Tricia JohnsonLCSW

I am a very laid-back person, and I feel like that also comes through in therapy. I like to build a collaborative relationship with my clients. In therapy, I see myself as the guide... I'm not going to tell you where to go, or what to see or do, but I'm also not going to follow you around if you're lost and wandering. A skillful guide is someone who is a good listener and also able to offer expertise where needed. In therapy, this may be helping you reframe a situation, empowering you, and/or providing some psychoeducation.

Just like Teddy Roosevelt said decades ago, "Comparison is the thief of joy." It still rings just as true today. When we compare ourselves to others and what they have, we often end up feeling deflated and lacking. With the prevalence of social media in our society, it's hard not to fall into the comparison trap. The more we compare ourselves to others, the higher our levels of anxiety and depression, and the less we are actually able to tune into what's happening in our own lives. Through a mindfulness practice, we can start noticing things that we appreciate and are grateful for and learn how to offer ourselves a bit of compassion.

I believe that therapy is a collaborative process. From the very first session, it's important for me to establish a relationship and get to know you as a person, not just the current issue that is bringing you to therapy. We can then develop goals that highlight your many strengths and help you grow into the best version of yourself. Often, in the busyness of life, we tend to compare ourselves to others. This comparison trap fires up our inner critic, and many of our strengths go unnoticed. In therapy, I utilize a mindfulness approach that encourages staying aware in the present moment without judgment. Through mindfulness, self-compassion, and lots of practice, we can learn to slow down, be more inquisitive, and be much kinder with ourselves.

• Illinois, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, 149010718

I began work as a social worker 20 years ago in a Residential Facility for children. The kids living there were in crisis and many were dealing with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and/or PTSD and were sometimes a danger to themselves or others. While there, I practiced individual, family, and group therapy and later went on to become the Clinical Director. Later, I shifted gears and worked in a hospital dialysis center where I worked with chronically ill adults. In this role, I still offered brief therapy services but also assisted the clients in other social and emotional aspects of their lives. I have most recently been working with adults through teletherapy. Currently, my work is primarily focused on helping people manage feelings of anxiety, stress, relationship and intimacy issues, self-esteem, and women's issues. I also have experience working with the LGBTQ+ population. I am a lifelong learner and work hard to continuously stay educated and aware of new approaches in therapy and changes in my field.