Prenatal and postpartum therapists & psychiatrists in Evanston, IL

Motherhood changes you—but that doesn't mean you have to lose yourself along the way.

Whether you're preparing to welcome your first baby, adjusting to life with a newborn, juggling the demands of raising children, navigating divorce while parenting, or wondering who you are now that your children need you less, every stage of motherhood brings new challenges. These transitions can leave you feeling overwhelmed, anxious, disconnected, or uncertain about what's next. You don't have to figure it out alone.

Are you looking for a therapist who understands your culture and speaks your language? I can help. I am fluent in Spanish, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, French, and German.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counselor with 40 years of clinical experience. I work with adults, children, and adolescents, and I value each person’s cultural background, identity, and lived experience.

I've devoted a decade of my career helping parents learn how to best help their children. And another decade helping adults in an out-patient partial hospitalization program. These are the moments when people have felt the most vulnerable and in need of something more than what they are already trying to manage their mental health. Hopefully, my experience and tools that I've gathered working across the age groups and in a more intense level of care can help you build your own toolbox.

I have 16 years of experience in the counseling field and am trained in integrative approaches including EMDR, Brainspotting, somatic and body-based therapies, and mindfulness-based interventions. I am dedicated to helping clients heal through a holistic approach that supports the mind, body, and spirit. My goal is to help individuals develop greater self-awareness, resilience, and lasting emotional well-being

Welcome! As a board-certified physician dual-trained in Psychiatry and Neurology (MD), I offer a comprehensive approach to brain health and emotional well-being by bridging the connection between the mind and the nervous system.

Education & Background

• Doctor of Medicine (MD): Completed rigorous residency training spanning both psychiatry and neurology.
• Integrated Care: Combining psychopharmacology, neurological evaluation, and evidence-based therapies for precise, whole-person care.

Key Specializations

• Neuropsychiatry: Mood, behavior, or cognitive changes linked to neurological conditions (stroke, TBI, Parkinson's, MS).
• Memory & Cognitive Disorders: Evaluation and care for memory loss, mild cognitive impairment, and dementias.
• Treatment-Resistant Conditions: Tailored medical strategies for severe depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder.
• Overlapping Symptoms: Managing complex conditions like chronic migraines with mood symptoms or functional neurological disorders (FND).
• Executive Dysfunction & ADHD: Comprehensive assessment and treatment for focus and attention challenges.

My Approach I prioritize thorough evaluations and collaborative, evidence-based care tailored to your unique goals and quality of life.

Welcome! Congratulations on this courageous step toward healing. I am a compassionate and relational therapist who believes that healing happens through connection, understanding, and collaborative effort. With a strong foundation in evidence-based practices, I combine the latest research with a warm, individualized approach to support clients in navigating life’s challenges. Whether you're managing anxiety, trauma, relationship issues, or just seeking personal growth, I work to foster a safe, non-judgmental space where you can feel seen, heard, and empowered to create meaningful change.

My approach blends clinical rigor with genuine warmth. I ask a lot of questions, not to check boxes, but because I want to understand the full picture of your life, biology, and history before we decide on a path forward. I'm not interested in just managing symptoms; I want to understand the root of what's going on — whether that's biological, situational, relational, or some combination- so that treatment actually addresses the cause, not just the surface presentation. Clients often describe our sessions as feeling more like being truly listened to than being processed through an appointment. As an integrative provider, medication is one tool among several we might use, and I stay curious rather than settling for the first explanation.

Thank you for taking the first step in sharing your story—your Mental Health Matters, and you deserve to be heard, supported, and understood.

Welcome to Integrated Family Behavioral Health & Counseling PLLC! I'm Mihaela Vladu, PMHNP-BC, a Board-Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with over 16+ years of experience in healthcare, dedicated to helping individuals achieve lasting mental wellness and regain control of their lives.

I provide compassionate, personalized, and evidence-based care in a safe and supportive environment where you can feel heard, understood, and empowered. My approach focuses on treating the whole person—not just symptoms—while working collaboratively with you to reach your goals.

I specialize in working with a diverse range of individuals, including younger/older adults, children aged 6 and up, women dealing specifically with trauma and abuse, and veterans, as well as active-duty personnel experiencing PTSD. As a certified ADHD specialist, I provide targeted, evidence-based interventions to help individuals improve focus and daily functioning. I also have extensive experience treating bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, depression, panic disorder, OCD, and other complex mental health conditions.

Areas of Expertise:

• Dual-Diagnosis Care (SUD + mood/anxiety​/​psychotic disorders)

• MAT: Buprenorphine​/​Suboxone inductions & maintenance; relapse-prevention planning

• Alcohol​/​Opioid Withdrawal & Detox protocols (court order MAT program, inpatient, outpatient, and halfway houses)

• Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar Disorder, Psychosis

• Residential​/​PHP​/​IOP programmed care & step-down planning

• Trauma-informed care, veteran populations, and complex comorbidity