Hi!  My name is Carolyn. I truly enjoy the opportunity to walk alongside people as they navigate challenges, better understand themselves, and create meaningful changes in their lives. I believe therapy can provide a space not only for healing and growth, but also for developing a deeper relationship with yourself and discovering patterns that may no longer be serving you.

Over the years, I have had the privilege of working with individuals, couples, and families in a variety of settings and stages of life. My work has continued to reinforce something I deeply believe: each person brings their own experiences, sgrengths, and story into the therapy room, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to healing with growth.

My Style and Approach:

My approach is collaborative and conversational. While I bring clinical training and experience, I believe clients are the experts on their own lives. Together ew work to create goals that feel meaningful and aligned with your needs, experiences, and values.

I see therapy as a way to promote self-awareness, growth, and change in a safe and comfortable environment. It’s an amazing investment that you are making in yourself to live a happier and more fulfilling life! Insight is important, but meaningful change often occurs outside of the therapy room. Together we may identify practical strategies, reflections, or skills to help you continue integrating what we discuss into your daily life.

My education, licenses, and certifications:

I hold a Masters Degree in Family Therapy from Northeastern Illinois University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Rehabilitation Services and a Minor in Music from Penn State University. I am dually licensed as an LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist) and an LCPC (Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor). I am board certified as an NCC (Nationally Certified Counselor) through the National Board for Certified Counselors.

Credentials and Special Focus Areas:
*Certified in Prepare-Enrich (premarital counseling)
*Gottman Levels 1 & 2 Certified (dating, couples, relationships)
*Gottman Relationship Check-up Approved Member
*Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) informed
*Internal Family Systems (IFS) informed
*Trauma informed
*Special interest in attachment and relationship patterns
*As a tennis player, I also support athletes with focus, resiliency, and performance mindset

My training has included additional work in couples therapy, relationship-focused approaches, clinical hypnosis, Internal Family Systems concepts, and other areas that continue to inform my growth as a therapist and support the work I do with clients.

I am certified in Prepare/Enrich , where I can work with couples seeking pre-marital counseling. Within the Prepare/Enrich model, I am able to work with couples from a standard approach or a biblical or Catholic approach. I have also attended Levels 1 and 2 of clinical training in Gottman Method Couples Counseling, which is an evidence and research-based approach on what makes relationships work.  And I also have attended some basic training on Emotional Focused Couples Counseling and as this model focuses very much on attachment wounds and subconscious triggers, this approach is something I use quite a bit in my work with couples.

My experience:

I have worked in the mental health field since 2000, have worked with couples since 2011, and have provided clinical supervision to masters level therapists since 2014.

My work began as a case manager with adults who were diagnosed with a severe and persistent mental illness. I enjoyed this work so much, which is what inspired me to attain a Master’s Degree to be able to provide therapy, which I received in 2011.

Throughout my work history, I’ve worked with children, adolescents, adults, individuals, couples, and families. I’ve worked in settings including outpatient day programs, residential settings, community outpatient mental health centers, private practice settings, and in an emergency room. I’ve had roles including clinical case manager, group facilitator, crisis worker, psychotherapist, supervisor, and clinical director of a community mental health center.  I’ve worked with people with severe and persistent mental illnesses through those coping with abuse or trauma, through those who are struggling to adjust to a new life situation.

In addition to my clinical experience, I also serve as an adjunct professor in the Psychology Department at Roosevelt University and an adjunct instructor in the Counselor Education Department at Northeastern Illinois University.

Additional Information:

I provide trainings on mental and emotional health related topics. And additionally, I am an animal lover and my cat often makes an appearance in my telehealth sessions and is often seen by my clients as a virtual emotional support and comfort for them. He is rather intuitive and often senses just the right time to make himself known.