Hi there and welcome! My name is Rebekah. I am a clinical social worker with over twenty years of experience in the field. I am honored to participate in the lives of so many interesting people and feel fortunate to have such fulfilling work. Much of my therapy practice involves clients with a history of traumatic experiences; this can include isolated experiences (assaults, accidents, natural disasters) or more ongoing issues (childhood abuse/neglect, domestic violence). Other times I am meeting with folks who have experienced losses or life changes; this may include things like deaths, loss of identity, relationship changes, new parenthood, etc.. In addition to providing talk therapy, I am also a university professor, provide supervision to new practitioners, and occasionally serve as an expert witness in child maltreatment matters. The rest of my life is comprised of friends, family and community. I enjoy spending time with my 5-year-old son as well as our extended family. I am a dog lover; our sweet pup is 16-years-old and a joy to have around. (You may occasionally hear her tapping around my office during our sessions.) In my spare time you might find me socializing with friends, spending time in nature (despite being a city dweller), being a tourist in my hometown (there's a LOT to do in Chicago!), or getting "crafty."
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
In our first session, I like to hear from you about what brought you to therapy and what you hope to get out of the experience. No first session is exactly the same as therapy is a very individual experience. But many times we'll talk about your childhood/family history, what's happening in your present day life, and what symptoms/issues are troubling you the most. Sometimes, people are quite emotional in their first session and sometimes people don't know what to say; this is all very normal. My primary goal in this first meeting is to offer as much authentic safety as possible and allow you the opportunity to "try on" the experience of therapy and see if it is a good fit.
What treatment methods and tools do you utilize?
My practice is grounded in trauma and attachment theory. In practical terms, this means I believe we tend to operate in our current lives in ways that are reflective of our history and our ability to connect with others. Some of our work might focus on understanding why we behave the way we do or make certain choices, some of our work might involve building more tangible skills to deal with our emotions or other people, and all of our work will be grounded in ensuring that therapy is a place for you to be accepted as your authentic self because that is the foundation for all change.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
I would imagine most clients who hang with me over a period of time do so in part because of the relationship we've built. My work is grounded in science. But my quirky personality and irreverent sense of humor is likely what draws more people to work with me. I have seen much in my personal and professional life and that is often reassuring to people who have experienced trauma; I won't be scared off by what you have to say (or not say). We will all experience various degrees of suffering but this should not be the defining aspect of our life experiences. I have a deep well of hope for each of us as humans to be able to live lives that are meaningful and fulfilling.