Child Therapists in Oak Park, IL

Do you consider family time a dreaded activity? Do you avoid going home because you know your child is acting out and on your last nerve, your teen is spending more time in their room and becoming quiet and withdrawn, and your partner is distant and unconcerned? Maybe you've tried reaching out for help but couldn't seem to find the right therapist.

My therapeutic approach creates an environment in sessions where clients are able to transcend their challenges by finding new strengths they did not realize they had, and by rediscovering those strengths that may have been forgotten. By redefining your sense of self, you develop insights and skills that enable you to reclaim who you are. As I partner with you on this transformative journey, you will identify the patterns of thought and behaviors that often interfere with more positive outcome. The best client comes to treatment realizing the rewards that come with putting forth effort to obtain desired results.

Hello! Hola! I’m Dr. Vanesa Cervantes, and I’m a Family and Child Psychologist. I specialize in working with children , adolescents, and adults. I believe that every person has the potential to thrive and overcome challenges they may be currently facing. My treatment approach is collaborative, by working together we can develop healthy coping skills, strengthen your social and emotional health and empower you to understand and manage your emotions, behaviors, and social relationships. Through our work together you can expect to also learn effective parenting skills that can strengthen your bond and communication with your child .

LifeSpan Counseling & Psychological Services offers a range of services to children , adolescents, adults, couples and families. I am co-owner and have worked extensively as a child , adolescent, and family therapist. I believe that effective treatment begins with a comprehensive assessment so that an individualized plan can be mutually developed. My style is warm, supportive, and educational. Parents often come to me when they are having difficulties understanding and responding to their child 's behavior. Children enjoy my developmentally appropriate style which helps them gain mastery over their anxiety, impulsivity or depression. I work closely with parents to ensure treatment success.

Therapy is an incredible honor of journeying alongside clients as they work towards healing and empowerment in their everyday lives. I partner with my clients in a compassionate manner where they can feel heard, valued, and encouraged to create meaningful change. I believe all clients have a unique and complex story to tell and that all can benefit from taking time to focus on their emotional/mental well-being. I am committed to helping clients learn about themselves in new ways so as to be able to tap into their own unique abilities to overcome life’s obstacles and stressors.

Chicago native, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with experience working with children and adults. I love helping children blossom into their own identities, empowering women through a variety of life changes and personal growth, and supporting men with self-love. As a current PhD Candidate in Organizational Leadership and Certificate in Women's Entrepreneurship, I'm able to explore the anxieties around leadership, workplace and entrepreneurial stress.

I have been working in the mental health field for nearly two decades, with a diverse array of clients: adults, adolescents, children , families, couples, groups, foster care, substance abuse, mental illness and more. I offer telehealth services and/or my office is conveniently located near public transportation and off street parking. I offer day, and evening appointments and will work with you, or your insurance, to assure coverage. I would like the opportunity to build a collaborative therapeutic relationship with you and provide you with the support, honesty and understanding we all need to grow.

Sometimes children and adolescents feel sad, anxious, and overwhelmed by changing life situations, which may impact the development of their full academic, emotional and social potential. Sometimes a home can be a seat of conflict instead of refuge, because of stressful situations, such as divorce, financial difficulties, or stage-of-life changes. Understanding and working through the complex emotional issues confronting children , adolescents and their families is the focus of my training and my practice. Our goal in treatment is empowerment through strategies that build resilience, strength and hopeful perspectives.

I work best with clients who are troubled by anxiety, depression, relationship issues, losses or trauma, and life transition issues. I provide individual and family therapy for children , adolescents, and adults. I use a variety of treatment techniques including cognitive, psychodynamic, and client-centered therapies as well as behavior management strategies. My research on coping with traumatic life events has prepared me well to work with clients who have experienced trauma and crisis. A life crisis can be debilitating at first, but can lead to a search for meaning and dramatic new growth. It is exciting for me to accompany clients in this process!

LifeSpan Counseling & Psychological Services offers services to children , adolescents, adults, couples and families. I am a bilingual (Mandarin) Clinical Psychologist. My style is warm, practical and straightforward. I specialize in the treatment of depression, anxiety, autism, substance-related disorder, ADHD and trauma. I have worked extensively with culturally diverse school-aged children (5-18), and I also enjoy working with and providing support and coaching for the parents/caregivers. I use a collaborative approach with clients of all ages to help develop treatment goals that are observable and developmentally appropriate.

I believe that times of crisis can also be times of transition and development. As a therapist, I strive to help clients put family and individual crises in the proper perspective, so they can begin to mobilize their own resources for change. Acceptance and insight into oneself and one's situation are powerful tools that therapy can enhance, both for adults and children of all ages. I have years of therapy experience helping clients cope with painful and difficult situations, including addiction/compulsions, damaged relationships, bereavement/loss, and abuse. The first session can be a powerful and positive step.

I work with a variety of different clients seeking help with many different issues. Many of my clients are teens and emerging adults seeking treatment to ease depression, anxiety, need help managing their time, or the time and space to discover their purpose. I also work with parents of teens and emerging adults seeking to find ways to relate to and ease conflict with their children . My clients seek treatment in order to feel heard from an unbiased person. They seek clarity and a path through life’s difficult twists and turns.

LifeSpan Counseling & Psychological Services offers services to children , adolescents, adults, couples, and families. In therapy, I tend to take a collaborative, egalitarian approach to treatment. I am open and nonjudgmental, and I take special time to tailor treatment approaches to fit each individual therapeutic relationship. I practice from a predominately existential-phenomenological framework where individual needs, meaning-making, and pursuit of happiness are emphasized. I also incorporate elements of cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and attachment theory as needed.

Supervising since 2005, and the Director of Training since 2017, with over 20 years of experience, I consider it a privilege to offer meaningful work for children , adolescents, adults, couples, parents, and families. Through a genuine caregiving, positive lens I provide support to others. Through the relationship-oriented, Inner Humanism approach, I offer an understanding of development across the lifespan. The care individuals receive is characterized by achieving an inner well-being and happiness that remains stable and conflict free regardless of life obstacles, family changes, and daily ups and downs.

You want to reach your optimal level of emotional and interpersonal well-being: In other words, you want to feel better. But, managing chronic health conditions, feeling overwhelmed by high levels of stress and anxiety, and facing unexpected and sudden loss/grief can be enormous tasks, especially during our challenging times. Across the lifespan, we face emotional, relational, and physical difficulties that are often best navigated when we are heard, supported, and able to cultivate a natural curiosity that invites us to change

Are you worried, sad, or stressed? Are you concerned about your child or your family? Are you wondering if counseling might help you or your family? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then let's explore further to see how I can best serve you and your family. I help young people, emerging adults, and parents learn and use creative problem solving skills to better cope with anxiety, depression, behavioral issues, trauma histories and attachment and relationship challenges.

Psychotherapist Irvin Yalom once said, "It's the relationship that heals." I am a firm believer that the relationship with my clients is key, and I wouldn't trade the therapeutic relationship for anything. My primary approach is rooted in deep empathy for my clients. Each client is deserving of and will receive my unconditionally positive view of them. I believe that each client is the best expert on themselves, and I allow them to take as much lead in session as is appropriate. I assume a collaborative view of therapy, actively working with my clients, be they child , adolescent, or adult.

Thank you for clicking here and taking a moment to learn about those available to help and support your own mental health. To tell you a little bit about myself, I have spent the past 20 years working with children , adolescents, families and older adults. I've specialized in helping people work through trauma, unexpected life changes and the challenges that day to day life presents. I've worked with people having difficulties with Depression, Anxiety and other mood disorders. I've been in practice as a social worker since 2007 and in private practice since 2011 .