Ilona Schwartzberg
Hello, my name is Ilona Schwartzberg, LCSW, I am passionate about helping people find healing, growth, and empowerment to reach their mental health goals. I specialize in working with adults through the elderly. My clinical interests include generalized anxiety, social anxiety, depression, relationship issues. I have worked in hospital settings, nursing homes, chronic illness which comprises medical uncertainty. Through mental health counseling I have assisted clients with life transitions and losses, grief and bereavement and building self-esteem. I enjoy partnering with clients who want to make real, sustainable changes in their lives. My therapeutic toolbox include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Humanistic approaches, mindfulness and traditional talk therapy. I treat the whole person: mental health symptoms are important but so are lifestyle such as exercise, proper nutrition and social connections. In sessions we will explore practical coping skills and evidence-based strategies, and I will also encourage healthy routines such as walking, swimming, or water aerobics, yoga and stretching, breathing and mindfulness practices, nutrition and socialization all of which support the mood, emotional healing and goal achievement. I provide a safe, non-judgmental space where you can be heard, understood, and challenges kindly. My style is war, collaborative, and strength-based. I will be your partner and coach - cheering you on, helping you build skill, and celebrating every step forward. If you are ready to take the first step, contact me - I will congratulate you for making this important choice today and I will b e with you tomorrow as we work toward your goals.
First session
After a first session, I hope a new client feels heard, respected, and accepted without judgment. Beginning therapy can feel vulnerable and intimidating, so I want clients to leave feeling that they were able to speak openly and that their experiences were genuinely understood. I also hope they leave with a sense of hope and reassurance. They many not have all the answers after one session, but I want them to feel that they have taken an important first step and that they do not have to navigate their challenges alone. My goal is for clients to feel comfortable, supported, and empowered to continue the therapeutic process at their own pace. Most importantly, I want them to leave knowing that therapy is a collaborative space where their voice, goals, and individual experiences matter.
Strengths
As a mental health care provider I treat every individual as a unique story. There is no single approach that works for everyone, and I appreciate the opportunity to meet people where they are and work collaboratively toward their goals. I strive to create an environment rather than judged, and where they can develop greater insight, coping skills, confidence, and resilience. The opportunity to provide mental healthy support through a platform is especially meaningful to me because technology can help make care more accessible and convenient. Ultimately, I want to contribute to the well-being of others and be a source of support during some of life's most challenging moments. I find purpose in helping people feel less alone, recognize their strengths, and move forward a healthier and more fulfilling life.
Ideal clients
I enjoy working with individuals across different states of life who maybe e experiencing anxiety, depression, stress, relationship challenges, life transitions, low self-esteem, grief, or difficulty coping with significant changes. I am particularly drawn to helping clients navigate periods of transitions such as entering adulthood, changes in relationships, career challenges, parenting, illness and other circumstances that may leave someone feeling overwhelmed or uncertain about their next steps.
Treatment methods
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
DBT focuses on four main skill areas: Mindfulness staying present and noticing thoughts, feelings, and sensations without immediately reacting; Distress tolerance - getting through intense emotional situations without making them worse; Emotion regulation - understanding and managing strong emotions; Interpersonal effectiveness - communicating needs, seeing boundaries and maintaining relationships. A therapist doesn't tell a client to use DBT skills it actually involved identifying specific target behaviors, understanding what triggers them, practicing alternative responses and reviewing what happened afterward. Also teaching client the STOP technique and explaining what STOP means S - Stop - don't immediately react. Pause what you are doing. T - Take a step back - physically or mentally step away from the situation. Use grounding breathing also reach the client this as well and create some space. O- Observe - Notice what is happening - what am I feeling, What am I thinking, What is happening to me and What am I tempted to do. P - Proceed mindfully - choose the next action based on your goals rather then the immediate emotion or impulse. Role play with client a few times and ask him what happens and how he handles a situation and then explain the Emotional Mind and the Logical Mind and the balance would be the Wise Mind.
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- IllinoisLicense 149028560