Therapists in Grayslake, IL

As a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, I believe each individual deserves a safe place to process life transitions, frustrations, worries, fears, or sadness. As an empathetic and nonjudgmental clinician I know it can be challenging or frightening to enter into counseling and open up. I place emphasis on creating a safe place where children, adolescents, adults, and families can comfortably explore the nature of their issues.

North Star Counseling Group was founded on the idea that all people will find themselves in need of guidance and support at some point in their life. Various concerns can lead a person to counseling services. Stephanie Ardagh, LCSW works with children ages 3-18. She is experienced in addressing issues of: self esteem, self injury, body image, school refusal, adjustment to divorce and loss, social skills, and significant behavior disorders. Stephanie sees parents as a valuable resource and ally when working with children. She works well with other providers, such as school personnel, to get to know her clients and their unique needs.

Hello! My name is Yahaira and I am a bilingual therapist who has been serving clients in Lake County for the past 14 years. I have worked with children, adolescent and their families with varying diagnosis and life issues. I believe it is important as a therapist to recognize that every client is different, and will need an approach specifically adapted to them. My role in the therapeutic process will be to encourage clients to collaborate in regaining hope in their lives, and overcoming difficulties.

I believe that we all have unique strengths and perspectives that are valuable and can serve as a foundation of growth and development. In therapy I help you to recognize and accept your strengths and see the positives in the areas you may see negatively. I take a strengths-based, integrative approach in therapy. I have worked with a wide range of ages, including children, teens, and adults on issues including depression, anxiety, self-esteem issues, grief, loss, anger, and trauma. I specialize in working with neurodivergent clients, including those with ADHD, Down syndrome, cognitive disabilities, and autism.

Are you looking for an opportunity to be heard and understood? Do you find yourself wishing there was an experienced perspective that could accompany the journey you are in the middle of?

I am bilingual and happy to offer sessions in English or Spanish. I would be honored to hear your story and help you navigate through the challenges that are affecting you. I take care to build a safe and welcoming environment that can facilitate change in your life. I am committed to providing empathy and genuine positive regard for you and working collaboratively toward goals to help you thrive. I work to meet you where you are and tailor interventions to meet your needs and preferences. I offer individual, family, and couples counseling.

I aim to empower you or your child to gain a deeper understanding of yourself, develop a stronger sense of self-esteem, and build skills that will allow you to have healthy and successful relationships. I enjoy partnering with clients to help you address concerns that may be generating uncomfortable feelings or preventing you from achieving your goals. I have experience working in elementary and middle schools supporting students with emotional regulation and social skills development. I have experience with a wide range of presenting concerns, including ADHD, anxiety, depression, trauma, self-esteem, and family conflicts.

Life is about relationships. It is within the safety of the therapeutic relationship that change and growth occurs. I utilize an authentic, easy-going and friendly approach to foster relationships to self and others. Individuals and families from 3 to 103 are warmly welcomed to work with me! Clients will be met where they are. I will work with you to collaboratively develop a tailor-made treatment plan that is as individual as you are. I draw on over 25 years of experience as a therapist to help guide you toward growth and resilience.

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.

When we deny our feelings, pushing them away (depressing them), we get depressed. When we shame our needs and criticize ourselves for being weak/needy, we strengthen the fear that causes us to hide who we really are. This increases anxiety. When we deny traumatic memories, we develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Numbing reality and denying real injustices will protect us from pain in the short run. Denying what is real, however, flings us into an inner conflict in which we resist the things that we need the most, and cling to the things that make us most dysfunctional.

My primary goal is to help clients find the hope and courage to change and heal. I believe that all life circumstances, relationships, and experiences can lead to change and greater self-acceptance. Ultimately therapy helps clients cope with loss and use difficult life transitions to promote growth. In working with individuals, couples, families, and children, I have helped them cultivate resources and develop strengths from very challenging diagnoses and life circumstances. I have helped clients suffering from relationship conflicts, health crises, depression, trauma and loss issues, compulsive behaviors, and anxiety disorders.

You are uniquely made and your life has meaning ...we can at times lose sight of this however. Each of us has a history and life experiences which shape our thoughts, beliefs, feelings and behaviors. We can come to a point in our journey where life gets heavy, where circumstances press down on us, and the person we were created to be gets eclipsed by life’s challenges. Increasing awareness about the way in which our unique life experiences have shaped our thinking, emotions, and behaviors as well as developing new skills to manage life’s challenges are important pieces in rediscovering our meaning and moving forward.

Are you stuck, unable to make the lasting changes you’re longing for? Maybe you are struggling to figure out what you should do and how to do it? Perhaps relationships are strained and you feel you go around and around. You may know where you want to be but can't figure out how to get there, and maybe even feel like giving up. Often, the first step is simply being heard, feeling understood and accepted unconditionally. The fact that you are reading this shows you have hope, hope that you can find inner peace and clarity, and then be able to take those steps that feel safe to you.

With over 20 years in the field, I believe that effective therapy begins with clearly defining the problem being addressed and the desired outcome. I am particularly focused on helping you develop stronger relationships through effective communication, personal insight and compassion. Whether you are trying to set healthy boundaries, express yourself, or build stronger bonds. Using empathy and humor, I am well suited to help clients who are struggling with relationship problems, depression, sexual compulsion, family conflicts and anxiety.

Do you feel like life has gotten the best of you and are struggling to manage? I am here to let you know that you do not need to navigate through all the ups and downs alone. Everyone goes through life transitions that can be managed through positivity. I have professional experience in private practice and school-based work serving clients for nearly 4 years, to adults, adolescents, teenagers, families, parents and groups.

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I use an empathic approach to create a safe and healing space for my clients. I am passionate about guiding adolescents and adults through difficult or painful life events such as relationship loss, the transition from high school to college, school-related anxiety, divorce, marriage, parenting and relationship issues. My clinical experience and interest areas include eating disorders and disordered eating, OCD, school refusal, mood disorders, self-harming behaviors and parent coaching.

Amy has a master’s degree in forensic psychology and she has been practicing in the field for over 13 years. Her clinical expertise includes having worked in a variety of clinical settings such as residential, community mental health centers, hospitals, and correctional settings. Amy has experience working with adolescents, emerging adults and adults who present with life stressors/changes, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, binge eating disorder, bariatric patients, issues related to legal issues/incarceration, trauma, domestic violence, sexual abuse, and sex and sexuality concerns.

Often, life leads you to a point where you feel stuck. The same strategies that might have worked before are no longer effective. Maybe this is because of life transitions, relationship challenges or just a sense that you want something more. If you feel overwhelmed by work, school, family or relationships, consider how processing those feelings and developing new insights and skills might give you the self-awareness to live a peaceful and more purpose driven life.

CYN has been in business for over 40 years treating children, adolescents, adults, couples, families, and groups. Our counseling and psychotherapy services are confidential and we offer a relaxed, friendly setting. Located in Grayslake, Illinois, we understand the needs of the surrounding communities and our therapists encompass a wide range of specialties and treatment modalities. Regardless of the issues you face, let CYN assist you in your emotional growth and /or healing.