Do you feel overwhelmed with some of your life circumstances? Have you experienced trauma: a divorce, job-loss, traumatic birth, difficult diagnosis, or domestic violence? Are you depressed, struggling with low self-esteem, lacking motivation, or needing help transitioning through life? I believe that every individual has what it takes to succeed and live a fulfilling life. Sometimes, we have to go through the darkest storms to see the brightest rainbows. Without the right tools and a safe non-judgmental space, it may feel impossible to weather the storm on your own.

Rome wasn't built in a day" is often a quote I attach to therapy. Therapy is building a vision for yourself that you're happy with that will keep you going from day to day. Life is often seen as half empty or half full and it's my job to help you see that life has all sorts of unexpected positives. Throughout therapy some things might be considered difficult or challenging, but as your therapist it's my goal to make sure that we come out the other end better than the session prior.

You know something is wrong, but you are not sure what it is, why it happened, or how to fix it. You think you probably need help, but it's hard to know where to start. You worry about being overmedicated or wasting your time. You want to figure out, once and for all, what is going on and how to take care of it. Does this sound familiar?

Hello! I'm Victoria Magruder, a passionate LCSW dedicated to helping adolescents and young adults navigate the complexities of life transitions and anxiety. My mission is to provide a safe & supportive space where individuals can build resilience, find clarity, and embrace positive change. I specialize in working with adolescents and young adults, recognizing the unique challenges they face during pivotal life transitions. Whether it's the pressures of academic and career decisions, changes in relationships, or the general uncertainty that can accompany this stage of life, I am here to offer guidance and support.

I am a passionate healing professional who believes healing happens differently for everyone. I believe healing is a collaborative process in which curiosity, openness, relationship, and patience remain at the partnership's core. I explore creative and anti-oppressive practices, which create space for trauma narratives to take unfiltered shape and traditional modalities. I am formally trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy ( CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy ( DBT), and Solution Focused Therapy. I often try and weave humor in whatever modality being used.

Here at LifeThrive Counseling we believe you can unlock your full potential. We believe in focusing on the whole person, not just the person's symptoms. We believe sometimes we need need to look outside of the box at more advanced treatments. When adding these treatments, true change can occur in disorders that are often thought of as permanent or treatment resistant. Some of the disorders we have worked with and seen positive change in include: ADHD, anxiety, dysthymia, major depressive disorder, autism spectrum disorders, attachment disorders, OCD, personality disorders, and more.

Abby has a strong background in communications and understands that every person has a unique story that deserves to be heard. Although her clinical emphasis is working with children and adolescents, Abby focuses on inner child work to help adults interrupt painful cycles, heal attachment wounds, and reach a place of acceptance. Abby welcomes all age ranges from all demographics and holds space for the complex intersections of identity and the impact of oppression, shame, and systematic marginalization in mental health.