Grief counselors and therapists in Elgin, IL

Welcome. I love helping people learn to navigate challenges in life. The treatment plan is tailored to each client's situation. We work together to determine the best method(s), and goals. Whether you are navigating a life transition, or you have a mental illness that you learning to manage, I can help.

You may be carrying invisible wounds from childhood trauma, abuse, or overwhelming life events. Perhaps you struggle with anxiety, depression, difficulty concentrating, hypervigilance, flashbacks, nightmares, emotional numbness, and or repeating old patterns—and wonder, “Why can’t I just move on?” If so, you are not alone.

My approach to counseling begins with a simple conviction: you are more than a diagnosis, a set of symptoms, or a problem to be solved. You are a whole person living a real life—with relationships, responsibilities, experiences, hopes, beliefs, and circumstances that all matter.

I work primarily with adults and couples facing a wide range of concerns and seasons of life. My role is to come alongside you, helping you understand what you are experiencing, see yourself and your circumstances more clearly, and discern how you want to respond to the life before you.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over ten years of experience, working with adults and couples in individual therapy. I draw from Mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Internal Family Systems (IFS) to support clients facing ADHD, anxiety, depression, domestic violence, grief and loss, self injury, spirituality, substance use, and trauma or PTSD.

Hi, I'm Maurissa. Much of my background has involved work with people on the Autism spectrum and I found that they struggle with the same things that many people do, including grief, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, trauma, etc. My experience with people on the spectrum has helped me to provide an open perspective to work with those struggling with emotional regulation and different ways of thinking.

Welcome — I'm so glad you're here! With 23 years of experience as a school social worker, I am passionate about helping children, adolescents, and families navigate life's challenges and build the skills needed to thrive at home, school and in their communities. I work with children and teens ages 3-17, as well as parents and caregivers who are seeking support, guidance, and practical strategies to strengthen family relationships, work through family conflicts and improve daily functioning. My goal is to help build the necessary skills to strengthen relationships and homeostasis within family structures and the individual.

I specialize in working with neurodivergent children, adolescents, and families including those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), ADHD, Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), social-communication challenges, anxiety, emotional regulation difficulties, and behavioral challenges. I also specialize in working with high conflict family dynamics which include parent-child relationships, divorce (for families that are both in and/or out of the family court system), sibling rivalry, and multicultural child rearing.

Your experience with me will always be grounded in compassion, honesty, and respect. I believe people grow when they feel heard and understood, so I work hard to create a space where you feel safe being yourself. I am collaborative and down-to-earth, and I will meet you exactly where you are while helping you move toward the life you want.

I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor who believes therapy should feel real, human, and grounded in honest conversation. With experience in community mental health, treatment courts, group work, and clinical supervision, in addition to working with individuals navigating trauma, identity, and personal change. I also teach and mentor future counselors while researching the psychological experiences of individuals living with vitiligo. I bring a little bit of humor into therapy, because let’s face it, in this day and age a little bit of laughing takes stress off our already hectic lives; though when it is time to get serious, we will address all and any issues that may be hindering your pathways of life. My philosophy: “people are more than their labels, and growth begins when people feel seen, heard, and respected.”