Jennifer Nalls (she, her), MA, NCC, LPC

I believe that effective counseling begins with developing a strong therapeutic relationship. I believe in fostering an environment that promotes safety, authenticity, and freedom to share, heal and change without judgment. I understand that counseling is not an easy decision. Those who chose to engage in the therapeutic process, I believe are courageous.

I have a person-centered approach to counseling, where the client is the expert and the therapist is a partner in the therapeutic process. My therapeutic goal is to empower my clients by healing from past traumas and developing positive change within themselves. To achieve this goal, I utilize various techniques based on the client’s needs. Techniques I utilize are Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Gottman, Family Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Solution-Focus Therapy. As a therapist, I strive to help clients understand themselves, their feelings, and build on strengths to attain personal growth in their lives.

Clinical Areas of Interest/Training

My clinical experience includes working with Bipolar Disorder, Major Depression, Anxiety, Stress, ADHD, Substance Abuse, and issues involving Personal Conflict, Relationships, and Family Troubles. My background experiences include working in community mental health, which I worked with those suffering from acute mental illness and traumas. In this position, I gained experience working with individuals, couples, and facilitating groups. I received training in trauma, telehealth, and crisis intervention.

Education

I received my master’s degree in counseling with a specialization in marriage and family counseling from Governors State University. I earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign in Human Development and Family Studies. I completed my internship at Orland Township Youth and Family Services, where I worked with individuals, groups, youth, couples, and families. During my internship, I worked with children who experienced depression, anger, and low self-esteem. My work with couples and family consists of working with a wide range of issues, to help build stronger and more meaningful relational bonds.