Book a therapist or psychiatrist in Skokie, IL covered by Cigna

I’m a multilingual (English, German, French) licensed clinical social worker with more than 20 years of experience helping people through life’s challenges. I’ve worked with individuals of different ages and backgrounds in the United States and internationally, including in schools, hospitals, residential programs, and community mental health settings. I hold a Master of Social Work, a Bachelor of Social Work from Vienna, Austria, and a CADC. I have experience supporting people through trauma, substance use, depression, anxiety, women’s issues, cultural and identity concerns, and everyday stress. I value creating a space where you feel heard, respected, and comfortable being yourself. I see therapy as a collaborative process and am here to meet you where you are and support you in finding greater balance, clarity, and effective ways to cope with life’s challenges.

With my background in art, bodywork, and spirituality, I am able to work holistically, and to faciliate mind/body/spirit wellness. I enjoy working with clients of all faiths, ethnicities, genders, and sexual preferences. Artists, introverts, and introspective people will find me especially understanding and perceptive.

I began working broadly in this field nearly 30 years ago and became a licensed clinical social worker 20 years ago. Along with completing a masters degree in social work from the University of Illinois, Chicago, I hold a masters degree in fine art in drawing and painting from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. I believe these areas of study have come to inform my practice in obvious and sometimes less obvious ways.

I began my private practice in 2014 specializing in a harm reduction and moderation as apt responses to problematic substance use, as defined by those seeking my help.

Largely in response to the evolving relationships with my clients and referrals that often came in for friends and family of previous clients, I've come to work with trauma survivors, people identifying difficulty establishing stable relationships in social and professional settings, and people addressing loneliness and mood dysregulation.

I am a solution focused therapist with 39 years of experience. My therapy style is cognitive, interactive, compassionate, and, if need be, challenging. I believe effective therapy should produce change, not just insight. I will listen to you deeply, help conceptualize the problems, patterns, and dynamics which are causing you trouble, and give you feedback. Together, we will develop a strategy for more effective functioning and a better quality of life. therapy.

I do not do phone consultations.

I believe that therapy works best when people feel understood, respected and safe. I have over 20 year of experience helping adults navigate trauma, depression, anxiety, identity exploration, grief/loss, life transitions and relationship challenges. Much of my career has been devoted to working with veterans and individuals who have faced difficult or traumatic experiences. I strongly believe in establishing a relationship of equals and mutual respect between therapist and client; one that leads to a guided journey of self-discovery and change.

As a therapist with five years of experience, I have worked with people facing a variety of struggles including depression, anxiety, and stress, as well as life transitions, surviving past trauma and abuse, feeling suicidal, and states of mania and psychosis. Our therapy will be a warm and introspective space where you can expect to be treated with dignity. I affirm LGBTQ+ identities; I welcome persons of different cultures, races, nationalities, and religious beliefs. Above all, I look forward to knowing you as a unique and singular person.

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.