Therapists in McHenry, IL

My outlook on life is that we are all on a journey. Some people move faster than others. Some need a helping hand along the way; but we can all arrive to where we are going, where we want to be…every single one of us. I am here to help motivate when you lack motivation. I am here to listen when you feel unheard. I am here to push when you feel weak, or pull when you don’t feel strong enough. I’m also here to sit with you when you aren’t ready or feel unable to make a decision. I am here at your pace.

Emotions are normal! The difference between feeling anxious or depressed lies in our interpretation of these emotions. I work with children, adolescents and adults for individual or couples counseling. I enjoy working with young people by helping them to understand emotions and what they mean. There are several therapeutic modalities I use including art therapy as a way to connect feelings to behaviors and sports metaphors for visualizing change. Through this process my clients increase self-control and self-esteem. My goal is to reveal the strengths individuals posses even if the current life situation may feel overwhelming.

I specialize in treatment of trauma, and working with children, adolescents, alternative lifestyles, LGBTQ, and have Jungian dream analysis training. I prefer open ended and free flowing approaches that will include multiple modalities in sessions such as movement, games and artistic expressions. I would describe my therapeutic approach as open, using humor, as I recognize therapy sessions should not solely focus on negative feelings. My clinical orientation is eclectic and I can fluidly merge multiple approaches such as behavioral, cognitive, relational, psychodynamic and Maslow theory.

Do you ever stand back and take a look at the big picture of your life and wonder how things ended up this way? Do you feel unhappy with your choices or situation, but unsure about how to start unraveling barriers and start moving in the direction that you want? I can help you examine your choices and behaviors, big and small, understand how they might be keeping you stuck or unfulfilled, and collaboratively find your power to make changes that bring you more in line with the kind of life you want and deserve to have.

I have been in practice for 39 years. I treat children with behavioral problems, children-teens-adults with depression, sleep disorders, panic/anxiety attacks, bipolar disorder, phobias, family conflicts, coping skills, academic issues, special education consulting, Employee Assistance, marital/couples counseling. Therapeutic approaches are designed specifically for the individual. Play therapy is generally used with children. I set goals to measure progress and modify treatment based on how goals are/are not met. I like to focus on short term therapy to teach individuals better coping skills to use outside of the office.

BZA Behavioral Health is an inclusive, highly specialized group of clinicians dedicated to the emotional and behavioral wellness of the individuals and families we treat. We value the diversity & unique experiences of each person & it is our mission to have comprehensive & individualized types of treatment options to best match those personal needs. Services we offer include (but are not limited to) neuropsychological/psychological assessment, psychiatry, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), EMDR, & art therapy. We work with clients of all ages to utilizing strength to cope with life's challenges.

We recognize how difficult it can be to seek help with mental health issues. Our goal is to meet you where you are in a supportive, encouraging way. We never use shame as a motivator. Instead we seek to provide a balance between giving you time and space to heal and challenging and encouraging you to move forward to a healthier place. We have a staff of over 40 therapists each with different specialties; we all possess the same single passion: to walk with our clients on the path of healing.

We all experience emotional and physical difficulties from time to time. Often we are able to deal with these life experiences ourselves. Sometimes, however, it is not possible for us to resolve these challenges alone. In these situations professional help is appropriate. Until fifty years ago anyone experiencing psychological and/or physical stress was treated individually. Family therapy grew out of a simple but profound idea: People in crisis can often be best understood and treated within their own famiies. As a certified family therapist, as well as a certified psychoanalyst, I have the education necessary to see both famiies and individuals.

I am trained in Rational Emotive Behavioral therapy and the Psycho-dynamic models. My experience includes work with adolescents and young adults with behavioral and/or mood disorders in both outpatient and residential settings. At Northwestern I studied psycho-therapeutic practices while learning new breakthroughs in treatment. The program was conceptualized in the context of ethics, multiculturalism, lifespan development, advocacy and community outreach. I am as dedicated to helping fellow military and police personnel who are currently or formerly serving as I was. Schedule your next appointment with our certified counselors

I am well-trained, and an experienced, research-informed, solution-focused, multi-model therapist. I draw upon various truths, selecting what may be most helpful according to the needs of each client. I want clients to feel comfortable and informed. I will use metaphor and analogies as appropriate to bring insight and change. Specialties: therapy with trauma victims, adolescents, children, and families; couples with relationship issues; conditions such as mood disorders, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, complicated grief/loss, PTSD, stress, and life/job transition issues.

My greatest wish in life is to be able to help make a difference in the world; counseling is my way. I have confronted a variety of issues, and work well with complex conditions. Some include depression, anxiety, borderline personality disorder, adoption, self-esteem, bullying, family conflict, ADHD, defiant behaviors, anger management, and attachment concerns. My work also extends to parental support in working with their children / adolescents more effectively in communication, discipline and affection. My main desire is for all clients to know they are not alone and help them on their journey. I will adapt to meet your needs.

I believe an open and honest therapeutic relationship is the foundation of success in therapy. I work to provide trusting and consistent relationships with clients to explore feelings and develop coping strategies. With 20+ years of experience and training in several modalities of therapy, I provide a safe environment that is designed to help facilitate healing and change. I feel that therapy is a unique partnership that focuses on your personal goals and objectives. My ability to engage individuals in the change process through talk, play, and art therapies contributes to working out long-term solutions.

Psychotherapy is a process, not an event, and healing and transformation is possible. Through creating a non-judgmental and compassionate therapeutic environment, I help foster insights into your distress, helping translate these discoveries into an improved quality of life. By relieving symptoms and addressing the source of problems, the process of therapy promotes well-being, meaning, and purpose. Psychotherapy is an effective method for promoting wellness and facilitating enduring positive change. Everyone has the innate desire and ability to lead authentic, meaningful, and purposeful lives. Psychotherapy is a proven path to uncover and access that potential.

I primarily work with young children, adolescents and adults who are experiencing difficulties in school/work, social and family relationships, with self-esteem, focus, regulation, grief, divorce, trauma, depression, anxiety and challenging life circumstances. My approach is insight-oriented, psychodynamic, and relationship-based. I provide play and talk therapy for children and traditional talk-therapy for adults. Additionally, I provide reflective supervision and consultation for practitioners and trainees.

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.

Here at According to Sykes, assistance and guidance is offered through individual, family and group therapy, couples therapy, as well as Professional Development and Training Opportunities. As a group of healing practitioners, we recognize and understand the complicated and complex ways that trauma influences all parts of someone’s life, body, and brain, and make treatment decisions based on that framework. We realize that most people have lived through some type of trauma because trauma is so common and understand treatment through that lens. View our therapist profiles at www.accordingtosykes.com.

I believe when an individual begins the therapy process with me that they will experience a safe, unconditional and non-judgmental environment. I always attempt to provide a solid foundation of listening and trust. No matter what brings an individual to the therapy process, you can always feel comfortable that I will help guide you through your struggles and difficulties in a down-to-earth recovery oriented manner. Being able to demonstrate positive outcomes though the use of quantitative measures has been able to provide concrete evidence to individuals that recovery, balance and overall wellness is possible.

In my 45 plus years of practice, I have found that most patients, before coming to see me may have tried to the best of their abilities to solve their problems. They may have consulted other psychotherapists or other allied professionals before coming to see me. The central task is for us to identify the nature of their psychological puzzle, and to find ways to collaborate in finding solutions to them. I have a particular interest in people who may have neurocognitive deficits. Also, I have an interest in children and adolescents whose parents are in the divorce process.

I provide psychological therapy which focuses on the way that people think and behave. My practice specializes in working with children/adolescents and college/post-college adults who have problems adapting to their current life circumstances. Each person brings into treatment all their experiences, both joyous and problematic, which provides a base for the development of individualized goals and objectives.