Therapists in Romeoville, IL

I am a licensed clinical psychologist and forensic specialist with more than 35 years of experience helping people. My treatment approach encourages patients to be active participants in their own therapeutic growth and I have vast experience in the treatment of depression, obsessive-compulsive disorders, panic and anxiety disorders in all age groups, including children, and in forensic psychology.

SOCIAL MEDIATOR-THERAPIST: Social Mediation lends third party neutral support to prepare and empower family members to have a voice; and to prepare to heal the raw wounds of relationship conflict, betrayal and broken trust; Social mediation addresses some of the following problems: Depression, anxiety,alcohol abuse, abuse of prescription medication, trauma, alienation in marriage, family, or community,divorce,narcissism, sex addiction, partners’ trauma, shame, gaslighting, betrayal and broken trust,restoring trust, and revitalizing sexual intimacy, conflict over parenting; and adult child issues over parents’ elder care.

I am currently seeing clients for psychosexual evaluations only. I am licensed in Illinois as a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, and as a Sex Offender Treatment Provider and Evaluator. I am also a Licensed Psychologist in Florida. I have over 30 years of experience treating and evaluating persons charged or convicted of sex offenses in Colorado, Illinois, and North Dakota. I am a member of the Association for the Treatment and Prevention of Sexual Abuse (ATSA) since 1997. I provide consultation to programs, treatment providers and evaluators wanting to evaluate and evolve their services to sexual and non-sexual criminal clients.

Dr. Steven Gaskell at Psycholegal Assessments, Inc. offers expert and comprehensive Psychological Evaluation Services throughout the Chicago and Atlanta Metropolitan areas at offices in Naperville and Chicago, Illinois and Atlanta, Georgia. Forensic Psychological Testing and Evaluation is offered in: Fitness to Stand Trial, Criminal Responsibility, Mitigating Factors, Malingering, Risk Assessment, Sex Offender Evaluations/Psychosexual Evaluations, Mitigating Factors for Sex Offenders, Independent Medical Examinations (IMEs), and Expert Witness Testimony.

I am interested in helping individuals, families, and couples who are confronted with difficult challenges in their personal and professional lives. This includes marital obstacles of infidelity, marital stagnation, and partner abuse. It is also my desire to serve those struggling with issues of substance abuse and process addictions; such as pornography, compulsive sexual behaviors, and histories of sexual abuse. In addition, I look forward to helping teens and adolescents who find themselves struggling in areas of social relations, academic progress, and/or who are frequently in trouble at school or with the law due to challenging personal behaviors.

I'm a psychologist who's caring and direct. I use compassion, wisdom and humor to help clients understand and deal with problems in a way that's respectful and honors their unique situation. My style is grounded in the belief that promoting an individual's innate desire and ability to move forward in life is the key to progress in therapy. If you're feeling overwhelmed in life, dealing with something you find increasingly hard to handle and are ready to make a change, I can help. Please consider calling me to begin exploring a new way to live.

I work with children & adolescents, adults, couples and families. I have been in the field of Mental Health & Law for over 20 years. I utilize a variety of treatment approaches to treat depression, PTSD, adjustment disorders, culture conflicts, LGBTQ issues and life transitions. I received my MS degree from Mississippi State University and my MJ degree from Loyola University Chicago, School of Law. I've had a solo practice for 8 years on the North Shore of Chicago. I have held several Mental Health Supervisor and Director positions in the Chicagoland area.

Within the framework of the therapeutic setting, some of my primary goals are to promote symptom management, increase your sense of self efficacy, develop and implement effective self-care practices and help you increase your insight into the origin of troublesome thoughts and/or behaviors.

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.

My goal is to help you discover how you can overcome your personal struggles and resolve the issues that are keeping you stuck so that you can live the life you envision for yourself. It's your time now! It's your time to live the life that you are destined to live. It would honor me to serve you now.

Clients often feel discouraged as they attempt to navigate the inevitable challenges of life. We'll identify how you can learn to tackle obstacles to becoming a more aware and engaged partner, parent, co-parent and grandparent. Much of my practice involves working with older people, as well as coaching men experiencing the difficulties of a complicated divorce. I also provide co-parenting consultation. In addition, my practice involves working with adolescents and men struggling with their sexuality, as well as with fathers and sons in conflict, and elders who seek guidance related to loss and how best to re-build their lives.

Do parts of your life feel unmanageable? Does reaching out for support seem difficult? I am passionate about creating a safe, non-judgmental space for you to begin the process of working through and healing the challenges that you are facing. I believe that self-awareness is one of the most important pieces to growth and understanding of yourself and the world around you. Together we will take time to build up your self-awareness and discuss how you can make the changes you want to see. Changes in life can be challenging, but with the right support, the road through these challenges can be more manageable.

After spending 14 years learning about the human brain and mind, was trained extensively in various treatments, and working since 2009 at almost all settings, I learned to focus on what you personally struggle with. There are much more to us than having a disorder. Therefore, I listen to you and know you well in order to tailor the treatment plan that fits you the most. My end goal, besides eliminating the undesirable symptoms, is helping you finding your own path and having a better quality of life. I also teach graduate students what they need to know to make the right diagnosis and apply the best most optimal treatment for it.

A good fit between therapist and patient is an essential ingredient in forming an effective working alliance, assuming the therapist has strong academic credentials. That is why I encourage patients to do their research. The best way to determine whether people can work well together is to talk. There should be no charge for an initial phone consultation to evaluate this. If after a phone visit it doesn't feel like a good fit, I will help you find someone who is.

As a licensed clinical psychologist, I view my role as guiding individuals along a journey of self-discovery and growth. I assist people in gaining insight into their issues and finding solutions to their problems by providing direction, encouragement, support, and hope. In order for positive changes to occur, a person must begin to modify his or her dysfunctional thinking patterns and unhealthy behaviors. From a solution focused approach, I work with my clients in a collaborative relationship to strengthen their sense of self and improve their quality of life.

My philosophy to treatment is to "test first so there are no questions later!" This means the first step is to identify all the major factors contributing to your problem, as well as any smaller problems that could be having an impact. Often, what seems to be one problem is really something else entirely. This diagnostic clarity is accomplished by administering a battery of tests personalized to your unique presentation. By identifying specific areas in need of intervention, the rate of recovery increases and much more targeted treatments can be implemented.

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.

My personal approach to therapy and assessment utilizes a compassionate, non-judgmental, encouraging style. I work with clients to clarify their values, goals, and the meanings they create in their lives with a focus on how they address the five tasks of life: love, work, friendship, self-care, and spirituality. Treatment planning consists of developing strategies and skills to master these life tasks. Assessment includes Fitness, Sanity, and Mitigation Evaluations, Damages Assessment, USCIS N-648 evaluations and more.

I enjoy working with all my clients. I work with children, adolescents, and adults with a myriad of issues. I have a particular expertise and understanding working with trauma issues. I have 15 years of police experience that allows me to better understand the needs of the service professionals (police, fire, nurses, military, etc.) clients and their families and how best to help them in a compassionate and caring way. The needs of these individuals can be unique. From substance abuse and anger control to depression and suicidal ideation, the stressors of these individuals require an understanding and knowledge, which I have.