Meet Us
Laura Kowalski, LCPC
She/Her/Hers
Throughout her career, Laura has appreciated her opportunities to work with a variety of clients, challenges, and settings—including schools, addiction treatment centers, and community mental health centers. Laura enjoys working with children and adolescents, and approaches her work with them from a family perspective. This means that support is given to the child or adolescent, as well as to the parents or guardians and other family members. Laura’s work with individuals with alcohol and drug issues gives her perspective on how these challenges interact with mental health. Finally, Laura has applied her clinical experience to the business setting to address unproductive dynamics within organizations, and encourage them to improve the mental health of their employees.
Laura believes it is important to understand each individual’s specific experience. Because it can be difficult to share uncomfortable feelings and experiences, she works to establish a therapeutic relationship early in therapy. In order to establish a quality, trusting relationship, Laura is authentic in sessions: she listens to gain understanding, is supportive and validating, and will challenge when appropriate. In addition to using the therapeutic relationship itself, Laura utilizes practices that have been proven to be effective in improving specific treatment issues. Some of these practices are Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), and Exposure Response Prevention (ERP).
Laura is aware individuals often experience their symptoms for months and sometimes even years before seeking help. There are many reasons for this, but she works to help her clients believe that things can be easier. Laura enjoys identifying what clients and families have found works for them, and helps them expand on these skills. It is Laura’s belief that her role is to partner with clients and families to empower them to get to a place where they are comfortable managing their challenges on their own. She finds the ability to observe the growth of individuals and families one of the most fulfilling professional experiences.
When not working, Laura enjoys travel, yoga, and spending time outside with her family.
Anna McCaffrey, LCPC, NCC
She/Her/Hers
Anna is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Nationally Board Certified Counselor. She holds a Master’s degree in Education with an emphasis in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Northern Illinois University and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Spanish, and Latin American Studies from Augustana College.
Outside of private practice, Anna’s experience extends to a variety of mental health settings - including community-based mental health centers, alternative high schools, special education preschools, and college counseling centers. This experience has allowed her to work with children, adolescents, adults, older adults, families, and couples.
Throughout therapy, Anna will join you where you are on this part of your journey and encourage you to become an active participant in your healing process. She strives to provide a compassionate and accepting environment where you feel heard. Anna believes in building a strong therapeutic relationship to address your individual needs. When collaborating together, she will develop innovative techniques that utilize your strengths to help you thrive.
Anna has received training in Family-Based Treatment for Eating Disorders through the University of Chicago Medical Center. She is also a Gottman Level 2 trained therapist for couple’s therapy through The Gottman Institute. Other Evidence Based Treatment modalities Anna uses include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. Common concerns Anna treats include anxiety, depression, disordered eating, family dysfunction, marital discord, disruptive mood/behavior, and attention.