Find a Top Psychologist Near Me in Elgin, IL – Book an Appointment Instantly

I graduated from Benedictine University with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology. I then went on to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and also obtained my Certified Alcohol Drug Counselor certification (CADC). My theoretical training has been in Client Centered theory and I have also received specialized training in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). In addition to being traditionally trained, I also incorporate a holistic, integrative approach toward psychotherapy which includes aspects of mindfulness and Eastern philosophy. I have experience working in inpatient/residential settings as well as individual counseling with both adolescent and adult populations.

Some of my areas of expertise include: anxiety, depression, substance abuse, trauma, dissociative disorders, and existential issues. It is my belief that every client has their own innate ability to heal themselves. My job as a clinician is to foster an environment which is conducive to develop greater clarity, connection, and insight into their problems, which can lead to resolution and transformation.

Clinical Therapist- Oakbrook Terrace 

Jane Ballis, LCPC, CADC, is a licensed clinical professional counselor at Suburban Behavioral Health Services, which has locations in Wheaton and Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois. She appreciates working with people of varied ages and abilities as a therapist. Jane seeks to understand differences in various cultures, races, and religions and strives to be as knowledgeable as possible in treating people with diverse backgrounds.

Jane’s background includes many years of helping children, adolescents, and adults express themselves through various artistic mediums such as painting, drawing, photography, and multimedia. She completed her masters in clinical psychology at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology. Jane learned behavioral therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy and trained and worked under a clinical psychologist’s supervision for many years, learning psychodynamic theory, play, and family therapy while specializing in children, adolescents, adults, and families at an APA-approved training site. Jane has practiced in child welfare and substance abuse settings. Jane has worked with at-risk men who were involved in prostitution as well as many issues such as LGBTQ, homelessness, medical, and employment challenges.

Jane has completed her EMDR Level 1 training and obtained specialized training with Ana Gomez, an author and specialist in EMDR and dissociative disorders with children. EMDR is used to treat many issues, from mild to very complex, such as PTSD, trauma, anxiety, phobias, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive and generalized anxiety disorder, and excessive grief. Children and adolescents have alleviated their symptoms using EMDR, including depression caused by disturbing life experiences. Studies have shown that many crime victims, police officers, firefighters, and field workers were no longer disturbed by the aftereffects of violent assaults and/or the stressful nature of their work. Victims of sexual assault, natural and manmade disasters, accidents, surgeries and burn victims, family, marital and sexual dysfunction, and involvement were also assisted. Clients at all stages of chemical dependency, sexual deviation/addiction, and pathological gamblers have also been treated successfully, along with people with dissociative disorders.

Many people with performance anxiety or deficits in school, business, performing arts, and sports have benefited from EMDR as a tool to help enhance performance. People with somatic problems/somatoform disorders, including migraines, chronic pain, phantom limb pain, chronic eczema, gastrointestinal problems, CFS, psychogenic seizures, eating disorders, and negative body image, have attained relief from suffering with the help of EMDR.

Adults and adolescents have been successfully treated for diagnosed depression. Clients with acute trauma and a wide variety of PTSD and trauma-based personality issues experience substantial benefits from EMDR. There are many applications for EMDR, which has been used by many major treatment facilities, such as the armed forces.

Jane also has completed levels one and two of the Gottman Institute in couples therapy. This is a research-based couples therapy that has three phases. For nearly four decades, Dr. Gottman has conducted research on all facets of relationships, including parenting issues. At the Institute, in collaboration with Dr. Julie Schwartz Gottman, he developed an approach that not only supports and repairs troubled marriages and committed relationships but strengthens happy ones. One goal of the research is to make the services accessible to the broadest reach of people across race, religion, class, culture, sexual orientation, and ethnicity. For more information, please visit the Gottman Institute. http://www.gottman.com/the-gottman-institute/

Please leave a review: https://g.page/r/CQz4ngI4zS81EBM/review

Clinical Therapist—Oakbrook Terrace & Wheaton office's

Biljana Kasum, LCPC, is a skilled therapist at Suburban Behavioral Health Services, which has locations in Wheaton and Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois. Her passion is connecting with people in helping relationships, recognizing that we all struggle with various things at some point in our lives. Her primary focus is the well-being of the people she works with as she continues to expand her multicultural approach to counseling.

Biljana’s background includes working with teens, adults, and mature adults struggling with mental health issues of substance abuse and co-morbid disorders, trauma, morbid obesity, and other mood and personality disorders. She spent several years in an inpatient unit helping women of various races, cultures, and backgrounds, including the homeless population. She provided individual and group counseling, including moral reconation therapy, movement therapy, and music therapy. She also spent several years working with people with eating disorders, body dysmorphia, and obsessive-compulsive disorders, and teens and adults with ADHD.

Biljana acquired her master’s degree in counseling from Walden University, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and received supervision from established LCPCs and clinical psychologists in Illinois. She completed her training residencies in Orlando, Florida, and Atlanta, Georgia.

Biljana bases her approach to therapy on empathy, trust, and a strong therapeutic relationship. She is integrating different theoretical approaches based on the individual needs of her patients, with a special interest in acceptance and commitment therapy and cognitive processing therapy for the treatment of trauma. She is LGBTQ+-affirming.

She is fluent in Serbian, Bosnian, and Croatian. 

Leave a review: https://g.page/r/CeVvMTE9piT5EBM/review

I graduated from Benedictine University with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology. I then went on to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and also obtained my Certified Alcohol Drug Counselor certification (CADC). My theoretical training has been in Client Centered theory and I have also received specialized training in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). In addition to being traditionally trained, I also incorporate a holistic, integrative approach toward psychotherapy which includes aspects of mindfulness and Eastern philosophy. I have experience working in inpatient/residential settings as well as individual counseling with both adolescent and adult populations.

Some of my areas of expertise include: anxiety, depression, substance abuse, trauma, dissociative disorders, and existential issues. It is my belief that every client has their own innate ability to heal themselves. My job as a clinician is to foster an environment which is conducive to develop greater clarity, connection, and insight into their problems, which can lead to resolution and transformation.

Clinical Therapist- Oakbrook Terrace 

Jane Ballis, LCPC, CADC, is a licensed clinical professional counselor at Suburban Behavioral Health Services, which has locations in Wheaton and Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois. She appreciates working with people of varied ages and abilities as a therapist. Jane seeks to understand differences in various cultures, races, and religions and strives to be as knowledgeable as possible in treating people with diverse backgrounds.

Jane’s background includes many years of helping children, adolescents, and adults express themselves through various artistic mediums such as painting, drawing, photography, and multimedia. She completed her masters in clinical psychology at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology. Jane learned behavioral therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy and trained and worked under a clinical psychologist’s supervision for many years, learning psychodynamic theory, play, and family therapy while specializing in children, adolescents, adults, and families at an APA-approved training site. Jane has practiced in child welfare and substance abuse settings. Jane has worked with at-risk men who were involved in prostitution as well as many issues such as LGBTQ, homelessness, medical, and employment challenges.

Jane has completed her EMDR Level 1 training and obtained specialized training with Ana Gomez, an author and specialist in EMDR and dissociative disorders with children. EMDR is used to treat many issues, from mild to very complex, such as PTSD, trauma, anxiety, phobias, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive and generalized anxiety disorder, and excessive grief. Children and adolescents have alleviated their symptoms using EMDR, including depression caused by disturbing life experiences. Studies have shown that many crime victims, police officers, firefighters, and field workers were no longer disturbed by the aftereffects of violent assaults and/or the stressful nature of their work. Victims of sexual assault, natural and manmade disasters, accidents, surgeries and burn victims, family, marital and sexual dysfunction, and involvement were also assisted. Clients at all stages of chemical dependency, sexual deviation/addiction, and pathological gamblers have also been treated successfully, along with people with dissociative disorders.

Many people with performance anxiety or deficits in school, business, performing arts, and sports have benefited from EMDR as a tool to help enhance performance. People with somatic problems/somatoform disorders, including migraines, chronic pain, phantom limb pain, chronic eczema, gastrointestinal problems, CFS, psychogenic seizures, eating disorders, and negative body image, have attained relief from suffering with the help of EMDR.

Adults and adolescents have been successfully treated for diagnosed depression. Clients with acute trauma and a wide variety of PTSD and trauma-based personality issues experience substantial benefits from EMDR. There are many applications for EMDR, which has been used by many major treatment facilities, such as the armed forces.

Jane also has completed levels one and two of the Gottman Institute in couples therapy. This is a research-based couples therapy that has three phases. For nearly four decades, Dr. Gottman has conducted research on all facets of relationships, including parenting issues. At the Institute, in collaboration with Dr. Julie Schwartz Gottman, he developed an approach that not only supports and repairs troubled marriages and committed relationships but strengthens happy ones. One goal of the research is to make the services accessible to the broadest reach of people across race, religion, class, culture, sexual orientation, and ethnicity. For more information, please visit the Gottman Institute. http://www.gottman.com/the-gottman-institute/

Please leave a review: https://g.page/r/CQz4ngI4zS81EBM/review

Clinical Therapist—Oakbrook Terrace & Wheaton office's

Biljana Kasum, LCPC, is a skilled therapist at Suburban Behavioral Health Services, which has locations in Wheaton and Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois. Her passion is connecting with people in helping relationships, recognizing that we all struggle with various things at some point in our lives. Her primary focus is the well-being of the people she works with as she continues to expand her multicultural approach to counseling.

Biljana’s background includes working with teens, adults, and mature adults struggling with mental health issues of substance abuse and co-morbid disorders, trauma, morbid obesity, and other mood and personality disorders. She spent several years in an inpatient unit helping women of various races, cultures, and backgrounds, including the homeless population. She provided individual and group counseling, including moral reconation therapy, movement therapy, and music therapy. She also spent several years working with people with eating disorders, body dysmorphia, and obsessive-compulsive disorders, and teens and adults with ADHD.

Biljana acquired her master’s degree in counseling from Walden University, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and received supervision from established LCPCs and clinical psychologists in Illinois. She completed her training residencies in Orlando, Florida, and Atlanta, Georgia.

Biljana bases her approach to therapy on empathy, trust, and a strong therapeutic relationship. She is integrating different theoretical approaches based on the individual needs of her patients, with a special interest in acceptance and commitment therapy and cognitive processing therapy for the treatment of trauma. She is LGBTQ+-affirming.

She is fluent in Serbian, Bosnian, and Croatian. 

Leave a review: https://g.page/r/CeVvMTE9piT5EBM/review

I am a prescribing psychologist and can combine psychopharmacological treatments with more traditional psychological treatment approaches.

I graduated from Benedictine University with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology. I then went on to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and also obtained my Certified Alcohol Drug Counselor certification (CADC). My theoretical training has been in Client Centered theory and I have also received specialized training in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). In addition to being traditionally trained, I also incorporate a holistic, integrative approach toward psychotherapy which includes aspects of mindfulness and Eastern philosophy. I have experience working in inpatient/residential settings as well as individual counseling with both adolescent and adult populations.

Some of my areas of expertise include: anxiety, depression, substance abuse, trauma, dissociative disorders, and existential issues. It is my belief that every client has their own innate ability to heal themselves. My job as a clinician is to foster an environment which is conducive to develop greater clarity, connection, and insight into their problems, which can lead to resolution and transformation.

I’m a licensed clinical psychologist with over a decade of experience in assisting adults, adolescents, couples and families with life, work and relationship issues. While the decision to enter therapy occurs at a difficult time, once you realize that most issues are simpler than they first appear, the experience can be transformative. Although my primary training Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), everyone is unique and I borrow freely from humanistic, psychodynamic and family systems approaches. But regardless of individual modalities lasting change is a product of significant self-appraisal within the context of a supportive and compassionate relationship. D. A. Jopp & Associates has 8 years of experience working with hospital, corporate and law enforcement agencies providing front line staff with training focused on improving service towards persons with mental illness and disabilities through stigma reduction and scientifically based educational modules.

My motivation to pursue this field stems from a childhood influence. Our next-door neighbor was a social worker, and I remember her as a kind, warm person who always had an ear to listen. At the age of 13, I decided I wanted to enter the same profession. When I work with clients, I strive to provide that same warmth and security, allowing them to share their life experiences openly. I believe the patient-therapist relationship is crucial to effective therapy. Many individuals struggle with life in general, feeling overwhelmed and challenged in numerous ways. They often feel out of touch with themselves and lack a sense of purpose. Additionally, many are dealing with anxiety, depression, or unresolved trauma. I believe there is great power in being heard. This can lead to a better understanding of oneself, the ability to change, and the gift of acceptance.

I am dedicated to meeting clients where they are, offering a warm and collaborative approach as we work together to understand their unique needs and identify any barriers to progress. My therapeutic practice integrates a variety of evidence-based modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, Positive Psychology, Exposure Therapy, and Trauma-Informed Approaches. With extensive experience in crisis intervention and outpatient services, I focus on empowering clients by providing the tools and support they need to navigate life's challenges and make lasting changes. I believe in building strong, trusting relationships with my clients and creating a safe, supportive space where growth and healing can occur. My approach is always individualized, ensuring that the therapy process is tailored to meet the unique needs of each person.

I have been working in the court system since 1993. I earned my Doctorate in Clinical Psychology in 1999 and was licensed as a psychologist in 2000. Regular training with the American Academy of Forensic Psychology helps keep my skills up to date. Evaluations I complete for the court include Child Custody and Psychological, Specific Forensic Psychological, Fitness to Stand Trial, and Criminal Responsibility. FOID reinstatement evaluations as well as those for DCFS are also completed by me. I complete evaluations in several county courts including Boone, DeKalb, Kane, Kendall, Lee, Ogle, Whiteside, and Winnebago. Pre-employment, fitness for duty, and promotional examinations are also completed for local police and fire departments. Fitness for duty evaluations are also completed for local companies. Braden Counseling Center opened in 2002 and has been providing services to individuals with different challenges with evidence-based treatments since that time.

I have been working in the court system since 1993. I earned my Doctorate in Clinical Psychology in 1999 and was licensed as a psychologist in 2000. Regular training with the American Academy of Forensic Psychology helps keep my skills up to date. Evaluations I complete for the court include Child Custody and Psychological, Specific Forensic Psychological, Fitness to Stand Trial, and Criminal Responsibility. FOID reinstatement evaluations as well as those for DCFS are also completed by me. I complete evaluations in several county courts including Boone, DeKalb, Kane, Kendall, Lee, Ogle, Whiteside, and Winnebago. Pre-employment, fitness for duty, and promotional examinations are also completed for local police and fire departments. Fitness for duty evaluations are also completed for local companies. Braden Counseling Center opened in 2002 and has been providing services to individuals with different challenges with evidence-based treatments since that time.