Bipolar disorder therapists & psychiatrists in Buffalo Grove, IL

I believe that everyone deserves to feel heard, understood, and supported, especially during life's most challenging moments. My passion for helping others is rooted in both my professional experience and my commitment to creating safe, judgment-free spaces where people can be themselves. Much of my career has been spent alongside individuals, families, and community systems in crisis, collaborating with law enforcement, emergency responders, and advocacy programs when things were at their hardest. That work taught me to stay calm, compassionate, and solution-focused under real pressure. Today I work with clients navigating trauma and PTSD, depression, bipolar disorder and the mood swings that come with it, borderline personality, relationship and family stress, maternal mental health after pregnancy, and end of life concerns. I have a particular passion for helping children and the parents raising them, supporting them where they are now in a way that stays with them wherever they go next.

Maybe you’ve gotten really good at functioning while quietly wondering why the same thoughts, emotions, or relationship patterns keep showing up. Anxiety can leave you overthinking everything, ADHD may make it hard to slow down or stay on track, depression can disconnect you from yourself, and trauma can continue shaping how you respond long after the experience is over. I work with adolescents and adults navigating anxiety, ADHD, depression, trauma, and PTSD, along with identity concerns, relationship and family issues, stress, anger, grief, LGBTQIA+ and transgender experiences, and cultural or ethnic concerns when they’re part of the bigger picture. I believe therapy can be meaningful without feeling heavy all the time—there’s room to laugh, be yourself, and figure things out as we go. My goal is to help you understand yourself and your patterns more clearly so you can make choices that better reflect how you actually want to live, relate, and show up.

Hello, I’m Shelia Ransom Jenkins, MSW, LCSW, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with extensive experience supporting adolescents, adults, couples, and families through life’s challenges. I offer a compassionate, trauma-informed, and client-centered approach to therapy, creating a safe space where individuals feel heard, supported, and empowered.

I hold a Master of Social Work and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice, and my professional background includes work in community mental health, educational settings, and clinical leadership roles. I have experience helping clients manage anxiety, depression, trauma and PTSD, relationship and family conflict, behavioral concerns, life transitions, and stress related to work, school, and personal growth. I also have specialized training in perinatal mental health, supporting individuals experiencing postpartum depression and related mood disorders.

My therapeutic approach integrates evidence-based practices such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), trauma-informed care, and strengths-based interventions, tailored to each client’s unique needs and goals. I believe therapy is most effective when it is collaborative, practical, and rooted in trust.

Whether you are feeling overwhelmed, navigating a difficult transition, or seeking deeper self-understanding, my goal is to support you with empathy, clarity, and encouragement as you work toward healing and lasting change.

Ideally clients book with me looking to heal and move forward in life when they’re feeling “stuck in neutral”. My expertise extends to addressing a range of mental health disorders, such as anxiety, depression and PTSD, OCD, developmental and behavioral issues. I provide personalized therapeutic approaches to foster resilience and emotional growth in my clients. Through empathy, communication, and evidence-based interventions, I tend to create a safe space for individuals to process their experiences, build confidence and develop healthy coping mechanisms. I have experience working with individuals as young as 6 to 55 years of age.

I am a therapist specialized in working with children, adolescents and adults. I am skilled in helping individuals navigate through the emotional and psychological impacts of trauma. I help individuals gain their voices back. With my extensive experience in family therapy, I work to strengthen family dynamics and support healing within the home as well.

Therapeutically; I understand that certain circumstances or life events may have impacted you, however I believe your past shouldn’t control your future. “Just like history; your story continues”, meaning don’t let anything or anyone end your story for you. “In order to see progress, you have to trust the process and believe you will overcome these hurdles”.

If you've been carrying the weight of trauma, grief, or anxiety for longer than you can remember, you're not alone.

I've spent 12 years as a licensed counselor in Chicago working with people of all ages, from young children to seniors. What keeps me in this work is the moment a client realizes they've been surviving something hard, and that there's a different way forward.

I have a particular passion for working with mothers navigating postpartum struggles, families dealing with grief and loss, and adults working through trauma and PTSD. Many of my clients were looking for someone who would be real with them, not just professional. That's what you'll find here.

I earned my master’s degree in social work from George Williams College and hold licensure in both Illinois and Wisconsin. My clinical experience spans work with diverse populations, including teens and adults navigating a wide range of mental health challenges. I am trained in several evidence‐based therapeutic modalities—CBT, DBT, ACT, and EMDR—which allows me to tailor treatment to each person’s needs and support meaningful, sustainable change.

I provide individual therapy as well as family and couples work. I value helping people move through life’s stressors, strengthen their coping skills, and recognize the progress they make toward their goals.

If you have questions about the services and supports available to you, your family, or your loved ones, I’m here to help. I’d also be glad to share more about what I enjoy most in the therapeutic process and how we can work together to build a healthier, more grounded life.

When stress starts to build, it can affect more than just your day-to-day life. It can impact your mood, your energy, and your relationships. I work with adults and couples who are navigating anxiety, depression, workplace stress, and burnout. Many of my clients are used to juggling responsibilities, caring for others, and pushing through difficult seasons until they realize they're no longer feeling like themselves. You might feel constantly overwhelmed, mentally exhausted, or like you can’t fully “turn off” your mind. At the same time, stress can begin to show up in your relationships through miscommunication, distance, or frustration, making it harder to feel connected and supported.