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Melissa actively collaborates with her clients to assess which approaches are working and which are not working.
The goal of Melissa’s work with clients is for them to increase authenticity and vulnerability within the therapeutic relationship first, then translate that success to their lives outside of therapy. She empowers clients with coping skills, and provides a safe space for learning effective communication of and connection to emotions. Melissa helps clients to identify how past and current experiences could be contributing to current symptoms and challenges, and helps those who have suffered from trauma to heal. She challenges clients to see their capabilities and utilize their strengths.
Melissa works with adults, couples, and families who are dealing with challenges including trauma, identity exploration, interpersonal conflict, struggles with body image/relationship with food and body, obsessive and compulsive behaviors, addictions, and mood disorders such as depression and anxiety.
Melissa completed undergrad at Illinois State University and received her masters in counseling from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Her past experience includes providing evidenced based care for adults in residential treatment, partial hospitalization programs, intensive outpatient programs, and outpatient therapy. Her experience includes individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, couples therapy, and exposure therapy. She specializes in general mental health, eating disorders, and trauma.
Melissa says she is in love with living in Chicago with her family and two rescue dogs. She craves adventure and is always looking to find it in her daily routine. If ice cream is included, all the better.
For Dr. Adames, strong therapeutic relationships open opportunities to explore, in the company of another, new ways of going about life.
Dr. Adames incorporates cognitive behavioral, client-centered, systemic, and multicultural perspectives, as well as aspects of mindfulness-based practices. By carefully customizing her approach to the needs of each client, she helps them to identify situations and thoughts that do not serve them—and establish or increase thoughts and behaviors that can lead to greater fulfillment. Her overriding goals for every client is deeper understanding of themselves, the ability to work through challenges with kindness and acceptance toward themselves and others, and a richer, more joyful quality of life.
Having graduated from the University of Illinois-Chicago’s doctoral program in Clinical Psychology (with a minor in Community Psychology), Dr. Adames has more than 20 years in clinical practice. She has worked as a clinical assistant professor, a post-doctoral clinician, an adjunct professor, an independent life coach, a host/producer at Chicago Public Radio, and was the director of a MA training program in clinical psychology. She has extensive experience operating within multi-disciplinary teams, and in professional, organizational, community, and cultural groups. A native Spanish-speaker, she speaks, writes, and reads the language proficiently.
Dr. Adames works with adults in individual or couples therapy, in Spanish and English.
Dr. Adames’ will is strong, but is always defeated by chocolate. She loves to dance, especially to music from her native country of Colombia! Just a few notes, and she can hardly sit still. In between dancing sessions, she’ll read nerdy books, listen to nerdy podcasts, and clear her mind by practicing heated yoga, barre and cardio. Above all, she loves to spend time with her son.
Staff Therapist
amanda@studioforchange.com
773-281-8130 x 824
Amanda is dedicated to helping you overcome obstacles so that you can engage in your life more fully and live in line with what is truly important to you. Amanda utilizes evidence-based coping tools to help you gain insight into harmful thoughts and patterns to lessen their impact on your daily life. Amanda values compassion, authenticity, and humor in her work and has a warm and empathetic style allowing you to deepen self-awareness and connectedness.
Amanda holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Welfare and Gender Studies from University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Master’s degree in Social Work from Loyola University Chicago. Amanda specializes in binge eating disorder, compulsive over eating, body trust, HAES, self-esteem, substance abuse, stress management, and trauma informed therapy. Amanda’s experience includes being a sexual assault advocate, a domestic violence advocate, working with veterans, working as a counselor at a women’s halfway house, and working at Eating Recovery Center in the Binge Eating Treatment and Recovery Program.
Staff Therapist
cortney@studioforchange.com
773-281-8130 x 808
Cortney guides clients along their journey by offering a warm and supportive environment to process the challenges or stressors a person may be experiencing. Her person-centered viewpoint allows her to tailor her sessions to each specific client in order to explore what will work best. She offers empathy and direction while helping clients to challenge thoughts and behaviors that may be negatively serving them, while building on positive insight and the tools to cope with life’s ups and downs. Cortney encourages clients to explore the way they relate to themselves and the world around them and to improve relationships, awareness and self-love.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Illinois and a master’s degree in clinical psychology from Eastern Illinois University. Her experience is in a variety of settings, including community mental health centers, residential facilities and private practice and holds a certificate in Trauma-Informed Yoga.
Cortney is available to work with adults, adolescents and children providing individual and family therapy.
Outside of the studio, Cortney enjoys spending time with her husky (Enzo), trying new fitness classes, listening to podcasts and exploring the food culture of the city.
Clinical Psychologist
margo@studioforchange.com
773-281-8130 x 802
Margo also provides comprehensive pediatric psychological diagnostic and learning evaluations for children and adolescents. As Margo has had many years of experience working in schools, she is available to consult directly with schools and help advocate for families regarding Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) as well as school behavior plans. She feels strongly that collaborating within the school system is an essential component when working with children. Furthermore, she believes regular communication with parents, schools, and other medical professionals is essential in supporting the child to do their best.
Margo holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and communication studies from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and a doctorate in clinical psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She completed her predoctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship at a private school in Manhattan, New York. Upon receiving licensure, Margo was asked to stay as a licensed supervising psychologist for the school’s APA accredited training program. She has also worked in other settings including community mental health clinics, outpatient clinics, and a therapeutic day school.
Outside of work, Margo enjoys taking advantage of all the city has to offer! She can be seen walking by the lake, shopping at her local farmer’s market, attending street festivals, and spending time with family and friends.
Dr. Rahn’s own professional journey has taken her throughout the Midwest, with numerous clinical externships culminating in an internship at the University of Wisconsin, and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the Illinois Institute of Technology. Dr. Rahn has developed her practice as program director for a pediatric development center, professor of psychology at two universities in Illinois as well as an entrepreneur. As Director of Studio for Change®, Dr. Rahn has sought to create a space within which her clients have access to a rich variety of therapeutic efforts and resources; adding to the Studio’s primary focus on psychotherapy, Dr. Rahn’s practice makes frequent referrals to professionals in nutrition, fitness and hypnosis, and makes frequent recommendations for external resources such as books, art, and social or networking events.
Dr. Rahn is available for speakerships, and has experience in public speaking, television and radio appearances, as well as in publishing for both professional and lay audiences.
When Dr. Rahn isn’t wondering how the world could be a better place to live in and what her role in this change should be, she enjoys participating in spin classes, taking walks by the lake, and visiting her heartland in Northern Michigan.
Please note: Julia is not taking new clients at this time
Child Therapist and Parent Educator
Danielle@studioforchange.com
773-281-8130 x 818
In addition to her work with children and adolescents, Danielle specializes in parent education. She offers parent guidance to adult clients who are looking for coaching or support as caregivers. She helps parents utilize empathetic limits, model ideal interactions for their children, and regulate behavior in ways that foster resiliency, self-regulation and emotional security.
Danielle has extensive experience working within and collaborating with schools, and believes that incorporating children’s entire care team—school counselors, teachers, psychiatrists, etc.—yields the best results for her clients.
Danielle holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Northwestern University, a master’s degree in special and elementary education from DePaul University and a master’s degree in counseling from Loyola University Chicago. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), a Licensed School Counselor, a Learning Behavioral Specialist, and a Licensed Elementary Educator.
Outside of work, Danielle can be found pursuing her passion for growing, cooking and eating spicy foods.
Jodi knows that we all view life through our own lens, and equally that all our lenses are cracked. Each experience adds a new “crack,” skewing our view (for better or worse) of ourselves, others, and the world around us. Exploring our own, unique context allows space for understanding, acceptance, forgiveness, empathy, healing, growth—and change!
Jodi’s practice begins where the client is at, and remains centered on the client and their strengths. She establishes safety and trust to allow for a collaborative and authentic therapeutic relationship, dynamically re-evaluating as therapy progresses to ensure that the client’s primary concerns and needs are met. Jodi firmly believes that successful therapy not only relieves symptoms but fosters inner capacity and resources to allow clients to live with greater freedom, contentment and possibility.
Jodi helps her patients to understand and accept themselves as the foundation for emotional insight, mood regulation and improved interpersonal patterns and attachment styles. She empowers clients with greater skills for communication and self-expression. Such self-acceptance, emotional insight and skillful communication combine to foster greater empathy for others.
Jodi is available for therapy with individuals (teenagers and adults), couples and families.
Jodi and her husband enjoy sharing their lives with their two mini-dachshunds (their “furry children”). The beach is Jodi’s happy place and she loves traveling as much as possible to broaden her concept of people, herself, and the world we live in.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
judy@studioforchange.com
773-281-8130 x 806
The unifying theme of Judy’s work has been recognizing innate wholeness and potential within each individual—and then helping to unlock it. Judy guides others to discovering this wholeness and accessing it to facilitate their own healing. Those facing grief and loss, trauma, depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties and life transitions all benefit from Judy’s approach. In addition, Judy applies her strength-based, holistic approach to assist struggling families and in her individual work with children. She emphasizes that collaborative effort is key to meeting individual or family goals, such as increased functioning, clarity, sense of purpose, a greater sense of peace and an increased capacity for joy.
Judy holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Loyola University and a Master of Social Work from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She has received training in Theraplay® and done advanced work in Internal Family Systems therapy.
Judy is available for work with children, adolescents, adults and families. She is also available to lead mindfulness groups and other psycho-educational groups.
Ordained an interfaith/ interspiritual minister in 2017, Judy pursues her lifelong commitment to living a spiritual life through creating and maintaining community, spiritual study and growth, spiritual activism, and assisting others in their life’s journey through spiritual counseling and performing marriage, funeral, and other sacred ceremonies.
Clinical Psychologist
Emily@studioforchange.com
773-281-8130 x 804
Emily builds client relationships enriched by honesty, flexibility and good humor. Warm and direct, Emily helps each client to explore the thoughts and behaviors that shackle them, the patterns in which they feel “stuck”. She helps clients to build the insights, perspectives and coping skills needed to dislodge the patterns that serve them poorly, to accept conditions beyond their control, and to engage their lives authentically, intentionally and productively.
Emily holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Washington and a doctorate in psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She enriched her training during a pre-doctoral internship in addiction treatment and a post-doctoral fellowship at Regional Mental Health Centers in East Chicago. More recently, Emily has been a primary therapist and Clinical Manager of a program specializing in Mood, Anxiety and Trauma-Related concerns. She has employed Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in her work. Emily’s work has exposed her to a wide range of practice setting and levels of care, to include residential, PHP, IOP, outpatient and community mental health.
Emily works with adults and adolescents providing individual, family and group therapy.
Outside of work, Emily waves the banners of Chicago and Seattle in her passion for sports, and nourishes her appetites for exciting food and exploration by scouting and sampling Chicago’s amazing culinary landscape.
Clinical Psychologist
Emily@studioforchange.com
773-281-8130 x 804
Emily builds client relationships enriched by honesty, flexibility and good humor. Warm and direct, Emily helps each client to explore the thoughts and behaviors that shackle them, the patterns in which they feel “stuck”. She helps clients to build the insights, perspectives and coping skills needed to dislodge the patterns that serve them poorly, to accept conditions beyond their control, and to engage their lives authentically, intentionally and productively.
Emily holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Washington and a doctorate in psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She enriched her training during a pre-doctoral internship in addiction treatment and a post-doctoral fellowship at Regional Mental Health Centers in East Chicago. More recently, Emily has been a primary therapist and Clinical Manager of a program specializing in Mood, Anxiety and Trauma-Related concerns. She has employed Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in her work. Emily’s work has exposed her to a wide range of practice setting and levels of care, to include residential, PHP, IOP, outpatient and community mental health.
Emily works with adults and adolescents providing individual, family and group therapy.
Outside of work, Emily waves the banners of Chicago and Seattle in her passion for sports, and nourishes her appetites for exciting food and exploration by scouting and sampling Chicago’s amazing culinary landscape.
Child & Family Therapist
lauren@studioforchange.com
773-281-8130 x 816
Because she understands the process can be intimidating. Lauren creates a safe, inviting environment for children and their families to explore and grow. Throughout, strengthens communication and attachment between the parent and child.
Lauren’s practice includes parent-child relationships, early childhood, parent training, behavior management, divorce, and autism spectrum disorders. Lauren has experience providing individual, family, and group therapy in an array of settings, including private practice, behavior hospitals, and schools as a therapist and coordinator.
Lauren holds a Bachelor of Arts from DePaul University, with honors in Psychology, and a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology (Counseling Practice) from Roosevelt University. Lauren is a published author in the Child and Care Youth Forum, based on research with Parent-Child Interaction Therapy.
Lauren is available to work with toddlers, children, and parents. She will also provide parent training and social skills groups for children and their families.
Outside of the studio, Lauren enjoys spending time with her family and dog, Charlie, and participating in winter and summer activities in Northern Michigan.
