I have experience working at Lurie's Children's Hospital Inpatient Psychiatric Unit and Partial Hospitalization Program. I have worked at multiple private practice's in the Chicagoland area before opening MSC.

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After opening the practice I developed a successful Leadership Workshop focused on confidence, stress, and leadership for middle school girls. During the pandemic we had to cancel all of our in person workshops. I began posting mental health content on social media to help my community. Passionate about prevention work I am honored to have a following of over half a million that I share mental health content with! 

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I have given mental health trainings/speeches to high school teams, colleges, classes, and more. I have consulted on therapeutic cases and corporate wellness programs.

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor with a passion for helping adolescents and adults overcome obstacles, develop mental strength, and build meaningful relationships. I have a wide range of experience in agency, school and private practice settings. 

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I am committed to listening to my clients in a compassionate non-judgemental manner so that together we can process your experiences, build skills and generate solutions. Our connection is the most important factor in your success and my first priority. By understanding your established patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving we can identify what is keeping you stuck and discover new possibilities for your life. 

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I am deeply connected to the challenges that accompany parenting and bring my clinical and personal experience into therapy. Having three children (elementary school, middle school and high-school-aged), allows me to better understand your parenting struggles.  I have worked extensively with children diagnosed with ADHD, Anxiety, OCD, Depression and Autism, and believe that working with parents is an important part of the therapeutic process.

I completed my predoctoral internship at a community mental health agency in Cleveland, Ohio and worked with young children and families. My postdoctoral fellowship was completed at SociAbility Chicago where I focused on working with individuals across the lifespan with social challenges stemming from autism spectrum disorder, social anxiety, and ADHD. I worked at Northwestern University as a project coordinator for a center focused on disseminating evidence-based practices related to developmental trauma. 

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I work with children, adolescents, and adult populations. My experience spans multiple settings, including private practice, high-risk outpatient, schools, and daycare facilities. My clinical interests include anxiety, ADHD, childhood trauma, and social challenges. I also have extensive experience conducting and interpreting psychological and neuropsychological assessments. I take a strengths-based and empathic approach when collaboratively working with clients and families. I engage in regular communication with treatment providers, caregivers, and teachers to support continuity of care.

I am a psychotherapist specializing in evidence-based treatment for children and young adults with anxiety, OCD, and behavior problems. I take a strength-based, collaborative approach to therapy focused on your family's goals and values. My work is guided cognitive behavior therapy, parent-child interaction therapy, and cultural humility.

 

I am also currently a postdoctoral research fellow at the Northwestern University Center for Dissemination and Implementation Science. My research interests include finding ways to get youth access to effective mental health care and improving the cultural responsiveness of mental health services. 

I am devoted to helping adolescents, young adults, and adults with any hardships you’re having. I have diverse clinical experience in suicide prevention and have worked at multiple crisis hotlines. Clinically, at North Park Universities Counseling Services Center I had the opportunity to work with students from all different backgrounds through individual therapy. Students presented with a wide range of issues such as: anxiety, depression, trauma, transitional issues, self-harm, disordered eating, academic problems, identity, and self-esteem issues.

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It's my belief that the relationship with the client is the most important element to a successful and beneficial therapy experience. I vow to listen to every client in a non-judgmental manner and create a safe space to openly discuss your thoughts and emotions. Together we can strengthen your understanding of self, learn helpful coping strategies, and instill healing.

 

I utilize several theories to best meet the goals of my clients, including a strong focus on Person-Centered, CBT, and DBT approaches. My goal is to build a strong therapeutic relationship with a foundation of trust. I believe in guiding my clients at a pace that you’re comfortable with to get you where you want to be.

I have worked as a school social worker for several years in the Chicagoland area and I have experience working with children and teens of all different ages.

 

My experience includes supporting and advocating for students’ emotional, mental and physical well-being while also consulting and supporting their parents, and/or teachers, to promote healing and mental health wellness.  I also have experience creating and modifying Individualized Education Plans and 504 Plans. I believe that building a strong connection and trust with the child and their family are key components to treatment.

 

I work with clients from various diverse backgrounds and have experience working with children and young adults who suffer from Anxiety, Depression, Grief and Loss, Gender and Sexual Identity Issues, Self-Harm, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Learning Disorders. I offer a supportive, encouraging, and positive environment during my sessions and I tailor my approach to match the individual needs of each of my clients.

Throughout my career, I have spent time working in both out-patient and inpatient behavioral health settings. My inpatient hospital experience includes treating children and adults suffering from mood disorders, eating disorders, self-injury behaviors, and suicidal thoughts and attempts. I have also facilitated family sessions to help educate family members about mental illness and developed personal safety plans along with individualized treatment options and support to prevent re-hospitalization.

 

One of the most important elements of therapy is the connection between the client and the therapist. I work hard to provide a consistently safe, supportive and confidential environment built-on empowerment, trust and collaboration. Throughout therapy, we’ll partner together to set goals, identify and overcome barriers, & develop effective coping strategies to manage internal and external stressors.

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I believe in evidenced based treatment including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction in order to decrease symptoms and improve quality of life. I also use an Adlerian framework to identify the clients' Self-Concept (convictions about “who I am”) and the Self-Ideal (convictions about “what I should be”). This is a holistic and goal oriented theory. 

I am a social worker who is committed to helping individuals work through short or long term difficulties. I have 4 years of experience working as a school social worker with children and teens of all ages. Throughout this time, I have worked collaboratively with students, parents, teachers, and the community to support the student’s social-emotional well-being and growth. While providing individual, group, and whole class services, I also conduct evaluations of students using both qualitative and quantitative data to determine if students need social work support in the school setting. The students I’ve served exhibit a variety of strengths and needs, and I have experience helping children and adolescents through symptoms of anxiety, depression, ADHD, anger, trauma, and general stress. 

 

I believe that a strong therapeutic relationship with the client and using an individualized, strengths-based approach are both key aspects to a successful therapy experience. I will always offer a safe space where the client feels like they are heard, and the therapy will evolve based on the client’s changing needs.

 

While I change my approach to working with clients depending on their needs and goals, I often utilize both CBT and DBT principles to provide tangible skills to help clients through difficult moments. No matter the approach, I will always provide a non-judgmental space for clients to safely explore their emotions and achieve their treatment goals. 

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker committed to listening, problem solving, and empowering adolescents, teens, and adults to work through both short and long term struggles. I have over twenty years of experience, the majority of which has been working in schools as a school social worker. 

 

I believe that my biggest strengths are forming connections and building trust with my clients. My work in the schools has given me extensive experience with adolescents, teens, and parents on prevalent issues such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, low self-esteem, emotion management, social communication, and executive functioning. I also have a wealth of knowledge on IEP’s (individualized education plan) and can be an additional support to parents and their children going through the process and understanding their rights. 

 

I use a strength based approach with my clients, in addition to a variety of therapeutic techniques. I will also use my personal and professional experience to help parents navigate the challenges that arise during the various stages of parenting. 

I have experience in a variety of therapeutic settings, working with adolescents, adults and couples. My post-graduate clinical experience includes working at employee assistance programs and in private practice where I guided clients through a variety of issues including anxiety, depression, grief, life transition and parenting and relationship challenges. 

 

I believe in working collaboratively with my clients to explore solutions, foster growth and heal past wounds. By identifying patterns that keep us stuck, we will work together to find healthier ways to move forward to create meaningful change.

 

I use a solution-focused, resiliency-building therapeutic approach to create meaningful change in the lives of my clients. The foundations of my approach include empathy, honesty, mindfulness, cognitive behavioral training, identifying patterns and self care. I provide a safe, non-judgmental environment for my clients to explore solutions, foster growth and heal past wounds. I also believe in the power of education in helping prevent and treat mental health conditions. 

I am currently in graduate school and am working toward obtaining my degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I am currently completing my internship for my program here at Main Street. I have a wide variety of experiences including working in a pediatric inpatient psychiatry unit, partial hospitalization programs, after school programs, and providing in-home behavioral therapy to children with autism. While completing my internship, I also am currently working in a pediatric inpatient psychiatry unit as a Recreation Therapist and a Milieu Therapist at Lurie Children's Hospital. I have several years of experience working with children and adolescents with a variety of mental health challenges and varying ability levels. 

 

I treat every individual I work with compassion, empathy, and understanding. My specific approach to therapy is modified based on the specific needs of the client however I consistently utilize a strengths-based approach to therapy. I utilize concepts from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as well. I believe that a strong therapeutic relationship between myself and my clients is at the core of a successful therapy experience.