I’m an optimist and love helping individuals, couples and families make positive changes. I know that being human and having emotional and physical pain can be overwhelming. I think of the word “bittersweet” as one way to describe our life journey.

As a child and as a teenager, I was surrounded by stories of people overcoming adversity. I was moved by the incredible resilience they developed in the face of overwhelming obstacles. I became aware of how loss, disconnection and disappointment in ourselves and others influence the meaning we give to events in our lives. I became aware how larger issues such as trauma (personal and societal),heath and medical illness, immigration, religion, race, gender (including sexual orientation), discrimination and financial safety all influence our experiences.

I became aware of the importance of what we learn within our family and how it influences our development. We all carry all our strengths and vulnerabilities from when we were young.

I became an artist, painting “stories” about what it means to be human and the connection between ourselves and others. And I became a therapist, to understand those stories in a different way.

I know that by increasing joy and energy and resolving past and present hurts can be very empowering. By being compassionate towards ourselves, facing our fears and increasing our courage, we can make the important changes that bring us more peace.

For more than 30 years, I have been helping people express their concerns, gain insight and increase their motivation to make significant changes. Having worked in a variety of behavioral health settings including private practice, health care and community organizations, I am committed to supporting people through difficult situations and times of crisis.

My focus is to help individuals and their families find hope, increase their resiliency and persevere when there may not be easy answers. Having support, information and the tools to work with create change.

People come into therapy for a variety of reasons: to create positive changes: improve family relationships; or as the result of a crisis. We all have sadness and pain in our lives. I can help you nurture your strengths, grieve your losses and fill your future with greater possibilities.

 
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Education

University of Chicago, A.M. in Social Work

University of Illinois, Certificate in School Social Work

Southern Illinois University, Masters in Fine Arts

Ohio University, Bachelors of Fine Arts

Advanced training

Chicago Center for Family Health, Certificate in Couples Therapy and Families with Physical Illnesses

Professional associations and licensure

American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists

National Association of Social Workers

Illinois Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Illinois Licensed School Social Worker