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Mark Pelech

Mark Pelech

LCSW
6 years of experience
Virtual

Good Day! I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW ) based in Texas but also seeing online clients from Illinois. I received my Masters (MSW) from Loyola University Chicago and have been practicing for 6 years. I see adults and teens struggling with anxiety and depression by first (1) helping them understand (in simple language) how emotions and feelings are created in your brain and (2) introducing holistic practices that address and help them correctly view those emotions and feelings.

What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?

During our first session, I will review with you what I know about your situation and ask questions for clarity. But I want to know more than that - I want to get to know you, your likes and dislikes, aspirations, dreams, etc. And I want you to know who I am as a therapist, how I work, what philosophy and maxims I hold dearly. Once we know each other a bit, I'll introduce a simply breathing technique or other skill you can begin to use to calm your mind. Then we begin to explore your concerns.

Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.

My first gift is an ability to develop trust with you in our therapeutic relationship. When you open yourself up mentally, you do so only with someone you trust from the bottom of your heart. To open yourself up in this way is an important step in overcoming mental problems and progressing in therapy My second strength is the ability to create an atmosphere that is both safe and welcoming and encourages you to express your thoughts and feelings, i.e. I listen.

Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.

I love working with individual adults and kids ( mainly boys aged 8-17). My clients are unsure about therapy at first, and frankly not sure what it might be all about. But many come because they have tried everything else and nothing seems to be working for them. All my clients have the needed strengths to address or change what it is they came to see me for - it is my job to help them discover those strengths and encourage mentally helpful practices .

About Mark Pelech

Identifies as

Specializes in

Serves ages

Licensed in

Accepts

Appointments

Free consults, virtual

My treatment methods

Mindfulness-Based Therapy

I have been using mindfulness (meditation, breathing techniques, body scans, visualization) in my practice for the past six years. It calms the mind and allows my clients to address their situation from a position of empowerment with focus. We’ll use mindfulness to recognize the impermanent nature of your thoughts, feelings and emotions while at the same time incorporate holistic evidence-based interventions proven to improve your mental health.

Positive Psychology

I have been using positive psychology along with mindfulness in my practice for the past six years because they complement each other. Positive psychology incorporates many interventions, but we’ll focus mainly on gratitude, selflessness, and compassion. Research shows these practices “rewire” the brain, creating new neural connections of happiness and satisfaction. We’ll explore thoughts you already have that contribute to your positive self-worth (especially those not acknowledged by self). With sustained practice incorporating mindfulness, you will notice a difference in your self thoughts.