I earned my Master’s Degree in Family Counseling at Northeastern Illinois University in August 2006. I am licensed as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in the State of Illinois.
I have training and experience working with people throughout the life spectrum. In my private practice, I work with adults, couples, and families. I am committed to ongoing learning around anti-racist practices. I am also a fierce healthcare reform advocate, and for the better part of the past 8 years, I have participated in helping to draft legislation at both the state and federal level to make healthcare more accessible and affordable to all.
My specialties include:
- mood disorders
- anxiety disorders
- perinatal mood and anxiety disorders
- relationship issues
- life stage transitions
- grief and loss
- trauma
My theoretical orientation to therapy includes Person-Centered, Cognitive Behavioral, Solution Focused, Psychodyanmic, and Family Systems. Furthermore, I recently completed a 6 month intensive training in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Level 1, which is a trauma-informed therapeutic approach.
Prior to receiving my graduate degree in family counseling, I studied English and Communication Arts at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and received my B.A. in May 1999. After receiving my undergraduate degree, I spent several years working in the field of publishing. People are often surprised to find out that I underwent what, on the surface, appears to be a dramatic career change. While the responsibilities and daily tasks of each vocation differ greatly, the essence of the two fields of study is very similar. That similarity lies in the uniqueness of each person’s story and the themes that emerge along the way. Therapy gives individuals the opportunity to share their narrative in a warm, caring, and nonjudgmental environment. It affords one the opportunity to examine their patterns, search for meaning, and identify conflicts and resolutions. I believe that therapy is akin to a “Choose Your Own Adventure” novel. There are multiple options in life, and therapy allows you to explore those options and make decisions that are right for you.