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She values and relies on the relational component of therapy and strives for her clients to feel truly heard and understood in sessions. Hallie believes that building a trusting, safe, and collaborative relationship is essential to making progress in therapy. She is committed to working with clients to identify their unique needs and make progress towards their goals.
Hallie’s practice focuses on helping clients explore their values and increase self-understanding to create positive growth and meaningful life changes. Hallie specializes in evidenced-based interventions including Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy (RODBT), and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). She also draws on various neuroscience-based approaches to explore the mind-body connection and is specifically trained in the assessment and treatment of trauma through Bruce Perry’s Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics.
Hallie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Michigan and a Master of Social Work degree with a concentration in clinical mental health from Loyola University Chicago.
Hallie has experience working with clients who are managing depression, anxiety, OCD, interpersonal difficulties, disordered eating and trauma-related disorders. She has worked in a variety of settings including outpatient community mental health, partial hospitalization, and residential treatment. Hallie is currently available to work with adults and adolescents for individual and group therapy.
Outside of work, Hallie enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and two cats. She also loves walking or biking by the lake, listening to podcasts, and reading fiction.
She views people as being capable of an enormous range of emotions, thoughts, and experiences, though often they can find themselves feeling stuck. Kathy further recognizes that people are inherently wired for healing given the right conditions. To that end, through her warmth, genuine curiosity, empathy, and grounded presence, she endeavors to create a safe, explorative, validating, and collaborative therapeutic space, one that always honors the unique worldview of the client.
Kathy is passionate about self-discovery and collaborates with clients to build needed skills and inner resources to work through factors that block one’s sense of freedom and motion, to allow oneself to be radically authentic, to pursue what is truly meaningful, and ultimately, to fully engage in life’s journey. She guides clients to examine past and present issues to achieve insights and new patterns that will help clients overcome adversity and promote change toward their unique goals.
Kathy identifies as a strength-based clinician, utilizing a variety of evidence-based practices, including mindfulness, solution-focused therapy, motivational interviewing, feminist therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and trauma/attachment informed therapy.
Kathy holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Northeastern Illinois University and a Master’s degree in Counseling from Concordia University Chicago. She recently received licensure as a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP). Her experience in private practice has allowed her to work with a diverse range of populations, supporting adults, adolescents, and families experiencing challenges such as depression, anxiety, trauma, addiction, life transitions, identity development, relationship/communication issues, grief, and more.
In her spare time Kathy enjoys hiking and connecting with nature, playing in a tennis league, reading the latest contemporary fiction, and spending quality time with family, friends, and pets.
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
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.
