I am certified as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in the state of Illinois.  I received my Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology at Northwestern University in 1999.  I have a BA in Sociology from Wheaton College.

My theoretical orientation has been shaped by a variety of influences, including family systems, psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and Jungian therapies, along with my own clinical work and life experience.

I have a twelve-year professional history of providing individual and group therapy across a broad developmental and cultural spectrum, with particular emphasis on adolescents and young adults.

For two and a half years, I served as a consultant to DCFS through the Erikson Institute, providing clinical assessment and recommendations for child victims of severe abuse and neglect, and their families.

Prior to Erikson, I worked as a counselor for seven years in Chicago Public Schools, primarily with minority young people, and I’ve supervised bilingual/bicultural staff.

As a Northwestern intern, I provided therapy to graduate and undergraduate students at DePaul University Counseling Center, and worked for two years with Spanish-dominant families in Lake County.

I also bring to the field of mental health more than 15 years of business experience in communication that included grant-writing, executive speech writing, technical writing, and development and training responsibilities for global volunteer leaders.

In addition to my professional training, I bring to my work the perspective of my specific and extensive life experience.

I lived and worked for several years in Latin America, in both rural and urban settings.  I speak Spanish, and I have substantial first-hand experience with cross-cultural issues.

I have grown through the rigorous demands of both marriage and divorce, and have profited immeasurably from the privilege of parenting two children, including a child with special developmental needs.

I’m intrigued by the interplay between sexuality and spirituality.  I am attuned to the unique concerns of gay, lesbian and bisexual clients, to those questioning their sexuality, and to those wrestling with coming out.

Phone number/ confidential voice mail: 773-758-2345.