Trauma and PTSD therapists & psychiatrists in Northbrook, IL

My commitment to therapy isn't just professional — it's deeply personal. With fifteen years of hands-on experience, I've navigated my own life journey and know firsthand what it means to search for purpose, confront unresolved barriers, and actively fight for inner healing. That lived experience is the fuel behind everything I do.

I am lively, warm, and I truly never meet a stranger. I welcome everyone with open arms and bring an uplifting, hopeful energy to every session — while also being the kind of counselor who will sit with you safely in your pain with a deeply empathetic heart. I am fiercely loyal and dedicated to your long-term growth and victory.

I work with faith-based individuals and spiritual seekers, adults in transition, adolescents and young adults, couples, and those navigating trauma, addiction, and recovery.

Hi! I'm Dawn, and I'm excited to meet you. Life can feel overwhelming when anxiety, depression, family stress, relationship difficulties, or painful experiences leave you feeling stuck, disconnected, or unsure where to turn next. You may be trying to balance the needs of everyone around you while struggling to care for yourself. I work with children, adolescents, adults, and older adults navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and loss, stress, panic disorders, anger management concerns, infertility, chronic illness, women's issues, family conflict, and relationship challenges. My background in children and family services and my training in infant and early childhood mental health allow me to support individuals and families through life's many transitions. My goal is to provide a compassionate space where you feel safe, heard, and supported while we work together to better understand your experiences and create meaningful, lasting change.

I am a board-certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner with a Doctorate in Nursing Practice. I care deeply about creating a safe, supportive space where you feel comfortable being yourself. I work with adults experiencing anxiety, depression, mood disorders, ADHD, PTSD, and stress. I believe that every person’s story matters, and your care should reflect your unique needs and goals.

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.

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.

If you're functioning on the outside but privately exhausted, stuck, or carrying more than you've let on, you're in the right place. I work with adults, many in the LGBTQIA+ community, navigating trauma, grief, relationship strain, and major life transitions. A lot of my clients come in saying, "I know what my patterns are. I just can't seem to change them." That's exactly where we start. Together, we'll get underneath what's keeping you stuck and build a path forward that actually fits your life.

My passion is helping others find their voice and navigate life’s challenges with greater intention and balance. Sometimes finding your voice means learning to understand what you need, set boundaries, and make space for the life you actually want. I work with adults, particularly those navigating relationships, major life changes, trauma, or who feel disconnected from themselves. Whether you're working through relationship challenges, recovering from difficult experiences, or simply realizing you want something to change, my goal is to support you in living more authentically and in alignment with your goals.

Hey, I’m really glad you’re here 🤍 I’m a licensed clinical social worker who provides a warm, nonjudgmental space while also being honest and intentional in my approach. I believe therapy should feel safe, but also meaningful and growth-oriented.

I work with individuals navigating anxiety, grief, trauma, ADHD, and life transitions, especially those who are used to “holding it all together” for others but are ready to finally process what they’ve been carrying.

I incorporate Brainspotting to support deeper emotional healing, and for clients who desire it, I can also integrate faith into our work.

I value consistency, openness, and real effort in the therapy process, because that’s where lasting change happens.