“Every person on this earth is full of great possibilities that can be realized through imagination, effort, and perseverance.”
– Scott Barry Kaufmann
About Me
I specialize in the treatment of mood-related struggles, anxiety, relationship concerns and conflict, grief and loss, self-esteem issues, and difficulty adjusting to life transitions. A particular interest of mine involves assisting individuals in navigating existential concerns and stage-of-life challenges (with a focus on working with adults and older adolescents). Other areas of interest include identity development across the lifespan, social and behavioral challenges, and trauma work. I earned my doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology and am currently practicing as a licensed clinical psychologist in Chicago’s downtown and its surrounding neighborhoods.
I completed my doctoral internship at the University of Idaho Counseling and Testing Center. Over the past 12 years, I have provided therapy and psychological testing services across a variety of settings that have included a group therapy practice, a number of university counseling centers, a therapeutic day school, and a behavioral health clinic affiliated with Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago. Throughout the course of my training as a therapist, I have been quite fortunate to accrue substantial experience working with a culturally diverse clientele comprised of adults, children, and adolescents coping with a wide array of mental-health concerns in individual, couples, family, and group psychotherapy.
My previous clinical training has placed an important emphasis on working effectively cross-culturally. Having benefited from extensive and specialized training in the delivery of culturally-informed (and culturally-sensitive) therapy, I continually strive to incorporate these principles into my work and to be an active ally to the LGBT as well as racial minority communities.
“When we are no longer able to change a situation – we are challenged to change ourselves.”
– Viktor E. Frankl
Therapy Process
I actively work alongside my clients to identify problematic patterns of thought and to foster insight into how this may be impacting their social, emotional, and behavioral functioning. A focus is placed on pinpointing what may be standing in the way of desired change, developing existing strengths and coping skills, establishing healthier relationships, and empowering individuals to achieve personal growth in their lives. I foster a supportive, nonjudgmental, warm, and empathic therapeutic environment, which I believe is conducive to openly discussing and navigating issues that are preventing individuals from living a healthier, happier, and more authentic life.
My preferred approach in therapy is integrative in nature, and grounded in a variety of evidence-based practices (including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal psychotherapy, and mindfulness-based strategies), alongside humanistic, existential, and insight-oriented therapy techniques. Having put these approaches to effective use in treating individuals from all walks of life, presenting with a wide variety of clinical issues, has enabled me to provide the most effective, comprehensive, and appropriate care to best meet the specific needs of those with whom I work.
It is my deeply held belief that utilizing a collaborative, individualized, and adaptable treatment approach is essential in identifying and better understanding the underlying causes of concerns and challenges facing my clients. Once the causes of presenting concerns have been identified, the therapeutic focus shifts toward helping individuals to uncover and successfully utilize strategies for addressing these difficulties. Through our work together, I will assist you in discovering and refining techniques to effectively manage your specific concerns and achieve your identified therapy goals.
“The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.”
– C. G. Jung
Teletherapy
I recognize that the unprecedented challenges of recent years have created a heightened need for access to mental health care services, which remain as essential as ever. As a member of PSYPACT, I am committed to expanding my ability to connect with clients in parts of Illinois and throughout the United States where access to mental healthcare may be more limited than in urban areas. With this goal in mind, I have chosen to emphasize telehealth services (e.g., remote video-based mental health services) in order to increase access to care for underserved communities both within and beyond Chicago.
I also rent an office one day a week in downtown Chicago (West Loop) for in-person sessions. However, all in-person slots are currently full, and a waitlist is available. In the meantime, I have availability for telehealth sessions and would be happy to connect with you virtually, whether in the near term or long term. Many clients have found telehealth to be a comfortable, convenient, and effective option! These online sessions offer flexibility and are covered by most insurance plans.
For telehealth sessions, I use doxy.me for secure video appointments. This platform is fully HIPAA compliant, helping to ensure that our conversations remain private and secure. No record of our sessions is maintained by doxy.me. It is free and straightforward to use, simply requiring that you click on a secure link that I will provide prior to our first session.
Insurance and Fees
I accept and bill directly for Aetna, BlueCross BlueShield, Blue Choice, Cigna, Evernorth, UnitedHealthcare, and Optum PPO plans. Clients are responsible for paying the full session fee if their insurance deductible has not yet been met or any copay/coinsurance once it has. Copays and coinsurance payments are always due after each session and can be remitted via check, credit, or debit card. Statements and receipts are provided upon request for your records or to allow you to submit claims to your insurance company for other insurers' out-of-network benefits.
I am happy to get in touch with your insurance company in order to obtain a quote of your benefits, so that you will know ahead of time approximately what your out-of-pocket cost will be. However, the information that insurance companies provide to patients directly may, at times, be more up-to-date and accurate than the information the insurance company gives to a provider; therefore, you are strongly encouraged to call your insurance representative for a quote of benefits, as well.
“The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction, not a destination.”
– Carl R. Rogers
On a Personal Note
I am an avid lover of film, literature, photography, and music (both listening to and playing it) and have a general passion for the arts. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to travel to and explore parts of the world that are unfamiliar to me (most recently having spent time in France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Japan). Otherwise, I am fond of spending my free time becoming increasingly acquainted with Chicago, my home away from home, and I also derive considerable pleasure from spending time in nature.
I find tremendous importance and value in my ability to be empathic, supportive, and understanding in all of my relationships, both personal and professional. Like so many of those I meet in this field, I strive to find contentment and peace of mind through these forms of self-care and in relation to the care and support that I am able to offer those in my life. I experience a profound sense of personal satisfaction in assisting others in their efforts to gain fulfillment and happiness in their lives.
“If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”
– Wayne W. Dyer