Child life services focus on helping children and families navigate medical and life challenges through a child development lens. Therapy involves addressing broader mental health needs, such as anxiety, trauma, or grief, through evidence-based counseling approaches.

As a child life specialist and therapist - I use my background in medical care together with my mental health training to provide comprehensive care that addresses the overall wellbeing of children and adolescents impacted by illness and grief. I am also uniquely trained to explain difficult terms using age appropriate language, play based materials, and parenting strategies.

I work with children as young as 2-3 years old, along with their caregivers, and continue to support adolescents and young adults up to around 22 years of age. I also have experience working with neurodivergent individuals. My services are available both in-person (Illinois) and virtually, offering flexibility to meet your family's needs.

To ensure youth remain engaged, I use interactive tools, activities, and play-based techniques, which seamlessly translate into the virtual space. This allows me to provide developmentally-appropriate support. Additionally, I involve parents in the process to improve communication and consistency at home.

I highly value multidisciplinary care and work in collaboration with outside providers and care teams to ensure comprehensive support. I also provide referrals when necessary to ensure that families have access to the right services and resources.

For adults seeking complementary support, I recommend visiting my trusted colleagues at Illness Navigation Resources for additional collaborative care.

I provide support for families navigating a wide range of pediatric and adult medical conditions including but not limited to: cancer, food allergies, gastrointestinal diseases, diabetes, cardiac conditions, auto-immune disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases.

I am the author of The Dot Method which is an interactive workbook to teach kids about cancer. It’s appropriate for all cancer types, treatments, and relationships.

Additionally, as a food-allergy informed therapist, I am also member of The Academy of Food Allergy Counseling and have specialization in supporting kids experiencing anxiety with food allergies, recovering from an anaphylactic experience, or preparing and coping with oral immunotherapy and other food allergy treatments and testing. I am working on my second workbook to teach kids about food allergies and immunotherapy.

If your family is facing a specific medical challenge, feel free to reach out to discuss how I can help.

I am a licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) based in Illinois, located on Chicago’s North Shore. For traditional mental health counseling and therapy services, I am available to clients within Illinois. However, for child life services and parent coaching/consulting, I offer virtual services and am able to work with families nationwide.

I provide services in a variety of settings based on location, availability, and the specific needs of the family. These include in-office, in-home, in-hospital, memorial services, and telehealth options, ensuring flexibility and accessibility for families in different situations.

The number of sessions depends on the goals and focus of our work together. Some families may need only a handful of sessions to address specific medical events or difficult conversations, while others may benefit from ongoing weekly or biweekly support. For some families, services are episodic and intermittent, aligning with the flow of illness, grief, or significant life changes.

I tailor the frequency and length of sessions to meet the unique needs of each family and child, and I make recommendations based on where you are in your journey and what feels most supportive.

If you're unsure which service would best meet your family’s needs, I recommend scheduling a free 15-minute consultation. Together, we can assess your situation and identify the most appropriate service for your family’s unique challenges. I will always do my best to provide referrals and recommendations if I’m unable to meet your request or needs.

I am out of network with all insurance companies. This means that the full fee is due at the time of service, but it also allows me to offer customized care without the limitations of insurance guidelines.

For child and family therapy services, you may be able to request documentation from me with the necessary codes to submit to your insurance company for potential out-of-network reimbursement. Please note that out-of-network coverage and reimbursement vary depending on your insurance provider, plan, and the specific services provided. I recommend checking with your provider in advance to determine your coverage options.

Some families also choose to use their Flexible Healthcare Savings Accounts (FSA) or crowd funding as alternative ways to pay for services.

Feel free to contact me directly to discuss your specific situation and explore the best options for your family.

The cost of my services varies based on the type and duration of support you need:

Child Life and Therapy Services:

Intake Assessment: $250 (available virtually and in-person)

Individual Sessions: $225/hour or $110/30 minutes

Home, Hospital, or Memorial Service Visits: Pricing varies based on location and additional travel time/materials.

Parent Coaching & Consultation:

Single One Hour Session: $250

3 Hour Package: $700

5 Hour Package: $1000

Professional Services (Workshops/Speaking Engagements):

Pricing varies based on scope and location. Please contact me for a personalized quote.

Additional Information:

Discounts and sliding scale options may be available for clients with financial needs.

Bulk pricing is available for workbooks purchased by hospitals, clinics, and non-profits.

Feel free to reach out to discuss how we can work together and explore the best options for your family.

Yes! Gift cards are available for child life or parenting sessions and packages, allowing you to support a family in need during challenging times. This thoughtful option can provide them with access to guidance and resources when they need it most. Contact me to arrange a gift card purchase or for more details.

Absolutely! I offer customized workshops, speaking engagements, and content creation for businesses, non-profits, and other organizations that align with my expertise and passion. Contact me with your request to receive a personalized quote.