I am an LCPC (Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor) therapist who has been serving clients in the Lake County community for over 20 years. I have worked with families, children, adolescents, and adults with varying diagnoses and issues (i.e. major depression, bipolar disorder, personality disorders, self-mutilation, ADHD, post-traumatic stress disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, chemical abuse and dependency). I am also a certified alcohol and drug counselor (CADC) and have extensive experience running substance abuse groups. These groups promoted prevention, intervention, and recovery among teens and adults. For 2 years I co-facilitated experiential wilderness groups that traveled to various locations in the country. I have experience running anger management groups and working with high risk youth who are gang affiliated and at risk for incarceration.
Family therapy can promote healthier communication among its participants, strengthen relationships, and help resolve conflicts that have not been able to be resolved otherwise. Working with a family as one system has been proven to be more effective and can promote the quickest change.
Family dysfunction occurs not due to the actions, decisions, or behaviors of one single individual, but all individuals within the family. Therefore, the quickest and most effective method to promote change is to treat all members of the family. Change can happen if each member of your family is willing to do their part to help make that change occur. A family, like an engine, relies on each individual part to function properly in order for it to run well. If all family members are not willing to do their part, change can be difficult and progress can be slow. However, if all family members are willing to change and do their part, it can be life altering for the family.
Facilitating change and improving the quality of life of an individual can help confront barriers that interfere with emotional and mental well-being, and it can also increase positive feelings such as compassion, self esteem, love, courage, and peace. An individual, dedicated to self-growth and determined to become more self-aware, can improve all aspects of their life. Whether it's a desire to become a better parent, spouse, friend, son/daughter, or coworker, individual therapy can be impactful on all levels. Increasing self-esteem, inner strength, or coping mechanisms can be life changing.
Children and adolescents have healthy and unhealthy coping skills, communication styles, and internal decision making abilities that could be learned or inherited. When sad, a healthy child has age appropriate coping skills that they will use as a defense against feeling sad. When a healthy adolescent is confronted with making a positive decision, they have the cognitive ability to problem solve and make the right choice. When children or adolescents lack the proper coping skills or decision making abilities, it can cause depressive thoughts, anger, detachment from family, poor decision making, and substance abuse, which could worsen in time without therapy.
Therapy, whether it is family or individual, can strengthen relationships, increase coping skills, and improve decision making and communication styles. Most importantly, you will be able to give help to your child who is in pain. You will also be participating in a process that does not put you in the role as the authoritative parent, but an advocate and an ally for your child.
Parenting a child today is the most difficult and most rewarding job you will ever face. No matter the age of your child, knowing the parenting approach that DOESN'T work for your child is just as important as learning the proper parenting approach that DOES works best. Parenting is more than black and white, it is a spectrum. Being too authoritative or too lenient is not usually effective parenting. A lenient parent without rules or expectations may feel walked on and not respected. While too harsh of a parent can pressure kids to follow the rules, it may be costly with regards to forming a strong nurturing bond later in life. Using therapy to learn and practice effective parenting skills can help parents find a healthy medium that emphasizes structure and discipline, as well as nurturing love and affection...all of which a child or adolescent needs and craves.
Bipolar disorder, depression, and other related mood disorders
Anxiety / Phobias
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Substance Abuse/Addiction
Anger management
Post-traumatic stress disorder / Trauma
Self-mutilation
Families in crisis
Behavioral issues such as oppositional defiant disorder
School bullying / coping with bullies
Psychodynamic
Cognitive-behavioral
Solution-focused
Person-centered
Experiential therapy
Psycho-educational
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
I am an in-network provider for the following insurance providers:
BCBS of IL PPO
BCBS of IL Blue Choice Preferred PPO
United Healthcare
Cigna
Aetna
Lyra
I accept the following methods of payment:
Cash
Check
Credit/Debit
Zelle
Call or email to schedule an appointment, discuss options or to request more information.
