I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor based in Chicago, IL. I have worked in various areas of community mental health (13+ years) and as a private therapist (3 years) totaling 16 years in the field. I have experience with significant mental illness, trauma, recovery, and life transitions. I work with individuals (teens and adults) and couples. I am an accredited trauma therapist (APT) and I am trained in Narrative Therapy. Additionally, I am a "nerd" therapist. I want to hear about what you read, watch, play, etc. We can talk about cosplay and conventions and the like. I like to draw parallels between real life challenges and the stories that we read in books and see on TV and movies (you can expect me to mention the following: INSIDE OUT, ENCANTO, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, X-FILES, STAR WARS, STAR TREK, DOCTOR WHO, the MCU, etc, as well as the whole hero’s journey that we all take.) And I want to hear what stories keep you inspired and motivated. I want to know what you enjoy and feel passionate about. Our primary focus will be on what has brought you to therapy and what you want to work on but I know that there are many paths to these goals. As Tolkien said, “Not all who wander are lost.” So, we might wander a bit but we will wander together. At some point, during our virtual session, you will probably see one or both of my cats and your pets are welcome as well.
Our first session will include an assessment and a deep, rich conversation about you and what is bringing you to therapy. We will identify areas of interest and one or two goals that you would like to start exploring in future sessions.
Clients who have worked with me in the past have identified my compassionate nature as well as my direct approach and use of humor as my strongest skills. I have been told that I come off as very "real" and I know that I am not a "blank-slate" therapist. Additionally, I have a strong clinical background and I regularly seek out new knowledge and trainings to stay on top of new approaches and information.
I use Narrative Therapy to help see the person separate from the problem and explore how the problem has impacted various areas within the client's life. Exploring together, we can identify patterns and people who have both helped and challenged you as you work towards your goals.
I use CBT to help clients identify inaccurate and/or negative thinking in order to approach challenges with greater clarity and skill.
I use DBT to help clients accept the realities of their lives and how their choices and experiences can impact emotional regulation.