About Me

carnow_homeThank you for considering Better Days Therapeutic Services.  Selecting a therapist can be an intimidating thing to do, and it is my goal to share a little about myself to help you make the decision that is right for you.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Illinois and have a Masters of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Illinois-Chicago Jane Addams College of Social Work.  I also have a law degree (JD) from the University of Illinois College of Law.  I feel that this somewhat uncommon background allows me to bring a unique set of personal experiences and perspectives to my work as a therapist.

I work with clients from a strengths-based, client-centered approach.  I do not rigidly adhere to one theoretical framework or therapeutic approach, and I don’t believe that a “one size fits all” approach is the most effective way to work with clients.  Rather, I look at each client’s needs and goals, and work with him or her to figure out the most effective combination of therapeutic tools for that client.  Similarly, how I work with a client may change over time.  If something is not working as well as we would like it to, we may decide, together, to switch gears and try something else.

There are many forms of therapy that inform my practice.  I draw from Cognitive Therapy, Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Mindfulness-based therapies, among others.  Additionally, I believe that it is important to utilize some way of measuring progress throughout the therapeutic process, beginning at the initial meeting.  This can be anything from a verbal self-report from the client, to a more formal checklist or scale.

Above all else, I am here to help you in any way I can.  Life is filled with challenges and struggles, and at times it is necessary to reach out for assistance.  I welcome the opportunity to work with you.