I am a licensed clinical professional counselor and earned my Master's in Counseling with a Specialization in Sport and Health Psychology at Adler University. My experience as a counselor began at Heartland Alliance where I served in their shelters for undocumented minors. I provided group and individual counseling for young men who arrived at the US border seeking refuge from their home countries.
The youth spoke about many traumatic events that they suffered while living in their home countries, but also during their journey to the US. I provided trauma-informed therapy as many of the children were experiencing Adjustment Disorder, PTSD, and sometimes Oppositional Defiant Disorder. I most recently served at Esperanza Health Centers, a federally qualified health center in Chicago's southwest neighborhoods, in their clinical setting and school based health center.
I worked with patients of all ages and needs, but primarily with youth struggling with trauma, disabilities, abuse, and living with chronic illnesses. I have been told by clients and colleagues that I have a calming presence, am a good listener, and always stay positive. My approach to therapy is collaborative, empowering, nonjudgmental, trauma informed, and goal-focused. I see therapy as a method to find the individual's strengths to help overcome any hardships they may be struggling with in their life. I integrate treatment modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma-Focused CBT, Narrative Therapy, Existential Therapy, and mindfulness techniques. I specialize in treating PTSD among adolescents and/or immigrant populations.
I am also skilled in treating mental illnesses such as anxiety, depression, grief, emotional abuse, and life transitions. In addition, I incorporate Sports Psychology in sessions where appropriate as I believe physical activity can empower us and teach us life skills that boost as self-esteem, promote team building, and aid in relaxation. These methods are proven to show reduction in anxiety and depression. When I'm not at work, I love running, traveling, spending time with my family and friends, and, most of all, enjoying time with my wife and our dog. I am passionate about the integration of physical and emotional health, animal rescue, and health care as a human right.
I am a movie nerd and love, above all, Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Trilogy. It's possible I will also use Batman quotes in sessions – you have been warned. Blue Cross Blue Shield was founded in 1929, and is the oldest nationwide provider for health insurance in the United States. They are one of the largest and most influential health insurance providers, as they service more than 106 million Americans – including millions through government-supported healthcare programs. They are contracted with more than 96% of hospitals, and 95% of medical specialists, which allows them to provide customers with unprecedented coverage.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois was founded in 1936, and happily provides more than 8.1 million clients with exemplary services. Blue Cross Blue Shield offers bronze, silver, and gold insurance plans for individuals and families, businesses, and federally employed individuals. Fortunately, almost all BCBS insurance programs include coverage for mental health and substance-use disorders.
All of their plans follow the guidelines of theAffordable Care Act, and provide individuals with the same set of essential health benefits which include mental health benefits. Dr. Brittany Lakin-Starr is a warm, compassionate, and experienced Licensed Clinical Psychologist. She is the co-founder and co- executive director of the Chicago Center for Growth and Change and previously worked for 7 years as a staff psychologist at Illinois Masonic Medical Center. She has over 10 years of experience treating adults, children and adolescents, couples and families from diverse backgrounds.
She treats anxiety, depression, eating disorders, trauma, PTSD, ADHD, behavioral concerns, school issues, relationship challenges, and adjustment difficulties. She also helps individuals navigate life transitions, for example, young and emerging adulthood, becoming a couple, infertility, pregnancy and postpartum. Dr. Lakin-Starr offers an individualized treatment approach for each of her patients and uses insight oriented, cognitive- behavioral, family systems, and Psychodrama, a creative arts therapy. She was adjunct faculty at Loyola University Chicago and frequently lectures at Northwestern University Feinberg's School of Medicine. She was on The 50 Minute Hour, a podcast with Dr. Zachary Friedman, where she discussed psychodrama. They offer an individualized approach in a safe and compassionate environment and have specialized treatments to meet your needs.
The law mandated insurance providers that offer mental health benefits to provide equal or better coverage for mental health and substance-use disorders. In other words, the law required insurance providers to treat mental health conditions the same physical health conditions. The purpose of the law was to make mental health coverage more accessible to the general population.
Because Blue Cross insurance plans provide mental health coverage, they consider mental health visits the same as any other doctor visit. The passage of this law was a tremendous step forward for those with mental health conditions, because they were not adequately covered by insurance providers in the past. You know that your benefits offer mental health services, but you may have questions about what your plan covers or what type of provider you can see for your behavioral health care. We're here to help you make informed decisions when searching for behavioral health providers and how to access the type of care and support you need.
My experience consists of working with children, adolescents, young adults and adults with various mood disorders in both privileged and underprivileged settings. By accepting what's not within our control and intentionally engaging in behaviors that align with our values, we live more fully in the present and move closer to what matters. I believe that developing an honest, authentic therapeutic relationship is key to making changes.
There are many types of therapy and specialists available depending on your specific mental health needs. For more serious clinical diagnoses, psychiatrists are licensed medical doctors who can prescribe and monitor medications as well as diagnose mental health conditions and provide some therapy. Talkspace is a digital platform that connects thousands of licensed therapists and psychiatrists with people seeking mental healthcare. As a digital healthcare company, all care is delivered through an easy-to-use and HIPAA-compliant web and mobile platform.
Today, the need for therapy feels more urgent than ever, and when seeking treatment, whether it's psychiatric, adolescent, or couples therapy, Talkspace has treatment options for almost every need. With Talkspace, clients can send their dedicated therapists text, video, and voice messages anytime, from anywhere, and engage in live video sessions. To date, over 2 million people have used the service, and over 40 million lives are covered for Talkspace through insurance. Being able to provide clients the ability to renew enthusiasm and positive self-awareness in their daily lives is a passion of mine. Some days, we face difficulties that seem inevitable, and other days, we have the blues that do not let us get out of bed. Through therapeutic treatment, I work with my clients to tackle these difficult situations and face the blues.
To overcome these life challenges, my focus is to increase self-affirmation, positive thought behavior, emotional regulation, and relaxation techniques in my clients. I work with children, adolescents, and adults who are interested in achieving their mental health goals through the therapeutic process. The therapeutic process will consist of psychotherapy and a treatment plan that the client and I will work together to construct to meet the client's room. In my therapeutic room, the focus is solely on the client's wants and needs. The treatment process will consist of the utilization of cognitive-behavioral therapy, rational emotive behavioral therapy, and some existential therapy.
Each theoretical orientation will be oriented to the client's specific case. I specialize in mood disorders, personality disorders, psychosis, trauma, grief, disabilities, and addictions. In the past years, I have worked to provide my clients comfortability in the therapy room by providing unconditional positive regard and empathy. It is important for me to be able to understand what it is like to be in my client's shoes to help them work through the emotional difficulties they are facing. I aspire to grow with my clients' in the therapy room because I consider companionship in psychotherapy as a crucial component.
I am passionate about my work and the ability to connect with my clients is what keeps me going. It takes courage to reach out for support especially in the darkest moments of our lives. Through the experience of therapy, we can work toward growth and change. I am here to be present with you as you navigate this journey called life.
I provide a nonjudgmental and safe environment to allow for self-expression, emphasizing finding meaning and purpose in life. I empathize with the struggles and obstacles you may be facing. My approach consists of Rogerian Therapy (Person-Centered), Rational-Emotive Behavioral Therapy , and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy . I have found that I adapt my approach based on the client's needs as we are all individuals with individual needs to be addressed. I have a history of helping clients with substance abuse/addiction issues as well as providing crisis intervention. I also have worked with adults struggling with self-esteem, depression, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, grief and loss, trauma, and adjustment to life transitions.
I graduated with my Master of Arts in Professional Counseling from Central Michigan University. There, I had a semester of practicum providing individual therapy to university students and I had a year-long internship as a substance abuse counselor. After graduation, I have experience as a substance abuse counselor and addiction counselor in inpatient and outpatient settings. I also have experience providing crisis intervention via phone. I hold licensure in the State of Illinois as a Licensed Professional Counselor as well as I am board certified as a National Certified Counselor. Through these digital tools, members can better manage their day in real-time by learning and practicing skills to overcome common challenges such as anxiety, depression and alcohol or substance use disorder.
Due to the Coronavirus outbreak, sessions starting March 23 will be via HIPPA compliant tele-therapy platform; in person sessions will resume after the health and safety concerns related the Coronavirus subside. Are you feeling sad or depressed and wondering if you will ever be happy again? Do you experience worry and anxiety that interferes with your ability to live a relaxed and productive life? Do you get so angry that it negatively impacts your relationships?
Are you feeling hopeless about ever losing weight and living a healthy lifestyle? Do the overwhelming demands of work cause you so much stress that other areas of your life suffer? These are some of the questions clients come to me with when they are experiencing significant distress in their lives.
I believe that therapy is a collaborative experience, in which we work together as a team to set agenda items, priorities and goals. My approach to working with you will be straightforward and practical, as I believe a problem-focused, solution-oriented perspective best enables improvement to take place as quickly as possible. We will work together to better understand how your thoughts influence your emotions, which in turn may impact your behavior in unproductive ways. We will also work on developing alternative ways of thinking, feeling and acting to help you deal more effectively with the problems in your life. Independence believes your overall health includes both your physical and emotional well-being. That's why we make it easy for you1 to use behavioral health services through the tele-behavioral health benefit.
You can have virtual visits by phone or video chat from the comfort of your home, or anywhere that's convenient for you. Virtual visits are convenient, flexible, and completely confidential. You'll pay the same amount as you would for an in-office behavioral health visit. The mental health care management program gives you access to a team of dedicated clinicians who can help you with many mental health concerns. Clinicians are available by phone to provide extra support and guidance for concerns including substance use issues, anger management, anxiety, depression, domestic violence, grief, post-traumatic stress disorder and stress. Telehealth offers virtual consults with doctors, counselors, psychiatrists or other health professionals via video, phone or mobile app.
Ask your employer if this program is available through your plan. Telehealth services are subject to the terms and conditions of the member's health plan, including benefits, limitations and exclusions. Decisions regarding your care should be made with the advice of your doctor.
SonderMind and Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Anthem, and CareFirst are partnered to make mental health care easy and accessible. Our licensed therapists are in-network with a variety of Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Anthem, and CareFirst behavioral health benefits plans, so you can get the support you need to make the changes you want. In today's global economy, it's not uncommon for employees to travel and work overseas.
The stress of being away from home can cause or worsen anxiety and even depression. Navigating another country's healthcare system can further exacerbate these conditions. GeoBlue® offers telehealth solutions for both physical and mental health needs, providing members with confidential access to counselors and wellness coaches around the world. Taking a holistic approach to care, GeoBlue also helps minimize stress by providing referrals to local resources such as legal counsel or childcare providers. In 2020, GeoBlue will launch its Global TeleMD app, making secure phone or video calls with doctors even easier, anywhere in the world. A majority of employers already offer telebehavioral health services, allowing employees to speak with an emotional health coach right away.
I have taken an integrative humanistic, culturally sensitive, and strengths-based approach in my work to create a safe and empathetic space for clients to explore their experiences and challenges in their journey. My Focus lies in supporting individuals and couples who experience anxiety, depression, self-esteem issues, relationship issues, stress, major life transitions, illness, grief, and trauma. I have a wide range of experience working with diverse populations in various settings.
I strongly believe in creating a safe space to build a therapeutic alliance with the clients so clients can explore important life questions and make meaningful changes to their lives. I believe in the uniqueness of each individual and value the insight each client brings to the therapeutic space. I see the therapeutic process as a collaborative effort between the clinician and the clients, and I believe that the clients are in charge of their lives. By working together with the clients, I support clients to achieve their well-being, heal from past experiences, including trauma, and integrate new, healthier ways of being. Wellnite offers various membership and subscription plans that best fit your needs.
Zocdoc patients are not required to sign up or commit to a subscription service prior your first appointment with a Wellnite provider through the Zocdoc marketplace. A bilingual LMHC with over 10 years of experience providing individual and group counseling to clients in need. I know that finding the courage to speak to a stranger, professional or not, about your personal life is extremely difficult. Therefore, I pride myself in providing clients with a safe and supportive space where they can truly overcome their traumas, and the barriers in their lives. With the ability to take a very empathetic person-centered approach toward treatment, I will always put my client's needs first.
Thank you for taking the first step toward your emotional wellness and allowing me to be part of such an extraordinary journey. It's normal to experience ups and downs in life, but when your emotions or behaviors start to impact your relationships or your health, it's time to act. Behavioral health concerns can strain your family, your job, even your finances. Our nurse advocates, together with your primary care provider and behavioral health providers in our network, are ready to give you the support you need to live your best life.
COVID-19 has eliminated the option to engage in in-person therapy for many, and telemedicine has emerged as a safe solution for both patients and providers. To further telemedicine's adoption, insurance companies are rallying behind digital services that can be accessed from the convenience and safety of one's home. This comes at a crucial time, particularly as the long-lasting mental health effects of the pandemic begin to set in, likely far outlasting the physical symptoms that hundreds of thousands are tragically suffering from. A recent study found more than half of people who received hospital treatment for COVID-19 to be suffering from a psychiatric disorder a month later.
