We help people change their everyday.
Life Redefined is a team of seasoned clinical social workers and counselors located in the western suburbs of Chicago offering psychotherapy to individuals in all stages of life. From young to old, from single, married or it’s complicated, Life Redefined Clinical Counseling sees children, teens, young adults, middle/older adults, couples, and families.
Our team is passionate to see people build a better and healthier normal and are constantly learning and growing in order to help make that happen for our clients. We strive to create safe spaces for people by leading with kindness, empathy and honesty.
We hope finding out a little more about us will take away the barriers that are keeping you from reaching out. We are here to help and it all starts with a simple conversation.
Learn
Our intention is for our clients to learn more about themselves and their journeys. We provide spaces, services and resources that help facilitate increased awareness and education that take away the fear of approaching life’s most complex emotions and experiences.
Grow
We want our clients to grow emotionally, physically and spiritually and one of the ways we help this process is by equipping them to express feelings in healthy ways. This leads to healthier ways of relating to their community and an increased sense of control in one’s life.
Thrive
Our aim is for our clients to leave feeling empowered and equipped to be present, not consumed by the worries of tomorrow or the fears of yesterday, and live unafraid. Our hope is that their fears begin to fade and they begin to thrive.
Our Values
While we are open and flexible in our process, we are driven by a set of values that set the parameters for our work. We believe these values help us consistently become a safe space for our clients to untangle the complex situations in their lives.
Pippin the Goldendoodle
Therapy Dog
Hey Friends! My name is Pippin and I love coming to work with my owners at LR Clinical. My job is to help bring to life the mission and vision of LR Clinical, which is to help foster safe and comfortable spaces where clients can learn, grow, and thrive as they create new healthy normal in their lives. Dozens of studies have shown the therapeutic benefits of using someone like me in counseling. For example, petting dogs can promote relaxation. Research has demonstrated that petting an animal can help lower blood pressure, heart rate, and increase oxytocin (a feel-good chemical in the brain).
In case you are worried, my coat is considered hypoallergenic and I do not shed. I am technically an English Goldendoodle. This means that a part of me has some English Golden Retriever and part of me has some Poodle. This is what makes me such a great therapy dog.
I am working on getting my Canine Good Citizen Certification. I plan to go to more doggie school after that, kinda like getting my masters for therapy dogs! My owners take great care of me and I have all of my vaccinations.
What I do for fun:
In my free time, I love to go for walks and meet new people and let them pet my belly. I also love taking plenty of naps.
AREAS OF PRACTICE
Here is a more extensive list of my areas of practice:
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Getting my belly scratched
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Laying around and looking cute
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Being affectionate
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Playing keep away
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Providing unconditional love
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Taking plenty of naps
Alexander Goreham
LCSW: Licensed Clinical Social Worker | CRADC | EMDR-II
Life can be a tricky journey, sometimes it’s full of excitement and fun, and other times it can be really tough. I don't believe we were created to walk this life alone, especially through those difficult moments. That's where therapy comes in.
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). I got my Masters's in Social Work from Loyola University Chicago. I am a Certified Reciprocal Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CRADC). I am also trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). I also received my post-graduate certification in play therapy from a university in Kansas. I also use a therapy model called Internal Family Systems (IFS).
It is common for therapists to have several areas of speciality. I specialize in offering counseling for trauma, adoption, addictions, attachment, depression, and anxiety-related concerns. For those clients who wish to incorporate their faith into their therapeutic journey, that’s awesome! EMDR is a therapy technique that can treat multiple mental health concerns, mainly trauma. I enjoy working with adolescents and their families, kids, and adults. My view of addictions counseling is simple. I don’t engage in a power struggle with my clients for their sobriety. I believe long-term sobriety is achieved when the benefits of not using outweigh the emotional needs that are met when engaging in addictive behaviors. The starting point in any type of therapy is about meeting you where you are.
To be honest with you, I don't have the power to change you, and that is not my goal. My job as a therapist is to come alongside you and help you rediscover yourself and your potential. With a greater understanding of who you are and where you have been will come the opportunity for change to create a new normal.
What I do for fun:
I am actually a professional photographer on the side. I love to be active and ride my bike. I get competitive with beach volleyball. But I most enjoy traveling and seeing new places with my wife by my side.
AREAS OF PRACTICE
Here is a more extensive list of my areas of practice:
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Adoption
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Trauma
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Chemical Dependency
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Behavioral addictions
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Relationship / Marriage Conflict
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Anxiety
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Depression
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Play Therapy
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Spirituality
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Loss / Grief
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Men’s Issues
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Life transitions
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Family Conflict
Our Space
We strive to be intentional about everything we do and that includes the physical spaces where we interact with our clients. We know feeling safe and comfortable is a key part of the process, so we thought through the lighting in the rooms, the pictures on the walls, the chairs our clients sit in, even the scents you smell when you walk in. Our goal is to create an environment most conducive to gaining clarity and untangling the complex situations in our clients’ lives.
Maggie Spoelhof
LCSW: Licensed Clinical Social Worker
I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). I earned my BA in psychology from Calvin University and a Masters of Social Work Degree from Colorado State University. The bulk of my work history has been in child welfare and working specifically with children and youth in the context of their families. I apply a strengths based perspective that is also family centered and trauma informed. I often utilize play therapy when working with kids. My main areas of interest and work include trauma, depression and anxiety related concerns, family conflict, women’s issues, and spirituality.
We all have a lot of navigating to do these days, and I really enjoy walking alongside individuals as they pilot life’s transitions and changes. Adjusting can be hard, scary work -- even overwhelming at times. That’s where having a therapist comes into play. How can I help support you along life’s path in ways that empower and, at times, challenge you? My goal is to help encourage and support you in discovering your potential through healthy change and/or healing. We all have pasts; it’s in acknowledging where we come from and where we’ve been that we gain the opportunity to understand our present, and can help manifest positive change for our future. I’d like to help you redefine your potential and find purpose by starting exactly where you are, today.
My goal is to develop an empathetic and supportive relationship in an environment conducive to positive change. I want to help dismantle destructive thought processes and replace them with positive coping skills and ways of thinking that better serve you, your goals, and desires.
What I do for fun:
In my free time you can find me with family! We love the Morton Arboretum, spending time playing outdoors, and swimming/swim meets!
AREAS OF PRACTICE
Here is a more extensive list of my areas of practice:
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Anxiety
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Life Transitions
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Spirituality
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Women's Issues
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Career Counseling
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Coping Skills
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Grief
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Obsessive-Compulsive (OCD)
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Prenatal and Pregnancy
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Postpartum
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Self-Esteem
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Stress
David Seisser
LCSW: Licensed Clinical Social Worker | EMDR-II
My aim is to create a comforting and compassionate space for each of my clients as we walk together toward finding balance physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Therapy often includes exploring your story and where you have been. Unfortunately, this can be really difficult at times and this is really where I come in. My job is to create a space for you to feel empowered to explore your past, learn from it, and create new ways forward. You don't have to settle for your old normal. I want to empower you to create a new normal.
I graduated with my masters in social work, and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I specialize in working with trauma recovery, family-of-origin issues, self-medicating behaviors, anxiety and depression, and codependency. As a trauma-informed clinician, I operate from different therapeutic styles including EMDR, DBT, CBT, EFT and I am client centered. I work with various age groups, including teenage clients, middle aged clients, and older adults.
Our response to our troubles can impact us daily, making it difficult to manage our lives and be the person we want to be. Through the hard work spent in therapy, it is possible to find relief and move closer to who we want to be.
What I Do for Fun:
In my free time I enjoy walking my dogs, going to the gym, and playing both board games and video games.
AREAS OF PRACTICE
Here is a more extensive list of my areas of practice:
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Trauma & PTSD
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Anxiety/Depression
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Codependency
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Coping Skills
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Emotional Disturbance
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Family Conflict
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Men's Issues
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Peer relationships
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Spirituality
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Stress
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Substance use
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Sports Performance
Amira Mina
LPC: Licensed Professional Counselor
In life, we face difficulties, seasons of adjustments, and stress. We can struggle with the devastation of trauma, grief and loss, sexual problems, low self-esteem, depression, and addictions which impact every aspect of our lives. Sometimes, pain can rob people of their stories, relationships, and joy but I believe that we can work together to claim joy and live fully in our present and future.
I graduated with my Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Wheaton College. I am licensed in the states of Michigan and Illinois. I am also certified in the United Kingdom, where I lived and worked for some years. I have worked as a counselor on 4 continents, serving diverse populations with a wide range of presenting concerns, offering services in English, French, and Arabic.
I can't highlight enough what a privilege it is to be allowed to walk alongside individuals in their journey. I am passionate about forming a collaborative partnership with each person and assisting in developing tools that promote growth and can be used in everyday life while providing culturally sensitive and trauma-informed care. I am committed to creating a non-judgmental space, utilizing evidence-based therapies tailored to meet each individual's needs.
What I do for fun:
I enjoy drinking coffee in local cafes with friends, being with my favorite dog, and being immersed in nature and warm sandy beaches. I treasure traveling and experiencing the beauty of cultures and flavors.
AREAS OF PRACTICE
Here is a more extensive list of my areas of practice:
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Anxiety/Depression
- Life Transitions
- Relationship Issues
- Trauma/PTSD
- Christian Counseling
- Women's Issues
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Grief / Loss
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Coping Skills
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Cross-Cultural concerns / Adjustments
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Self Esteem
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Behavioral Addictions
Elena Johnson
LSW: Licensed Social Worker
Hi there, my name is Elena. Starting therapy can sometimes seem challenging and scary. The prospect of having to talk about life’s hurts can make the process feel overwhelming. We all know life can he hard and my goal is to be available to help you process the difficult seasons you have been through. Yet other times, clients come to therapy to just talk about their daily lives. They want to be heard and listened to. Whether you are seeking therapy to address a significant hurt in your life or are just looking for a space where you can process your day-to-day life, I hope to provide a place where this all can happen.
I strive to empower my clients, help them find healing, and a renewed sense of purpose. I use an integrative approach to address the needs of each individual. My hope and goal for therapy is to help each of my clients find their voice and leave our session feeling like they have been seen and heard as their own individual.
I graduated with my master’s in social work. Like other therapists, I have several areas of focus that I enjoy working with. I have extensive experience working with family units, children, and parents who are involved in child welfare. I have worked as supervisor in child welfare in the past as well. Helping clients who are going through various life transitions is also something I am passionate about. No matter what the transition is, job change, loss of a relationship, birth of a child, or some other unexpected change. I love working with kids and I use play therapy as a tool to empower kids to express their internal feelings and their natural language of play.
I want to be able to create a safe environment for you to be able to explore where you are today to help you become the best version of yourself.
What I Do for Fun:
In my free time I enjoy being active, spending time outdoors, and being with friends and family.
AREAS OF PRACTICE
Here is a more extensive list of my areas of practice:
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Children & Teens
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Women's Issues
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Anxiety / Depression
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Coping Skills
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Life Transitions
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Stress Management
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Christian Counseling
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Pregnancy, Prenatal, Postpartum
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Grief / Lose
Ellen Egerton
LPC: Licensed Professional Counselor
Hello, my name is Ellen. It is a joy and privilege to be a counselor and walk alongside clients through their own self discovery, healing and growth. My hope is for counseling to become something my clients look forward to and continually see as transforming their outlook to life. Whether clients are looking to generally process situations, relationships, emotions or address more specific concerns, we work together to tailor the counseling journey.
What can you expect from a counseling session together? Overall, each session will be a non-judgemental place for you to be heard and supported. At first, it will take some time to talk through your background and what sparked your interest in starting counseling. From there, we narrow in on what you hope to gain from counseling. In the subsequent sessions, the counseling process takes a shape that is increasingly personalized to you. As time goes on, we evaluate our approach and monitor progress.
My background includes a history of working with pre-teens, teens, young adults and families. I am passionate about helping clients gain confidence and self awareness. I highly value understanding my client’s relational world and how it shapes them. I like to incorporate building skills such as creating healthy boundaries or learning relaxation techniques. I am happy to integrate a client’s faith into the counseling journey if desired.
What I do for fun:
I enjoy spending time with family and friends, traveling and being outside (especially during summer) and studying the Bible.
AREAS OF PRACTICE
Here is a more extensive list of my areas of practice:
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Anxiety / Depression
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Interpersonal Relationships
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Christian Counseling
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Loss and Grief
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Life Transitions
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Women’s Issues
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Stress Management
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Coping Skills
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Career Counseling
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Codependency
Cathi Schuurmann
LCPC: Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
Life can be filled with unexpected changes that seem out of our control. Sometimes those changes lead to feelings like anxiety, depression, frustration and helplessness. Other times these emotions are what cause the unexpected life changes. Therapy can help! My goal as a therapist is to provide a safe space to compassionately work alongside my clients, so they can grow and bring about desired change!
I graduated with my Master’s in Counseling Psychology and am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC). I also have a Master’s in Education; School Counseling. Through working as a school counselor for many years, I have extensive experience with children and adolescents as well as parents and school staff. I also specialize in working with adults who are going through difficult life transitions and those dealing with stressful relationships. Helping clients with self-compassion is another area of focus. I use an integrative and strengths based approach in therapy and often use CBT to teach helpful strategies. As a therapist, I strive to collaborate with my clients as we work together towards meaningful change!
What I Do for Fun:
I enjoy being active outside, traveling, spending time with my husband and our nearly-adult kids, and attempting to wear out our dog. I love meeting friends for breakfast!
AREAS OF PRACTICE
Here is a more extensive list of my areas of practice:
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Children & Teens
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Women's Issues
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ADHD
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Autism Spectrum (ASD)
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Self-Compassion
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Anxiety
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Life Transitions
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School and Social Struggles
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Grief / Loss
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Stress Management
Laurel Goreham
LPC: Licensed Professional Counselor
I believe strongly in being a safe place for you to bring your authentic self into counseling, without fear of judgment. Connecting with you genuinely is deeply important to me, and I believe that building trust is a crucial part of our therapeutic relationship. Counseling can be a little like farming - we work together to cultivate your field, digging out stones of beliefs, feelings, etc. that are in the way, and nourishing new growth by giving language and tools for the things you’re dealing with. You're an expert on you! My goal is to be a genuine, empathetic, approachable tool to help my clients thrive.
You bring many strengths, gifts, and resources into the counseling room. But when you’re struggling, those can be easy to forget. I want to help you discover your strengths and help them grow as we work together. I'd love to support you through the tough, painful parts of life. I won't try to fix you, but I will walk with you through it.
I graduated from Wheaton College with my Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) I've worked in underserved communities in the US and globally, on college campuses, and with international individuals and families navigating cross-cultural transition and trauma. As a counselor, I have several areas of focus that I enjoy working with and specialize in. I specialize in working with those who struggle with feelings of anxiety and perfectionism. Life transitions can be tough, even ones that we are excited about. My hope and goal is to help you navigate whatever you are going through so you leave feeling empowered to life a more joyful life.
What I do for fun:
In my free time, I like being in the mountains, going for walks with my husband, and waking up early to enjoy a good cup of coffee.
AREAS OF PRACTICE
Here is a more extensive list of my areas of practice:
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Anxiety
- Life Transitions
- Spirituality
- Career Counseling
- Coping Skills
- Perfectionist Tendencies
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Grief / Loss
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Obsessive-Compulsive / OCD
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Pregnancy / Postpartum
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Self Esteem
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Stress
