Psychotherapy

The decision to initiate therapy can be a difficult one - beginning the process of reflecting on your experiences, feelings, and behaviors can seem overwhelming. I view therapy as a tool not only to address disruptive symptoms during challenging times in life, but also as a means of increasing insight into self and enhancing relationships with others.

Areas of speciality:

• Depressive, bipolar and anxiety disorders
• Relationships between adolescents and their parents
• Young adulthood and college transitions
• Families working through divorce
• Issues unique to adolescent and adult only children

I utilize a mindfulness-informed approach to therapy and incorporate cognitive-behavioral (modifying patterns relating to thoughts, emotions, and behaviors), family systems (looking at how interactions and relationships within families impact individuals and the system as a whole), and brain-body treatments (EMDR, Brainspotting).

Psychotherapy requires a willingness to reflect on your life and make change. In doing so, the possibilities of feeling more in control, replacing negativity with a sense of peace, and having more fulfilling relationships can emerge.

Family Mediation & Divorce Services

My role as a mediator with divorcing families includes work as a Child Specialist. After an introductory session with parents, a meeting with the children provides them a place to voice their concerns and worries to help ensure their needs remain at the heart of the process. Then parents are assisted in identifying options and negotiating differences as they work together towards solutions that support their children’s adjustment to the divorce. Co-parenting plans can also be developed and collaboration with attorneys or other professionals is offered. The goal of the process is to minimize the negative impact of the divorce and begin a path of moving forward in the healthiest way possible for all.

Professional Background

My early clinical experience included work with post-traumatic stress and abuse in clinical, medical and forensic settings across all ages of the lifespan. I have presented on responding to PTSD and screening for interpersonal violence in medical settings at conferences and workshops regionally and nationally. Early in my career, I also facilitated court-mandated divorce education classes for children and have more recently completed training in family mediation.

Mindfulness and meditation is a newer addition to my clinical practice and intensive trainings on mindfulness-based psychotherapy have allowed me to incorporate more concepts of Buddhist psychology into work with interested clients.

I have served as adjunct faculty at Carroll College in the psychology department and continue to guest lecture at Concordia University. I received my Bachelor's degree in psychology (1998) and my Master’s degree in clinical social work/community mental health (2000), both from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Contact Serena