LMFT, 22 years of experience
Welcome Illinois and Indiana residents. I've been a licensed mental health therapist for 20+ years and have had a variety of different roles in the behavioral health field. I believe my personal and employment experiences over the years help to inform the way I am with clients today. I enjoy being outdoors, especially in the spring and fall. I also like traveling and trying new restaurants. We have a King Charles Spaniel who is attention-seeking 24/7 (and super sweet), and our sweet cat hides away most of the time. There's never a dull moment!
During the initial session I'll be asking a variety of questions to get a better understanding of what you've been struggling with and what you're looking to change. By the end of this session, we'll come up with some goals which we will monitor throughout your treatment. The length of treatment varies greatly on a number of factors, so we also will discuss your goals related to timeline and session frequency.
I'm compassionate, intuitive, supportive, and will do my best at providing a safe space. I believe my own struggles, particularly when I was younger, have been the most powerful motivators of my work as a therapist. It's WHY I became a therapist. Had I not found qualified mental health providers who helped me grow and change, I'm not sure where I'd be today. Because of my work with them, I know life can be different and better. It's common to feel alone, stuck, and sometimes hopeless when you're in the midst of a struggle, so it's very important to know that things can change and improve.
I help individuals who are 18+ in a number of areas including those struggling with anxiety, depression, navigating the college years, trauma and PTSD, grief, life transitions, parenting concerns, self-esteem, self-harming behaviors, relationship issues, and LGBTQIA+ issues.
I use a number of different therapy approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as it's effective for a number of different mental health issues. CBT helps clients to identify unhelpful thought patterns and beliefs which get in the way of having a more productive and satisfying life. Learning new coping skills will help improve your daily functioning.
Traumatic events can significantly interfere with daily functioning. Depending on the trauma and circumstances around that trauma(s), clients can carry this pain around for years. It's important for clients to feel safe and validated when working through these difficult experiences so that they can heal and feel more empowered in their daily lives.
The relationships we form in infancy and childhood have a great impact on our lives throughout adulthood. Based on one's home environment and connections, we develop a certain way of attaching with others. Learning about your attachment style will help you have a better understanding of your current relationships, and how you can find healthy ways of relating.
Other therapy methods I use are Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Internal Family Systems, and Strength Based. It really depends on the situation and what a client needs.
2 ratings with written reviews
May 10, 2025
Very understanding and easy to talk to. Super helpful with working through what’s going on. I always look forward to my sessions with Wendy.
February 15, 2025
She was very kind!