I have always been a big fan of Dolly Parton's quote "If you don't like the road you're walking, start paving a new one." However, paving a new path for ourselves can be overwhelming and I feel that no one should have to do that alone.
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over a decade of experience in the field of social services. I became a therapist to help people navigate life transitions and cope with anxiety disorders. I have worked in a variety of settings including social service agencies and private practice groups. The majority of my work has been assisting undergraduate and graduate students with navigating their challenging academic programs as well as assisting young professionals (especially new teachers and social workers) to navigate the anxiety and stress associated with starting their career which can present numerous challenges with anxiety and setting boundaries.
I have also developed experience in assisting adult gay men in coming out by being an informed clinician in processing the challenges that have come with living with unaccepting family members and friend groups and providing support and coping strategies to deal with this difficult process. As a lifelong gamer myself, who has played on numerous video game competitive teams, I am informed and affirming about video games. This is an important quality for some client's to be aware of as I feel this quality about me allows a reduction in the propensity for introducing a negative bias toward video games in the therapy space.
Therapy is a flexible space that looks different for every client. However, in general, you can expect a client-centered approach and I tend to also draw from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. As you begin to start paving that new road, I'll come along and help guide this process using these tools and provide support, help you build awareness, work toward a reduction in symptoms, and provide encouragement as you move through your experience.
Additional areas of focus: Relationship issues, Family conflicts, Trauma and abuse, Sleeping disorders, Parenting issues, Anger management, Self esteem, Bipolar disorder, Depression, Coaching, Compassion fatigue, ADHD, Forgiveness, Guilt and shame, HIV / AIDS, Men's issues, Mood disorders , Social anxiety and phobia, Young Adult Issues
Clinical approaches: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy
IL LCSW 149.017708