Grief counselors and therapists in Buffalo Grove, IL

Therapy can be a powerful space for support, insight, and meaningful change. With more than 20 years of experience, I work with clients across the lifespan, including those in the "sandwich generation," older adults, caregivers, and people facing serious illness. I help individuals navigate complex family dynamics, work and health stressors, and major life transitions. A central focus of my work is helping clients communicate more effectively in the relationships that matter most-with partners, parents, adult children, and siblings-and break the patterns that keep important conversations stuck.

I trained in medicine before I became a therapist, and it changed what I listen for. When a client tells me her chest tightens before every meeting, or that she can't stop thinking about a diagnosis, I take the physical side of that seriously.

I hold a PhD in health psychology and I'm a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Illinois and Florida. My published research is on post-traumatic growth in women. Since 2020 I've also taught graduate counseling and psychology as an adjunct professor.

I see adults dealing with trauma and complex trauma, chronic illness, health anxiety, depression, grief, and major life transitions. I work with women through perinatal and postpartum struggles and through fertility challenges. I also see adolescents.

I speak English, Hindi, Arabic, and Urdu. If you're dealing with immigration, acculturation, or family expectations that don't translate easily, you won't have to explain that context to me first.

My style is eclectic and strength based. I see human nature as intrinsically good. Sigmund Freud said we are bio-social animals. I believe a great deal in listening to one’s self talk. The more positive our dialogue with ourselves is, the more positive our dialogues with others and our lives are. I’m also experienced in CBT, DBT, MI, Solution Focused, ACT, Gestalt, Interpersonal, and person-centered counseling.

My training includes lots of wonderful supervision and workshops, a three-year certificate from the Gestalt Institute of Chicago, and two one month intensives with Virginia Satir, the founder of family therapy. Virginia taught that exploring the self is like mining gold. We all have gold inside of us. That is our basic goodness. A lot of emotional suffering is the result of being detoured from that basic goodness.

Hello, and thank you for taking the time to read about my professional background.

I graduated with my bachelor's in social work in 2013 from MacMurray College in Jacksonville IL.

I furthered my education at the University of Illinois Urbana/Champaign School of Social Work and graduated with my Masters in SW in 2017.

I have gained 13 years of experience with the majority of those years spent in psychiatric facilities for children and adults.

I specialize in motivational interviewing, DBT, CBT, and a multitude of other treatment styles.

Welcome. Seeking therapy is a meaningful step, and I believe you deserve a space where you can feel heard, respected, and supported without judgment. My approach is compassionate, collaborative, and grounded in the belief that people have the capacity to heal, grow, and build lives that feel more manageable and fulfilling. I am Juton and I am a clinically licensed professional with over 15 years of experience providing crisis intervention, grief support, behavioral health services, clinical practice support, and training for helping professionals. My professional background includes work with individuals facing acute stress, life transitions, loss, emotional overwhelm, relationship concerns, and the effects of demanding work or caregiving roles. I work with adults who may be experiencing anxiety, depression, burnout, grief and bereavement, adjustment challenges, trauma-related stress, low self-esteem, or difficulty managing major changes in their lives. I am especially passionate about supporting people in high-stress helping professions, including healthcare workers, first responders, educators, caregivers, and behavioral health professionals. I would be honored to support you on that journey.

I am a dual-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner, providing whole-person care that recognizes the connection between mental, emotional, and physical health. I specialize in treating anxiety, depression, and Women's Health, and I offer a compassionate, nonjudgmental space where you can feel heard, supported, and empowered. Outside of my practice, I enjoy traveling, event decorating, and spending quality time with my family. I believe maintaining balance and personal fulfillment is an important part of overall well-being, and I bring that same perspective into the care I provide.

Hi, I'm Makeda (Kee)! I work with adolescents and adults navigating anxiety, depression, stress, relationship challenges, trauma, grief, and major life transitions. Whether you're feeling overwhelmed, stuck in patterns you want to change, struggling in your relationships, or simply looking for a better way forward, therapy can give you the space to understand what's going on and figure out what comes next.

With 7 years of experience, I bring a warm, down-to-earth, and collaborative approach to therapy. We'll look at what's contributing to the challenges you're facing, build on the strengths you already have, and develop practical ways to help you feel more confident, emotionally balanced, and connected to the life you want. My goal is for therapy to feel supportive and genuine while still helping you create meaningful change.