About

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Illinois with over 20 years of experience working with children in school settings, adolescents with chemical dependency, and adults with chronic and severe mental illness. Most of my clinical experience has been spent helping adults with serious mental illness cope with their symptoms more effectively. I have worked with adults experiencing a wide variety of symptoms, including those associated with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and schizoaffective disorder. I believe that each person is an expert on his/her own feelings, but behavior patterns are not always as obvious to the person engaging in them.

I use an empathic, yet "no-nonsense" approach and help you to take accountability for your decisions and actions. I will work hard with you to find and change unhelpful behaviors, but I will not work harder than you. You hold the power and control to your own life; I will be here as a guide to help you get your momentum going in a more helpful direction. My clinical approach typically includes cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, solution-focused therapy, or a combination of them. Above all, I want to ensure you feel comfortable with me because the process of making change is not always comfortable itself.

I know that there is never an issue too small for which to seek help, and if you give yourself a chance and stick with it, you may be surprised how much better you can feel.