Licensed to practice in Illinois and accepts 10 insurances. Specializes in Anxiety, Mood Disorders, Trauma and PTSD and 7 more.
New to Grow
I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and completed my Master of Arts degree in Clinical Psychology 18 years ago. Honestly, I can’t see myself doing anything else. My experience includes working with kids, teens, and adults; people with traumatic brain injury; and developmental and/or intellectual disability in community mental health, state-based inpatient services, and hospital settings for crisis assessments. I have a passion for helping others, and I want to be there to support people dealing with depression, anxiety, past trauma, grief, or anything else being experienced. My strength comes from knowing God has called me into this career, and I genuinely want the best life for you.
Our first session is designed to learn about you as a person, hear about what brings you to therapy, and discover what goals you have for yourself in your wellness journey. My goal is to show compassion and understanding and to create a safe, non-judgmental space. I will ask open-ended questions designed to gather information to help guide our process. Therapy for you will be tailored depending on your needs and what works most effectively for you.
My goal is always to help you feel comfortable in discussing your experiences and emotions and exploring skills you can utilize along the way. My strength comes from knowing God has called me into this career, and I genuinely want the best life for you. Past and current clients have told me I am easy to talk to, and they feel safe and respected. The therapy process is helped so much by having a strong working therapeutic relationship. Therapy goals change over time, and treatment methods will change, too. I have found that being eclectic, or borrowing methods from various models of therapy, lends itself to tailoring treatment to what works for you.
Every person deserves to feel respected and heard. The ideal client is someone who genuinely wants to work through what brought them to therapy and commit to the process. You are present to be heard and understood. In turn, you will have a safe space (free of judgment) to discuss your hard topics and big emotions. Therapy is a process and takes time, attention, and effort.
Other specialties
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
Instead of asking, "How do I get rid of these painful thoughts?"…ACT asks, "How can I live the life I want, even if these difficult thoughts and feelings come up?" Instead of fighting every worry or anxious thought, ACT teaches you to notice them without letting them control what you do. It helps you keep working toward what matters most to you, even when you feel uncomfortable (e.g. someone who cares about being a loving parent might go to their child's school play even if they feel nervous about big crowds). The anxiety might still be there, but it doesn't get to decide what they do. This approach can help with anxiety, long-lasting pain, depression, stress, obsessive thoughts, or ongoing struggles that can’t always be fixed.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) was created to help people who feel their emotions are very strong or overwhelming, but it can be helpful for many others too. The main idea is that you can accept yourself just as you are while also working to make positive changes. Both can happen at the same time, hence "dialectic." Skills taught include learning to notice and accept what is happening now without judging it right away, getting through tough times without making them worse, understanding your emotions better, and asking for what you need, saying no when needed, and building healthy relationships. DBT often involves homework and practicing these skills in real life. It’s especially useful for managing intense emotions, self-harm or impulsive behaviors, ongoing thoughts of self-harm or suicide (as part of a full treatment plan), problems in relationships, and struggles with emotional control.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Imagine your mind is like a pair of glasses. If the lenses are scratched or crooked, the world can look worse than it really is. CBT helps you look at those "lenses" and see things more clearly. When something happens, we all tend to see it differently based on our past experiences. For example, if you say hello to a coworker and they don’t answer, you might automatically think, “They don’t like me.” That quick thought can make you feel anxious, embarrassed, or encourage you to avoid that person. With CBT, you learn to notice that first thought and ask yourself, “What proof do I have for this?” or “Did I jump to a conclusion?” When you start to check and question your initial thoughts, you can change how you react. In this case, if you think, “Maybe they didn’t see or hear me,” you might respond with more kindness or understanding next time. This kind of therapy can help with anxiety, depression, panic attacks, fears, trouble sleeping, and many other stress-related problems.