Are you seeking support on your mental health journey? With over a decade of experience as a clinical mental health counselor, I offer compassionate and personalized guidance to individuals, children, adolescents, couples, and families. As a trauma-certified counselor, I specialize in helping clients navigate mood disorders, personality disorders, anxiety, and depression. My client-focused approach ensures that your unique needs and goals are at the center of our work together. Remember, therapy is your journey, and I'm here to support you every step of the way. Let's embark on this path towards healing and a brighter future.

My name is Nikole Bower, LCSW and I’m glad you’re here. Navigating through mental health can be difficult and intimidating. I’m here to provide tools that will allow you to develop skills to overcome whatever life brings your way. If you’re experiencing a life transition, motherhood/parenthood, loss, or life stressors, let’s overcome it together. Having experience in many of these aspects of life, allows me to provide a safe environment. You can overcome whatever life throws at you.

I am an Illinois and Wisconsin Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) who has extensive experience working with individuals, groups, couples, and families. I earned my Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology from Benedictine University, where the prominent perspective was person-centered therapy. I have worked with several different client populations including couples with marriage difficulties, adults struggling with depression, anxiety, and other life adjustment issues, physically and sexually abused adolescents and adults, adolescents with mental health issues related to school, home, adjustment, or mental illness, and even adolescents and adults on the verge of suicide. In working with these populations, I have gained vast experience in family dynamics and feel it is important to focus on the whole system, especially when a child is involved. I have also been trained in DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), and I feel many adults and adolescents could greatly benefit from learning these skills. God is our ultimate counselor and His word is referenced and prayed from as part of the healing process.

I am a relational therapist who works to break cycles of conflict and create relationships that feel effective and fulfilling. I bring a fluid and responsive approach, meeting clients with empathy while challenging them to dig deeper, embrace accountability, and take meaningful steps toward growth. In sessions, I help clients uncover patterns, identify blocks, self-illusion, and connect with the underlying emotions driving their struggles. I move beyond surface-level validation, guiding clients to reframe challenges and shift their perspectives. I believe in addressing what’s present and meaningful—not dwelling on blame or the past, but focusing on solutions that are effective and tailored to you. My approach is direct yet compassionate. I help clients explore what their reactions and interactions reveal about their needs, offering tools to build insight and strengthen connection. While I encourage clients to lean into discomfort as part of the process, I also ensure they feel guided and empowered to face challenges. Whether it’s improving communication, addressing conflict, or building trust, I guide clients to stop cycling through the same issues and start building the relationships they want. If you’re ready to move beyond feeling stuck, I’ll partner with you to create lasting change through honest, meaningful work.

I am licensed in Texas and Wisconsin with over 8 years of professional clinical work and combined experience of 17 years in civil and social services. In addition, I am experienced in helping clients with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, family conflicts, & trauma and abuse. I assist my clients by creating an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & collaboratively work with you on increasing your quality of life. My ardent desire to educate those who are under-served and prone to traumatic encroachments on their basic human rights of self-advocacy, self-determination, accountability, restoration of power, and self-worth, is what drives me professionally. My group work, individual therapy, couples therapy, family therapy, and parent coaching experience qualifies me to clinically engage, assess, and collaborate with individuals and interdisciplinary teams on goal development, treatment planning, implementation of interventions, and evaluations.

Greetings! I am Lauro Guzman; I am a down-to-earth clinician, and my goal is to help you better understand and resolve challenges in your life. We first complete an evaluation to gather relevant information about your past and your current circumstances. We can then look for the source of your problem or identify behavior patterns that may be keeping you back from a healthy, balanced life.