Grief counselors and therapists in Plainfield, IL

I'm Simone Shepardson, a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with nearly two decades of experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and families. I've worked across a range of clinical settings — inpatient care, partial hospitalization programs, and outpatient therapy — which has given me a deep understanding of how to meet clients wherever they are in their journey. I specialize in working with gifted populations, high-functioning autism, anxiety, ADHD, and family dynamics. I've served over 10 years on the board of the Illinois Association for Play Therapy and previously acted as a clinical advisor to the West Suburban Bipolar Group in DuPage County. Outside of my practice, I'm a professionally trained singer and musician, a dancer, and a devoted wife and mother. I bring my whole self — warmth, creativity, and genuine care — into the work I do with each client.

My name is Lauren Dircks, and I have been supporting people for 3 years through a variety of challenges. I have a masters degree in Social Work and am a fully licensed social worker. I help those working through anxiety, depression, grief/loss, relationship challenges, postpartum depression, life adjustments, and much more. I specialize in working with those 13 years and older.

I am a licensed clinical psychologist with a doctorate in clinical psychology and more than twenty years of experience. My doctoral training was completed at an APA-accredited program, and I have spent my career helping people through high-pressure seasons of life.

I work primarily with adults and busy professionals, often the ones others rely on. Many of my clients look like they have it handled while quietly carrying anxiety, stress, burnout, or an exhaustion they have learned to push through. I also work with clients navigating life and career transitions and those healing from trauma. What people tell me they appreciate most is that I am warm and direct at the same time.

I approach therapy in a collaborative and compassionate way, creating a safe space where clients can feel supported as they explore their inner world. I believe that each client is the expert of their own life, and my role is to guide, support, and provide tools to help you connect with your strengths and insights. My work is trauma-informed and integrates a variety of techniques, including internal family systems, somatic methods, inner child work, strengths-based narratives, CBT, experiential approaches, and clinical hypnosis.

I believe that medication is sometimes helpful, but it is not always the whole answer. Mental health challenges rarely come from one single source, and true healing often requires looking deeper. Together, we will work to identify underlying patterns, stressors, and root causes rather than simply treating symptoms.

Hi, I'm Nell! I help my clients to address and strengthen their mental, physical, emotional, and social needs that exhibit in the form of anxiety, depression, trauma, challenging life transitions, low self-esteem, inner child wounds, and relationship with self and others. While I have the knowledge, skills, and experience to serve clients with various mental health concerns, I specialize in addressing issues in relationships and helping adults struggling with patterns of toxic relationships.

I have over 3 decades of experience working in the fields of mental health and social work. I work with youth, adults, and couples who are struggling with trauma, depression, anxiety, ADHD, autism, relationship issues, and school refusal.

I have spent my career learning and translating theories into practice with individuals, families, couples, and groups. For the last few years, I've gained deeper knowledge working with trauma, anxiety, couples, and the LGBTQIA+ population.