Our therapists offer christian counseling in Evanston, IL

Ralph Pollaro is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with 17 years of experience. He specializes in working with adolescents and adults with mental health issues including depression, anxiety, trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, relationship issues, effective communication, and existential processing. With Ralph, clients will learn steps to manage their mental health needs and increase adaptive behaviors. They will examine their progress and discern what goals they would like to achieve.

Ralph has a Master of Arts in Counseling from Saint Xavier University Chicago. He uses cognitive behavioral, person-centered, existential, and Adlerian therapies to assist clients in understanding their behaviors and how they can change to be their best selves. Clients will explore the whole self: body, mind, and emotional well-being.

Quality of care is the basis for successful healing. Using several theoretical systems, Ralph will help you problem-solve issues and work through past experiences. Ralph is looking forward to empowering you to manage life’s challenges!

Logan Spicer is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) with over 6 years of experience in the mental health care industry. She is passionate about helping young adults, adults, and older adults address their unique challenges and live more fulfilled lives. Logan specializes in depression, anxiety, executive functioning, ADHD coaching, trauma, relationship issues, and career development/transitions.

Logan completed her Master's degree in Forensic Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She is a case manager for Cook County Mental Health Courts. This, coupled with her professional experience, enables her to provide the guidance and support her clients are seeking. Logan utilizes multiple treatment approaches, including mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, person-centered therapy (PCT) and solution-focused therapy (SFT).

Each one of us holds the capacity to carve out the life we desire despite the obstacles or detrimental habits that may hinder us. Individuals often underestimate their strength, and Logan believes she can assist in revealing that innate resilience. She eagerly anticipates the opportunity to collaborate with you and reaffirm your inherent strengths together.

Becky Wendling is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with 10 years of experience in mental health. Becky's background includes extensive work with substance use disorders, anxiety, depression, grief, phase of life changes, mood disorders, anger, self-harm, and PTSD. She has worked with children, adolescents, adults, couples, families, and older adults. Becky strives to meet the client where they are in a comfortable setting that is free from judgment and bias. She strongly believes that every person has the ability to recover and heal, and will be empathetic and encouraging in helping the client to live the life they desire.

Becky earned her Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling with a minor in Addiction Counseling from Capella University. She has worked with clients as young as 5 years old, convicts in state prisons, and just about everything in between. This wealth of professional experience allows Becky to adapt therapeutic approaches specifically to meet your needs.

Becky understands how difficult it can be to reach out and ask for help, and how powerless a person can feel in their own life. More often than not, an individual believes they are alone in struggling, and that is definitely not the case. Becky can provide the guidance needed to address your struggles. Please schedule an appointment with her today!

Michelle Klobnak is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with 26 years of professional work experience in the mental health field. She specializes in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, and self-esteem concerns.

Michelle believes in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. As a patient and understanding therapist, she will build a treatment plan that aligns with your goals and specific needs in an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared with compassion and understanding without fear of judgment.

Good mental health for all has been a passion for Danielle since she became a social worker over 24 years ago. She is intensely interested in a variety of mental health issues and how the intersection of therapy and caring can change people’s lives. She is an avid reader and stays current on classic treatment modalities as well as newer ones. She wholeheartedly believes in the mind-body connection and the importance of nutrition, sleep, and exercise for brain health. Danielle seeks to collaborate with the client and together develop a strategy for treatment that will best fit their needs and goals. She is an excellent listener and strives to be an ally and partner in the client’s health. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a member of the National Association of Social Workers. Her primary goal in treatment is to help all clients live their best lives with no barriers.

Danielle completed her Master of Social Work (MSW) degree at Aurora University, in Aurora, IL. She received a Bachelor of Arts (BA) from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Danielle worked for many years with psychiatric clients in severe crisis and distress and learned that calmness and caring went a long way in developing trust and partnership in care. Danielle utilizes multiple treatment approaches including but not limited to cognitive behavioral therapy and supportive psychotherapy with a compassion focus designed to meet measurable goals.

Everyone needs help sometimes and Danielle is confident she can assist you with gaining strength, support, and knowledge to cope with a variety of life challenges. She is looking forward to meeting you and if you are ready to do the work together, schedule an appointment with her today!

Nina Williams is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 2 decades of experience as a mental health professional. She has performed her duties in the arena of psychosocial skill development and encouraging positive psychological advancement since 2000. Her client base ranged from persons 5 years of age to 86 who were seeking help with grief, losses, trauma, anxiety, depression, stress, and other life-transitional concerns.

Nina completed her Bachelor of Social Work at North Carolina A&T State University and her Master of Social Work at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Over the years, Nina has performed clinical duties as Mental Health Coordinator in the system of corrections, worked with military children and families in Norfolk, VA school system, and performed intensive outpatient treatment in the behavioral health and psychiatric departments of 2 major hospitals—one in NC and the other in VA, for both children and adults. Nina utilizes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and interpersonal therapy (IPT) by personalizing interventions from a person-centered approach.

We can all learn to purposefully reformulate maladaptive thinking patterns and increase positive self-talk by anticipating challenges and recognizing setbacks. These are all pieces that lead to successful outcomes. If you are looking to change how you approach daily living, Nina welcomes the opportunity to work with you.

Dr. Smith is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist (LCP) providing talk therapy services with 15 years of experience in the mental health field. He works with children, adolescents, and adults struggling with anxiety, depression, intellectual/developmental disorders, learning disabilities, OCD, psychotic disorders, behavior disorders, and more. He has worked in a number of different settings including community mental health centers, prisons, schools, college counseling centers, state hospitals, private psychiatric hospitals, and general medical centers providing acute and long-term psychotherapy to children, adolescents, and adults who were exhibiting severe psychopathology related to psychosis, suicidality, aggression, and personality disorders.

Dr. Smith completed his Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Tougaloo College and his Master's degree and his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. In therapy, Dr. Smith utilizes multiple treatment approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), mindfulness, motivational interviewing, play therapy, reality therapy, solution-focused therapy, psychoeducation, and schema-focused therapy.

In addition, he employs the three core conditions of therapeutic change: empathy, genuineness, and unconditional positive regard. In all cases, he continuously monitors the therapeutic process to learn what is working and what is not working so he can better support clients. We are all struggling in different areas of our lives. You do not have to struggle alone. Dr. Smith is here to walk with you and help you overcome those life challenges. 

Dr. Smith also provides hypnotherapy for those interested!