Abigail LYNCH LCPC, LPC

The first session will be a balance of things. Its an opportunity for you to tell me more about your history overall and what it is you are hoping to work toward in therapy together. I have you fill out paperwork prior to the first session and ask a few questions about that, and you get to tell me anything and everything you feel comfortable sharing at first. I always end our sessions with goals for the week and the end of the first session is slightly different in that you describe your goals, overall, for us to work toward. The first session is a lovely opportunity to get familiar with how each other communicates and what it is you want from this. I like sessions to feel like a nice balance for clients.

Therapy was not on my radar until I entered college. My background is in environmental studies and while studying abroad I realized my passion and interests were geared towards people rather than the environment that surrounded them. That background still informs the way I view a whole person and each of our environments greatly impacts our wellbeing. I just decided to focus more on one on one care versus trying to solve a greater macro issue. I then took a few different jobs in the mental health field and wanted to learn as much as possible to start this work. It became clear to me that this was a field I would want to be in as long as possible and it felt so good to learn tools to really help people live the lives they felt fulfilled by. I fell into a highly rigorous training program at a local hospital where I learned CBT, ERP and ACT to treat OCD, Anxiety, Eating Disorders, Trauma and more. I couldn't be more grateful because that is how I learned how to do work that shifts behavior and thought patterns that clients find really distressing. My focus lately has been in the perinatal and postpartum mental health realm as I became a mother myself. The mental load parents, especially primary caregivers, hold is immense and I am passionate about providing support to this population. I welcome babies to be on screen with parents as they meet with me so that they dont have to worry about childcare to receive treatment as well. To be honest, there is SO much that inspired me and continues to inspire me to choose this profession. Im honored to be witness to so many lives and stories and to be trusted with holding that vulnerable space for my client.

• Illinois, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, 178.011638
• Wisconsin, Licensed Professional Counselor, 2603-226

I was trained at Marquette University and received most of my clinical training and supervision at Rogers Behavioral Health hospital and at The Family Institute at Northwestern prior to starting my own private practice. My specialties are working with individuals who have anxiety, ocd, phobias and social anxiety as well as perinatal and postpartum mood disorders. I have my perinatal mental health certificate as well and am passionate about helping parents as they navigate conceiving, labor and delivery, transitioning to parenthood and also parenting children of all ages.