Behavioral Medicine P.C

My passion is helping people who have experienced emotional/physical trauma, neurocognitive deficits or medical injury/issues.  I create a safe but challenging environment for people in which they can identify and explore the different parts of themselves. As an IFS therapist, I believe we all have multiple parts of ourselves and a core self that can help guide, and eventually heal our parts.

 

I believe in the incredible power of the mind and the magnificence of the human spirit. I believe we each have the potential to heal and the capability to rebuild. I use psychotherapy, cognitive retraining, hypnotherapy, HRV, EMDR, IFS and Neurofeedback to help people achieve self regulation, internal cohesive connection and an improved quality of life.

 

As each individual is unique it is often necessary to utilize techniques from a variety of styles. I feel comfortable utilizing an eclectic approach based upon each person’s needs. I draw techniques and materials from cognitive behavioral approaches as well as hypnosis, EMDR, HRV, IFS, NFB, dream work, insight orientated and educational models of therapy. I am a Syzygy trained therapist, using a specific model of combined EMDR and IFS therapies. 

 

I attended the University of Illinois at Champaign Urbana for my undergraduate work in psychology, graduating with honors. I began treating children and families at Janet Wattles Mental Health center in 1997. I now specialize in treating emotional and cognitive issues experienced by people with neurological and physical impairments. I assist individuals, couples and their families in dealing with depression, anxiety, cognitive deficits and adjustment issues related to brain injury, concussion, sleep issues, headache/migraine, stroke, chronic pain, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis,, autoimmune disorders and other medical conditions. I also provide hypnosis, HRV, NFB, IFS, EMDR, cognitive retraining and counseling for self esteem, depression, OCD, anxiety, couples issues, parenting issues and peak performance.

 

I completed my graduate work at Northern Illinois University  graduating with honors in counseling. I completed an internship in neuropsychology at Rockford Memorial Hospital. I continued to work in the neuropsychology department at VanMatre Health South Rehabilitation Center until 2002, when I began my private practice. I am the founder and owner of Behavioral Medicine, P.C.  I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in the state of IL. I am a member of the American Counseling Association, Illinois Counseling Association, and the Illinois Mental Health Association.

 

In 2007 I received Hypnosis certification. In 2010 I became trained in EMDR. In 2012 I became an AMEN  certified provider.  In 2021 I became an IFS informed therapist. In 2023 I became a Syzygy trained therapist. I have worked in a variety of settings providing assessments and treatment to children, adults, couples and families.

 

I have personal knowledge of how to effectively cope with tragedy and manage pain. I sustained a spinal cord injury in 1991 which resulted in quadriplegia. I was paralyzed from the neck down, confined to a wheel chair that I operated by blowing in a straw. Over the years, I have relearned how to dress myself, feed myself, sit, stand and I now walk with a cane. I have learned how to access and utilize the incredible power of the mind to reduce suffering and pain. I have strategies and techniques that can help individuals and their family members cope with the many changes that follow a serious illness or injury.  

 

Please feel free to contact my office with questions or to schedule an appointment to improve the quality of your life.