Addiction and Substance Abuse Counseling near Vernon Hills, IL

Biography: Welcome! My name is Yvette Medina and I am a bicultural Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in the state of Illinois with a sense of humor and a love for helping people. I have over 17 years experience working in the mental health field. I am so happy that you are taking the first step in taking care of yourself. I applaud you as you enter this journey. I understand that it is not always easy meeting with a stranger and sharing your fears and vulnerabilities, however, after a few minutes of introductions and exchanged pleasantries we will no longer be strangers. Allow me to help you onto your journey as you discover your inner strength. I will be your biggest advocate, and your support, we will laugh and celebrate accomplishments that you will make in our sessions together, from the biggest to the smallest. I believe in meeting you where you are at while providing you a safe space. I currently work for a non for profit agency with the focus of addiction treatment, anger management, homelessness, family reunification, and mental health issues. My areas of expertise are major depressive disorder, personality disorders, bipolar disorders, family/relationship conflicts, life transitions, and complex trauma/abuse, prenatal and postpartum depression. I also have experience working with individuals that suffer from anxiety, intellectual/developmental disabilities, pervasive developmental disorders, and immigration/acculturation issues. I am also a proud advocate of individuals from the LGBTQ community. As a Latinex/bicultural counselor I am able to relate with you through many shared experiences. I am well versed in various theoretical orientations, such as, person-centered, motivational interviewing, brief solution-focused counseling, cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness, dialectical behavioral therapy and life coach techniques. In addition, I can apply more classical approaches to counseling and adapt to your current needs. I look forward to meeting with you and assisting you to reach your true potential. My hobbies are reading, traveling, knitting, baking (eating bake goods), photography (I will send an occasional picture when its relatable and appropriate,) painting, and watching soap operas (novelas). Self care is important for you and I. I will remind you to engage regularly in self care for positive mental health purposes as this will be included as part of your goals. At this time, I am only open during the weekends.

Biography: I am licensed in Illinois with 5 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with coping with addictions, trauma, & abuse. I also have experience working with coping with life changes. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

Biography: I have over 16 years of clinical experience helping individuals, couples, and families seeking help to resolve some of their problems with conflict, adjusting to life event stressors, recovering from trauma to become survivors and not victims. Furthermore, I like to help others with addictions of practically every kind to change their habits with replacement thoughts, behaviors, and actions that improve their sense of purpose in life and handling their emotions rather than avoiding them with their maladaptive behaviors. A majority of my training and experience has been on helping clients incorporate positive communication skills, conflict resolution skills, and improve upon their ability to stop negative thinking habits that tend to interfere with change.