Personalized Support for Families Navigating Medical Illness, Grief, and Trauma—Available Throughout Illinois and Select Services Nationwide

Helping kids, teens, and parents turn difficult moments into better memories.

About me

I am a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) dedicated to supporting parents, families, and communities through medical illness, grief, stress, and life’s most challenging conversations and moments. In my child life and counseling private practice, I provide compassionate support and guidance to families across Illinois, with select services available nationwide. Whether you're navigating a medical diagnosis, coping with loss, or seeking support for difficult conversations, I am here to help.


As the author and creator of The Method Workbooks series, including The Dot Method—an interactive resource designed to teach kids about cancer—I’m passionate about creating tools that foster communication, coping, and connection. Learn more at themethodworkbooks.com.

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Simple strategies and tools,
Transferable to everyday life.

I believe illness and grief are not problems to fix but experiences to support. My approach focuses on mental health within the context of illness and grief, using evidence-based strategies, play-based interventions, and a strength-based, mindful approach. These personalized techniques help reduce fear, distress, and anxiety while fostering resilience.

I support families across Illinois and nationwide, helping them enhance coping and communication skills, nurture relationships, and build a stronger sense of self. With specialized training, I also coach caregivers on effective language and techniques to support their children through medical challenges, family transitions, and traumatic loss.

Services

  • Child Life Services

  • Therapy for Kids, Teens, and Families

  • Parent Coaching and Consultation

  • Other Professional Services

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“Thank you for saying all the things I couldn’t. I feel better about the whole situation.”

— PARENT SUPPORTING GRIEVING CHILDREN

Don’t have difficult conversations alone.

Let's talk
In my work as a child life specialist and therapist, I help a lot of grieving families plan for spreading ashes. This past week, I had the experience of doing it with my own family. Everyone feels differently about spreading ashes and how one fee
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month! 🎗️ Kids deserve honest, age appropriate information about what is happening to their body. They need to know it’s not contagious and it’s not their fault. They deserve to be prepared for
This weekend we gathered for my grandma’s 100th birthday. My dad’s mom. Months ago my dad reached out to my siblings and I to plan something for my mom’s 70th while we were together. At the time, we didn’t expect we&rsqu
I LOVE talking to kids about difficult or complex topics. From the kids I work with, to my own! Lately, I’ve navigated a lot of questions about pregnancy and birth. And I know this is just the beginning! What hard questions do your kids
Thank you to @thechicagodogs for a wonderful family day. And thank you to the player who made my son’s day. He cheered for you the whole game. And he’s also inspiring me to get The Dot Method ready in Spanish. Comment READY to joi
September is Pain Awareness Month. Pain is a topic I have had a long standing interest in and it shows up regularly in my work, especially with kids and teens managing chronic conditions like POTS, IBD, and cancer survivorship as well as procedural
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. 🎗️ It’s important that people understand not just that kids can get cancer, but how cancer can affect nearly every part of a child’s life and how we can support them through it. A childhoo