Meet Courtney

MSW, LCSW
she/her/hers

Hi there! My name is Courtney. I’m a psychotherapist and Licensed Clinical Social Worker based in Chicago, Illinois. My education, training, and personal life experiences have supported me in becoming a therapist with a strong ability to build deep connections with my clients. I specialize in working with adults who experience anxiety, low self-image, workplace burnout, perfectionism, relationship difficulties, stress, attachment disruption, or uncertainty about values and next steps in life.

I received my master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from Michigan State University, my bachelor’s degree in generalist social work from University of Michigan and have 9 years of experience working in the mental health field.

Throughout my career, I have experience in the non-profit setting where I conducted research, completed grant writing and provided services to individuals and families impacted by incarceration and the Flint water crisis. I gained experience working with individuals experiencing mood, anxiety and trauma-related disorders in residential (RES), partial hospitalization (PHP) and intensive outpatient (IOP) and outpatient (OP) levels of care. I have also provided psychotherapy and assertive community treatment in the community mental health setting.

When I’m not working, I recharge by taking a mindful stroll in the park, doodling, going to the gym, practicing yoga, or attending concerts. I adore and am inspired by nature! I’m certified in Wilderness First Aid and am usually planning my next trip to soak up some nature. I'm always learning and love to devour books. I have a cat who may show her cute face during our teletherapy sessions!

 

Therapeutic Philosophy

 

I firmly believe that the therapeutic relationship is the foundation of successful therapy. Our therapeutic relationship can be a safe place for you to get emotionally messy, be flawed, and begin prioritizing your mental health so you can live the life you’ve worked so hard to build.

Life is extremely challenging. Painful thoughts, feelings and behaviors are, in their own ways, adaptive responses to the challenges that life throws at us. In other words, these thoughts, feelings, and behaviors can both help us and harm us. Over time, they can become a barrier to living an authentic life.

Psychotherapy can help us understand how we interact with the world and create lasting change. This can look like discovering and growing boundaries, exploring and re-working false narratives and patterns, and learning how to access inherent strengths to experience an improved life.

 
 

My Approach

 

I’m genuinely interested in understanding each of my clients. Everyone is unique therefore it is important to blend elements of different therapeutic approaches to find a method that works best for you. Some of the evidence-based approaches and modalities I utilize in psychotherapy are:

 
 

  • Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) - Level 1

  • Attachment-based therapy

  • Psychodynamic

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

  • Strengths-based

  • Mindfulness-based

  • Motivational Interviewing

  • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

  • Person-Centered