About Susan Roberts
Becoming a professional counselor was a mid-life career change when I
returned to graduate school to earn my counseling master’s degree, completed in
1998. I graduated from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology (Chicago
Northwest campus). It is now known as Argosy University, which has accredited
branches throughout the United States.
I have been working with adult clients since 1997. From 1998-2002 I worked full time
in community mental health agencies. In 2001 I founded my private counseling
practice which quickly grew to a full time endeavor. I work with adults ranging in age
from 18 through their 70s.
After completion of my counseling degree, I continued with additional training in
relationship counseling and cognitive behavioral therapy with an extensive
background in cognitive behavioral skills. These include the areas of emotional
regulation, distress tolerance, stress reduction, interpersonal effectiveness, and the
practice of mindfulness.
Mindfulness practice is an important part of my professional and personal life. I
occasionally teach classes and seminars on this topic. (Click on Helpful Links and
Resources for more on this intriguing topic.)
Since the 1970s I have been practicing and studying various meditation methods,
including mindfulness. I have found that these skills greatly enhance all aspects of
mind, body, and spirit, in addition to enhancing how one relates to others and the
surrounding environment. In recent years, many studies have shown that meditation
and mindfulness practices are a helpful adjunct to traditional mental health therapies.
Mindfulness is only one example, however, of the many strategies we can explore
together to determine what may be possible in your life. We will take an integral
approach to what will be most beneficial to you with regard to changes in life, whether
physical, emotional, mental, spiritual or how you manage relationships.
My general approach to counseling supports the idea that you are the expert
on your life and that we can build on your strengths. Sometimes though, it is easy to
get stuck in rigid ways of thinking that keep a person depressed and stuck in the past
or filled with anxiety and worried about a future that is not yet here. Thus, completely
missing out on the joy of present life experience. Counseling helps people get
unstuck and more able to see that there are usually viable options for change beyond
that one way of thinking that keeps a person trapped in emotional pain.
Just a bit more about me… Prior to becoming a counselor I worked as a
librarian, a musician and at various volunteer opportunities. Earlier in life, I earned a
bachelor’s degree in music history and a master’s degree in library science, both
from Northern Illinois University. I have been married for over 25 years to a recently
retired college professor and together we have raised a now grown daughter.
I am a member of the following organizations:
American Counseling Association
Illinois Mental Health Counselors Association
Illinois Counseling Association
returned to graduate school to earn my counseling master’s degree, completed in
1998. I graduated from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology (Chicago
Northwest campus). It is now known as Argosy University, which has accredited
branches throughout the United States.
I have been working with adult clients since 1997. From 1998-2002 I worked full time
in community mental health agencies. In 2001 I founded my private counseling
practice which quickly grew to a full time endeavor. I work with adults ranging in age
from 18 through their 70s.
After completion of my counseling degree, I continued with additional training in
relationship counseling and cognitive behavioral therapy with an extensive
background in cognitive behavioral skills. These include the areas of emotional
regulation, distress tolerance, stress reduction, interpersonal effectiveness, and the
practice of mindfulness.
Mindfulness practice is an important part of my professional and personal life. I
occasionally teach classes and seminars on this topic. (Click on Helpful Links and
Resources for more on this intriguing topic.)
Since the 1970s I have been practicing and studying various meditation methods,
including mindfulness. I have found that these skills greatly enhance all aspects of
mind, body, and spirit, in addition to enhancing how one relates to others and the
surrounding environment. In recent years, many studies have shown that meditation
and mindfulness practices are a helpful adjunct to traditional mental health therapies.
Mindfulness is only one example, however, of the many strategies we can explore
together to determine what may be possible in your life. We will take an integral
approach to what will be most beneficial to you with regard to changes in life, whether
physical, emotional, mental, spiritual or how you manage relationships.
My general approach to counseling supports the idea that you are the expert
on your life and that we can build on your strengths. Sometimes though, it is easy to
get stuck in rigid ways of thinking that keep a person depressed and stuck in the past
or filled with anxiety and worried about a future that is not yet here. Thus, completely
missing out on the joy of present life experience. Counseling helps people get
unstuck and more able to see that there are usually viable options for change beyond
that one way of thinking that keeps a person trapped in emotional pain.
Just a bit more about me… Prior to becoming a counselor I worked as a
librarian, a musician and at various volunteer opportunities. Earlier in life, I earned a
bachelor’s degree in music history and a master’s degree in library science, both
from Northern Illinois University. I have been married for over 25 years to a recently
retired college professor and together we have raised a now grown daughter.
I am a member of the following organizations:
American Counseling Association
Illinois Mental Health Counselors Association
Illinois Counseling Association
Susan L. Roberts, MA NCC LCPC
Counseling for Adults
815.754.9777
Counseling for Adults
815.754.9777
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Copyright: 2008 Susan L. Roberts
Mindfulness:
“Paying attention,
on purpose,
in the present moment
as if your life
depended on it,
non-judgmentally.”
Jon Kabat-Zinn
“Paying attention,
on purpose,
in the present moment
as if your life
depended on it,
non-judgmentally.”
Jon Kabat-Zinn
