Hello! I’m Hannah, a clinical social worker licensed in Illinois with 9 years of experience. My approach utilizes a combination of different therapeutic interventions tailored to each client’s need. I am versed in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Interpersonal Therapy, and several other modalities. I believe that holding myself accountable for continuing education on new treatment methods and interventions allows me to provide a versatile and informed care.
My counseling style is friendly, open, and collaborative. I recognize that it is not an easy task to ask for help, or to share certain thoughts and feelings with another person. Especially a stranger in a professional setting! My goal for a first session is to create a space for a client to determine if I am a good therapeutic fit for them, to share what's on their mind, and establish what they want their treatment to look like.
To this day, the therapeutic relationship and alliance is the strongest predictor of the effectiveness of therapy. As such, I firmly value the therapeutic relationship and will work to provide a safe and secure dynamic to support clients as they work towards their goals.
I was introduced to Trauma-Focused CBT in graduate school and was immediately drawn to how this approach balanced validation of symptoms and experience with education and support. This method is versatile and can be effective for presenting issues from traumatic experiences to symptoms of mood disorders.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy has been a treatment method I've been using since I learned about it in 2008. While DBT was created for the purpose of treating Borderline Personality Disorder, its principles can be applied to countless diagnoses, symptoms, and stressors.
I value principles of the Interpersonal treatment method because they are inherently interwoven in the human experiences. Stress, health concerns, and other challenges can put an added strain on our relationships. Understanding the connection between these can sometimes make the burden a little lighter.