Therapy in oak park il & across il
This is about more than helping kids behave better. It’s about helping them feel better.
Support for parents and children to reconnect, face hard feelings, navigate anxiety, and find their way forward—together.
Kids deserve to be “just kids,” but what happens when something like anxiety gets in the way?
It might be showing up in ways you didn’t expect—like stomachaches before a big test, trouble sleeping, or explosive outbursts over what seem like small things. Some kids start avoiding school or melting down over everyday routines. Others might seem shut down or unusually sensitive to changes in plans or even tone of voice. And while anxiety is often the culprit, it’s not always the full story.
As a parent, it’s easy to feel confused or unsure how to help when things don’t improve (especially if you already feel like you’ve tried “all the things”). But the good news is, you’re not alone. Specialized therapy can help your child—and you—build the skills needed to feel more confident and in control.
Maybe you’re…
Dealing with daily rituals, avoidance, or routines that seem to run your family’s life.
Spending hours reassuring your child—with homework or simply being close—because they can’t manage on their own.
Feeling completely burned out as you juggle this unique challenge with your child and all of the other things in your life.
Feeling stuck and helpless after trying everything—therapy, rewards, rules—and still seeing little change.
Hearing others call your child “difficult” or “too much,” when you know there’s more going on beneath the surface.
Worried that anxiety or OCD is taking a toll on your child’s self-esteem or future, and wondering how to help them break free from the cycle.
Watching your child struggle at school or with friends, and wondering why their behavior doesn’t match the anxiety you know they’re feeling underneath.
Realizing you might need to change how you’re supporting your child, but not sure where to start.
Hi, I’m Courtney.
I’m here to help your whole family move forward together.
I know that when it comes to helping a child who’s struggling with big feelings, “tough” doesn’t even begin to cut it. The emotional ups and downs, the behaviors that don’t make sense, the desperate attempts at trying something new that only make things worse—it can feel all-consuming and even heartbreaking. But the truth is, challenging behavior is often just a sign that your child hasn't learned the skills they need to manage this…yet.
As your therapist, my goal is simple: get your child back to enjoying life as quickly as possible.
Real progress happens when kids feel safe and understood, so that's where we start. I work closely with parents because I believe we’re most successful when we’re a team. I’ll help you understand what’s going on beneath the surface, and together, we’ll give your child the tools they need to feel better and handle life's challenges with more confidence.
This isn't about "fixing" your child or slapping on a band-aid solution; it’s about helping your whole family get back to living life without the constant stress.
MY AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Children
Children can act out in ways that leave parents confused, exhausted, and frustrated. And when they’re dealing with anxiety or other challenges on top of just being a kid, it can be even more overwhelming trying to understand what to do next or how to help.
If your child is avoiding things they once enjoyed or displaying behaviors that seem disproportionate to the situation, we can work together to uncover what's really going on, understand them at a deeper level, and teach them (and you) the skills they need to thrive.
Parenting
Even the most loving, attentive, and well-intentioned parents can feel completely lost when their child is acting out. When nothing seems to work—or everything feels like a battle—it’s easy to start questioning yourself. Maybe it’s the constant negotiation getting to you, the reactions you don’t feel good about, or just not knowing what else to try.
In our work together, we’ll focus on helping you move from reactivity to clarity. You’ll learn what’s really fueling your child’s behavior and how to respond in ways that actually support their growth. This kind of therapy helps you feel more grounded, more confident, and more like the parent you want to be.
SPACE
When a child is struggling, the whole family feels it. Routines get disrupted, fears start running the household, and life begins to shrink around avoiding the next meltdown or emotional blowup.
SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) is a parent-based intervention that helps you shift those patterns—even if your child refuses therapy or hasn’t responded to it. Instead of trying to get your child to change directly, we focus on changing how you respond to their anxiety. It helps you make small shifts that build your child’s confidence and give you a calmer, more grounded way to respond—especially in the hard moments.
GET STARTED
First, let’s make sure we’re a good fit. I offer a free consultation to talk through what’s going on and see if we click. If it feels right, we’ll schedule your first session and I’ll send over some quick online paperwork.
Connect.
Through our work, you’ll start to see big shifts—not just in your child, but in your whole family. Over time, you can begin to feel more confident in your role as a parent, more in control, and ready to tackle the challenges together.
Collaborate.
Our first few sessions are all about getting to know each other and figuring out what’s holding you back. We’ll look at patterns, experiment with new tools, and start making real change.
Transform.
The best way to help your child face the world is by showing them how to face their feelings.
We’ll figure that out together.
Sessions available online or in-person in Oak Park & across Illinois.