Family therapy and counseling in Rockford, IL

Hello, I’m Shelia Ransom Jenkins, MSW, LCSW, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with extensive experience supporting adolescents, adults, couples, and families through life’s challenges. I offer a compassionate, trauma-informed, and client-centered approach to therapy, creating a safe space where individuals feel heard, supported, and empowered.

I hold a Master of Social Work and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice, and my professional background includes work in community mental health, educational settings, and clinical leadership roles. I have experience helping clients manage anxiety, depression, trauma and PTSD, relationship and family conflict, behavioral concerns, life transitions, and stress related to work, school, and personal growth. I also have specialized training in perinatal mental health, supporting individuals experiencing postpartum depression and related mood disorders.

My therapeutic approach integrates evidence-based practices such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), trauma-informed care, and strengths-based interventions, tailored to each client’s unique needs and goals. I believe therapy is most effective when it is collaborative, practical, and rooted in trust.

Whether you are feeling overwhelmed, navigating a difficult transition, or seeking deeper self-understanding, my goal is to support you with empathy, clarity, and encouragement as you work toward healing and lasting change.

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.

Deciding to come to therapy can be very scary. Sharing your most intimate thoughts with someone can be even more frightening. This is why I make sure that I create a very safe, caring, positive, and secure place where you can feel comfortable and know that you are with someone who truly cares about your well-being.

Looking for a space where you don't have to pretend you're fine? My approach is warm, direct, and culturally aware, with a focus on getting to the root of what's draining you. We'll work together to build healthier patterns, better boundaries, and a life that feels more aligned with who you are and not who you're "supposed" to be.

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.

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.

Everyone needs help sometimes, not because they are broken, but because life can become too heavy to sort through alone. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who believes every person should have access to support that helps them rise to new challenges, cope with loss, manage the ups and downs of mood, and better understand who they are. I work with adults navigating grief and loss, anxiety, depression, stress, mood changes, life transitions, relationship issues, PTSD, trauma and the feeling of being stuck or disconnected from themselves. My goal is to provide a safe, nonjudgmental space where you can feel supported while we make sense of what you are carrying and create a path toward living your best life.

At the heart of my practice is a genuine desire to help people grow. I believe every person has the ability to create a life that feels meaningful, connected, and aligned with their values. My role is to walk alongside clients as they navigate challenges, build new skills, and discover what’s possible for them. My style is warm, direct, and growth‐oriented.

I’ve had the privilege of walking alongside individuals, couples, teens, families, and groups as they navigate big life changes and tough emotions. I’m especially experienced with relationship issues, anxiety, depression, self-harm, grief and loss, spirituality, parenting, stress, and major life transitions.

I’m a Licensed Social Worker with over 30 years of experience providing mental health services in Northern Illinois and the suburban Chicago area. Since earning my master’s degree, I have worked with individuals, couples, and families facing a range of concerns, including mood disorders, panic disorder, anxiety, depression, and grief. I believe therapy should be a place for fresh starts and meaningful change. My goal is to create a supportive, interactive environment where clients feel heard, understood, and empowered. I’m committed to helping people build practical skills and insight so they can move toward a more balanced, fulfilling, and happier life.