I have a Master’s degree in clinical psychology and am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in the state of Illinois. I have worked in the field in one capacity or another since 1988, mostly in the community mental health arena which provided me the opportunity to develop skills in a variety of areas, even though I began my career as an addictions counselor. I am currently part of a private practice group as well as providing clinical supervision to our local problem solving court clients including participants in drug court, mental health court and veterans court. I believe that in order to help people make positive changes, one must first acknowledge and accept where they are without judgement or shame. I think people need to have their feelings validated and it must be understood that there is a logic and motivation behind every human behavior. A client centered approach is vital to building a trusting relationship to help people move from where they are to where they want to be. I use a variety of approaches along the way as people grow and change. I typically start off with a client centered approach and motivational interviewing. From there, I like to tailor the counseling to best fit the client’s goals and what they want to achieve. The strategies I most commonly draw on are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and other skills building approaches. My counseling style is casual and inviting. I want for clients to feel comfortable and safe to discuss whatever they need to and to leave each session feeling like they at least received compassionate care and hopefully a new tool for their tool box of coping skills. I would be honored to embark on your healing journey with you and look forward to working with you to help you reach your goals!