Join Justin Irvin, LCPC, of Ivy Lane Counseling our dynamic DBT expert, as he dives into the world of Dialectical Behavior Therapy with energy and enthusiasm! Justin brings a sense of whimsy to the process, using gamified treatment methods and collaborative problem-solving techniques in both group and individual sessions. His mission? To help you reconnect with the life you desire by focusing on the things and people that matter most to you. Tune in for insightful skills and strategies that can transform your journey!

Join Kristen Marzolf, LCSW, SEP from The Family Resilience Group as we discuss adding somatic methods to therapy.

Kristen is the Founder and Director of the Family Resilience Group. She made it her mission to build a practice that went beyond traditional talk therapy to transformative family change. She recognized early on the need for a deeper level of work and constantly seeks out the most innovative approaches to treatment.

Kristen has then spent the last decade building a team that shares the same enthusiasm for learning and dedication to excellent client care.

As a clinician, Kristen brings a connected, effective, clear presence to the therapy room that often feels very reassuring to clients. Her clients credit her with the ability to combine compassionate wisdom with the cutting-edge insights of Somatic Experiencing to first meet people where they are, while guiding them towards where they want to go with clarity. She skillfully manages a loyal following of clients with complex situations, some from different parts of the world/country by telehealth. She especially enjoys working with parents to identify different ways to manage their families with health, warmth and skill.

https://www.familyresilience.org/kristen-marzolf/

Katie Cunningham, LCPC of Chicago CBT Center joins us as we discuss how to break down internalized message and become more self compassionate.

Katie Cunningham earned her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Adler University and her undergraduate degree in Psychology at Illinois State University. She is a resourceful and creative licensed mental health therapist with a demonstrated history of working in the individual, group, and family services industry. She specializes in helping people with mood disorders, ADHD, anxiety, OCD, relationship issues, family dynamics/boundaries, stress, low self-esteem, and life transitions. Working with folks who are exploring a new ADHD diagnosis is particularly important to Katie, especially since so many people experience misdiagnosis and late-diagnosis. She feels passionate about supporting neurodiverse clients as they explore the unique way that they think, feel, and experience life. Katie has a history of demonstrating skills in trauma work, evidenced based treatments (CBT, ACT, DBT, and IFS) and affirmative therapy for LGBTQ+ individuals. Although her specialties include working with adolescents and young adults, she is open to working with all age groups.

Katie believes in the importance of creating inclusive safe-spaces for clients to feel heard, encouraged, and accepted. She aims to ensure that her clients are met with warmth, support, and curiosity rather than judgment. She feels it is essential for clients to feel celebrated for who they uniquely are.

Working with Katie includes deconstructing negative internalized messages and beliefs, while aiming to increase feelings of empowerment as clients adopt healthier views of themselves and others. She is an expert at helping people become more psychologically flexible and better equipped to accept discomfort/uncertainty. While this can be achieved through individual therapy, Katie is also passionate about speaking on these subjects for larger audiences, on a consultation basis, and through free-lance writing opportunities.

https://www.chicagocbtcenter.com

Roxanne Sorci, LCPC and the visionary behind Generational Health, explores crucial strategies for supporting someone undergoing psychiatric hospitalization. Roxanne, with her extensive background in crisis management, behavioral health assessments, and therapeutic interventions, offers expert guidance on how to effectively support individuals and families through this challenging process.

Don Mitckess, LCPC, CRADC from Relief Mental Health discusses TMS Therapy. Don Mitckess brings decades of experience in the mental health field, specializing in substance use disorders, eating disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). As a recognized veteran in the industry, Don leads the business development team at Relief Mental Health and delivers internal and external clinical trainings on crisis management, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and other critical topics. He also works closely with Relief’s clinical team, offering case consultations and developing referral pathways for patients in need of other levels of care or specialized services.

Tracy Teichman, LSW and trauma therapist of Creating Space Therapy, delves into the transformative techniques of Polyvagal Informed Therapy and the Safe and Sound Protocol. With her extensive background in trauma therapy and her certification in the Safe and Sound Protocol, Tracy offers a deep dive into how these modalities can support profound healing and recovery. Tracy is a trauma therapist dedicated to helping adults reclaim their lives from the shadows of trauma. With a blend of personal experience and professional training, she guides individuals toward finding peace, safety, and connection. Through tailored approaches like EMDR and the Safe and Sound Protocol, Tracy supports clients in healing deeply and moving forward with renewed strength and resilience.

Lauren is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and graduated from UIC’s Jane Addams School of Social Work with a concentration in mental health. She’s passionate about working with adults and adolescents wanting to explore anxiety, gender identity, body image and self-esteem, racial and ethnic identity, and multicultural experiences. As a bicultural Latinx therapist, she’s attuned to the unique challenges and strengths that come with navigating the intersections of multiple identities. Understanding the impact of systems of oppression on well-being, her work centers around unlearning shame and promoting radical healing.

Mindfulness based techniques are also integral to her approach. She believes strengthening body awareness is an essential step towards a deeper self connection, managing stress, and cultivating inner peace. In line with this belief, she completed yoga teacher training at Room to Breathe Psychotherapy and Yoga, further enriching her ability to integrate somatic practices into therapy.

Her clinical experience includes working with adults, adolescents, and children both in non-profit agencies and school settings. She’s provided support to survivors of intimate partner violence and sexual assault and approached this work with empathy and sensitivity to address the unique needs of survivors.

In this episode of The Nest, Christine Vinci, LCPC of Geode Health discussed the youth mental health crisis.

Christine is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and have been providing individual, family, and group therapy services for over 10 years in outpatient, schools, hospitals/ERs, in-home, private practice, and community mental health settings. I see teenagers, young adults, and adults and address ADHD, anger management, anxiety, depression, grief, mood disorders, post-traumatic stress, relationship challenges, and women's mental health. I understand the importance of the therapeutic relationship, striving to meet clients where they are at, developing goals for their individual needs and building connection and partnership in a safe, non-judgmental, and Supportive environment. My role as a therapist is to help clients gain a better quality of life to challenge negative thoughts and cognitions, be able to self-regulate in their emotions, process trauma and traumatic events, manage mental health symptoms, build better relationships, handle transitions, improve their functioning in many areas in their lives, and process and adjust to unexpected events that occur in their lives.