Michael Castellanos, M.A., LPC

My Approach to Therapy

I believe in an eclectic and collaborative therapy process, meaning I prioritize working to carefully understand your concerns and your goals, and then work with you to tailor  therapy  (the specific approach) to fit your needs. Patience, empathy, and understanding are at the core of each session. By defining key milestones and actionable steps, together, we will identify strategies for addressing your primary concerns and meeting your individual goals. Moreover, I will regularly seek your feedback to make sure that therapy is on track for you.

Adolescents & Young Adults

As a period of critical transition, adolescence can be a difficult and often isolating experience. Low self-esteem, lack of motivation, mood swings, lack of interest, increased anxiety and anger are all common issues teen and young adults face.

I approach my adolescent and young adult clients with trust and empathy, giving them the space to process their feelings, thoughts, and concerns. I work collaboratively with adolescent clients  and their parents and/or guardians to  help teens develop and utilize  more effective coping skills, incorporate these skills into their daily life so that they are long lasting, and develop their abilities to more effectively manage their emotions and communicate their needs, wants, goals and feelings. In my work with teens, I strive to include parents in the process, to ensure that your concerns and goals are addressed. I work with a wide range of adolescent problems including anxiety, depression, ADHD, and social difficulties.

With young adults my focus is on supporting young adults as they work to transition into adulthood and assume greater responsibility for their lives. I will work with young adults on managing the transition to independence and will involve parents and families to help support this process.

Adult Concerns

As adults you face many challenges in your daily lives.  At times these stresses can be overwhelming and lead to anxiety and/or depression. I work with a broad range of adult concerns to help you cope more effectively with the stresses and demands of adult life including marital and relationship issues, parenting and family concerns, and work-life balance. I am experienced in employing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as methods of addressing common areas of concern.

Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder & IDD & their Families

I have experience working with individuals and families who live with developmental disorders, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD). In my work with individuals with these challenges my focus is to strengthen distress tolerance, improve emotional regulation, support the development of better communication and coping skills, and work towards empowering greater independence and building towards a happier, healthier life. I work with children, teens, and adults who face these challenges.  I also work with families where there is someone with ASD or IDD.  The mental health of families living with a member with developmental and intellectual disabilities is often overlooked. The various challenges these families experience day-to-day often make it difficult for all family members, for you, to focus on critical aspects of your personal wellness. My focus is to assist you and your family in coping with the challenges you face as well as identifying ways to better assist the family member with ASD or IDD.

Family & Couples Therapy

Partnerships are the core of family systems and as such, can create difficult challenges when conflict, lack of understanding, disparate goals and unproductive communication are present. Re-gaining focus on core connections within a relationship when these are lost, is a key focus of my work. My goal is to collaborate with you, your partner/spouse, and your family to help you develop and use strategies to strengthen enduring connection and trust. I will work with you to assist you in identifying specific issues and concerns and clarifying goals.  I strive to allow space for everyone to express themselves and will work with you to support and improve communication, reduce conflicts, and strengthen emotional connections.

Professional Education

Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Concordia University, Chicago

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Elmhurst University

Contact

To reach Michael Castellanos, please call 630-586-0900 ext. 32.