Populations: Adolescents, Teens, Adults
Life can sometimes look manageable from the outside while feeling very different internally.
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You may find yourself repeating patterns you want to change, questioning your worth, struggling to feel emotionally grounded, or trying to navigate a transition without knowing what comes next. You may also be dealing with anxiety, the effects of trauma, relationship difficulties, codependency, or concerns related to addiction.
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I work with adolescents and adults and aim to provide a calm, supportive, and accepting environment where you can feel comfortable exploring what is happening in your life.
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Together, we can build insight into the experiences and patterns that have shaped you, connect more clearly with what matters to you, and develop practical ways to navigate difficult emotions and relationships.
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I provide therapy through Calm Mind Counseling Center in Forest Park, Willowbrook, and through telehealth for clients located in Illinois.
Meet Therese
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor who works primarily with adolescents and adults.
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My goal is to create a therapeutic space that feels supportive, respectful, and accepting. Therapy can involve discussing vulnerable or uncomfortable experiences, and I believe it is important that the process moves at a pace that feels appropriate for you.
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I take an intuitive and flexible approach, shaping our sessions around what you need at that particular point in the process. At times, our work may focus on understanding experiences from the past. At others, we may concentrate on present-day emotions, relationships, decisions, or practical skills.
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I completed my master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Northwestern University.
Who I Work With
I work with adolescents and adults navigating concerns that may include:
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Anxiety
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Trauma and post-traumatic stress
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Addiction
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Codependency
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Relationship difficulties
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Life transitions
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Emotional regulation
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Communication concerns
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Self-worth
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Repeated personal or relational patterns
These concerns often overlap. Anxiety may affect relationships or decision-making. Earlier experiences may contribute to patterns that continue to appear in the present. Addiction or codependency may be connected to difficult emotions, relationship dynamics, or ways of coping that developed over time.
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Our work begins by understanding your individual experience rather than assuming that one explanation or treatment approach applies to everyone.
What Therapy With Me Is Like
My style blends empathy, authenticity, and psychoeducation.
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Empathy and acceptance help create room for you to talk honestly about what you are experiencing. Authenticity supports a therapeutic relationship that feels genuine rather than distant or overly formal. Psychoeducation can help make emotional and behavioral patterns easier to understand and provide context for what you may be experiencing.
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I view therapy as a process that can include both insight and practical change.
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We may explore how earlier experiences influence present-day thoughts, emotions, relationships, or coping strategies. We may also identify skills that can help you communicate more effectively, regulate difficult emotions, and respond differently when familiar patterns appear.
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I do not expect every session to look the same. Some sessions may involve deeper reflection, while others may focus on a current challenge or a skill that can be applied outside therapy. I adapt the process according to your needs and what feels most relevant at that moment.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy can help us explore how you relate to difficult thoughts and emotions while identifying the values you want to guide your choices.
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This work does not require pretending that difficult experiences are acceptable or easy. Instead, it can help create greater flexibility in how you respond to them and support movement toward what matters most to you.
Psychodynamic Therapy
Psychodynamic therapy provides a way to explore how earlier experiences and relationships may continue to influence your present-day patterns, emotions, and expectations.
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Developing insight into these connections may help you understand why certain situations feel especially difficult and why familiar reactions continue even when you want something to change.
DBT-Informed Skills
I may also incorporate skills from Dialectical Behavior Therapy to support emotional regulation and communication.
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These skills can provide practical ways to manage intense emotions, communicate needs, respond to conflict, and navigate difficult situations with greater awareness.
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The approaches we use will be shaped around your concerns and goals rather than requiring you to fit into one predetermined model.
Building Insight and Connecting With Your Values
One focus of my work is helping people build insight into patterns from their past while also connecting more deeply with their values.
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Insight can help explain why a pattern developed, but understanding alone may not always make it easier to respond differently. Therapy can therefore involve both examining what shaped you and identifying practical ways to move forward.
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Values can provide direction during periods of uncertainty or change. They can help clarify what matters in your relationships, the way you want to respond to challenges, and the type of life you want to build.
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Our work may include identifying where your current patterns support those values and where they may be getting in the way.
Supporting Adolescents
Adolescence can involve significant changes in identity, relationships, family dynamics, school, independence, and plans for the future.
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Young people may be experiencing anxiety, emotional overwhelm, relationship concerns, difficult transitions, trauma-related responses, or patterns they do not yet fully understand.
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My goal is to provide adolescents with a respectful and accepting space where they can talk about what they are experiencing and participate in shaping the direction of therapy.
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Depending on the adolescent’s needs, our work may include emotional awareness, communication, coping skills, personal values, relationships, and understanding patterns that affect daily life.
Trauma, Anxiety, and Addiction
I have experience working with individuals navigating trauma, anxiety, and addiction.
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These experiences can affect emotions, relationships, self-worth, communication, and the ability to feel grounded or in control. They may also interact with codependency, life transitions, and repeated relationship patterns.
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My role is to help you explore how these concerns affect you personally and determine which therapeutic approaches may support your goals.
Credentials and Professional Background
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Licensed Professional Counselor
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EMDR Trained
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Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
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Northwestern University
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Experience working with adolescents and adults
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Experience supporting clients with anxiety, trauma, addiction, codependency, relationship concerns, and life transitions
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I am committed to continued learning and growth, both personally and professionally.
Outside the Therapy Room
My favorite weekend activities include taking my dog on walks and spending time with the people I care about.
I also enjoy running, yoga, puzzles, and exploring local restaurants.
Therapy in Forest Park, Willowbrook, and Online
I provide individual therapy for adults through Calm Mind Counseling Center.
Forest Park Office
7621 Roosevelt Road
Forest Park, IL 60130
Willowbrook Office ​
6713 Kingery Highway (Suite 13)
Willowbrook, IL 60527
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Online Therapy
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Telehealth appointments are available for eligible clients located in Illinois.
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Please contact Calm Mind Counseling Center to ask about current availability and whether in-person or online therapy may be appropriate for your needs.
Begin Therapy With Therese
You may be navigating anxiety, trauma, addiction, relationship difficulties, codependency, or an important transition. You may also recognize that familiar patterns are keeping you from feeling as confident, grounded, or connected as you would like.
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You do not need to fully understand those patterns before beginning therapy.
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Together, we can explore what has shaped your experiences, identify what matters to you, and develop ways to approach difficult emotions and challenges with greater awareness.
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To ask about working with me, contact Calm Mind Counseling Center.
