Julie Feldman, LCSW, PEL (she/her/hers)

Hi! I am Julie and I work with clients of all ages. I help my clients navigate the ups and downs of new or chronic diagnoses, challenges, or general life stressors. I have a special interest in working with individuals and families impacted by Autism Spectrum Disorder, but also specialize in managing anxiety, depression, grief and loss, ADHD, and adjustment to significant life changes or shifts in the family system. Prior to practicing as a private practice therapist, I worked in educational, recreational, and therapeutic settings including elementary and middle schools, therapeutic camps, and mental health agencies.  In therapy, my clients will learn how to identify and manage their emotions, create a tool box for long-term coping and mindfulness, as well as improve their ability to interact and communicate with their peers, family, teachers, employers, and friends. My job is to listen to your story and help you uncover positive ways to move forward, so you are able to use learned therapeutic strategies outside the office and in your home, school, and community. As your life experiences change over the course of therapy, so will the process and goals.

I believe in therapy as a proactive tool, effective not only when someone is in crisis, but more often as a place to build and develop tools for independent problem-solving down the line. I also believe that you are the expert of your experience, and in therapy you will be in the driver’s seat while I will help guide and support you as the passenger. Sessions with me are very different from client to client. We will generally discuss progress made, goals reached, and challenges faced since the last session; as well as identify and tackle new goals for the coming week. I will follow your lead and we will communicate in the way that feels most supportive and genuine to you. This may be through talking, drawing, play, journing, role-play, or some days this may be through silence and self-reflection.  Some of my favorite strategies include integrating both CBT and DBT, as well as movement, mindfulness, and sometimes a little bit of humor and laughter.

Outside of the office I can usually be found playing with my dog, training for a race, cooking, and reading. I love my hometown of Chicago, but am often planning my next trip to the mountains!

Services Provided: 

• Therapy with Children & Teens
• Therapy with Adults
• Therapy with Individuals on the Autism Spectrum

Julie’s Contact Information: 

jfeldman@rootedconnectionscounseling.com

773-417-6342, ext. 2030