Clara Counseling & Psychological Services
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Get a quick sense of each clinician's focus, language support, and style before you reach out.
Bilingual (English/Spanish); Individual therapy, family therapy, trauma-focused CBT & EMDR
Andrea offers bilingual therapy in English and Spanish for adolescents, adults, and families. Her work includes individual therapy, family therapy, trauma-focused CBT, and EMDR, with a warm family-systems lens tailored to each person’s goals.
Bilingual (English/Spanish); Narrative and trauma-informed therapy
Clarissa offers bilingual therapy in English and Spanish, drawing from narrative and trauma-informed approaches. She works especially well with first-generation clients and others sorting through identity, stress, and painful life experiences.
Trauma-informed care for children and adolescents
Dana works with children, teens, and families using a trauma-informed, practical approach. She supports concerns like anxiety, ADHD, adoption, community violence, and school-related stress, including collaboration around IEP and 504 needs when helpful.
Clinical counseling intern; life transitions, women’s mental health, trauma, and culturally responsive care
Ela Kawczynski is a clinical counseling intern currently pursuing her second master’s degree in Clinical Psychology–Counseling Practice, with expected graduation in May 2027. Her background in business, dietetics, and wellness gives her a holistic perspective on the emotional, physical, and relational factors that shape well-being. Ela enjoys working with clients across ages, genders, and backgrounds. She is especially interested in supporting women through life transitions, including parenting, career and family balance, children leaving for college, empty nest adjustments, perimenopause, career changes, shifting family dynamics, and healing from life- and work-related trauma. Her counseling approach is grounded in the biopsychosocial model and draws from humanistic-existential therapy, narrative therapy, motivational interviewing, and person-centered talk therapy. She is also inspired by Viktor Frankl’s logotherapy and meaning-centered work. Ela is bilingual in English and Polish and strives to create a warm, culturally responsive space where clients feel heard, understood, and supported in making meaningful change. Outside of counseling, Ela enjoys fitness, reading, traveling, music, and spending time with her family.
Clinical psychologist; CBT, solution-focused, narrative and creative therapy
Dr. Serrano is a clinical psychologist with more than 20 years of experience working with individuals, couples, and families. He blends structured therapy with creativity and the occasional geek-friendly pop-culture reference when it helps people feel more engaged and understood.
Therapy for adolescents and adults; ERP for OCD, CPT for PTSD, eating disorders
Lana works with adolescents and adults using structured, evidence-based care for OCD, PTSD, eating disorders, anxiety, and depression. She offers ERP for OCD and CPT for PTSD while keeping the work direct, steady, and collaborative.
Bilingual (English/Spanish); Latino mental health & trauma-focused care
Mariana offers bilingual, culturally responsive therapy in English and Spanish for Latino adolescents, adults, and older adults. Her work often centers trauma, prenatal and postpartum mental health, and the layered stress many first-generation clients carry.
Clinician-in-training; collaborative support for clients and families
Sarah Jackson is a clinician-in-training completing her Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the University of Phoenix. Her background includes behavioral health, telehealth-based literacy support, and experience supporting autistic children and their families. Sarah brings a warm, collaborative approach to her work with clients and families. She is committed to individualized, thoughtful care that helps people feel heard, supported, and more confident in their next steps.
Clinical Director; Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, Relationships
Sarah is Clara’s Clinical Director and works with adolescents and adults navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship stress. Her style is warm, steady, and grounded in evidence-based care, with a calm leadership presence.
Psychologist; Individual, child & teen, couples, and family therapy
Dr. Stephen Stewart, PsyD, is an accomplished psychologist at Clara Counseling & Psychological Services in Chicagoland, with over a decade of experience providing individual therapy across the lifespan, child and teen therapy, couples therapy, and family therapy.
Practice Manager; bilingual scheduling, billing, and client support
Gloria is Clara’s bilingual Practice Manager. She helps with scheduling, billing, logistics, and the early steps of getting started so the process feels clear and supported from the beginning.
We can help you choose a starting point during intake.