CHILD, YOUTH, & ADOLESCENT THERAPY

Early support changes everything. I specialize in working with young minds across all developmental stages, focusing on school-aged children through teens and adolescents. Using play therapy, creative modalities, and age-appropriate skill building, I create a warm, engaging space where kids and teens feel truly championed, understood, and equipped to navigate big emotions, school stress, and life transitions.

UPCOMING COHORTS BELOW

GROUP THERAPY & SIGNATURE COHORTS

connection | confidence | community

• Quiet Brilliance Collective (For Introverted & Highly Sensitive Kids)

• The Anti-Awkward Club (Taking the Stigma Out of Being Socially Clumsy)

• Embracing My "Shy" (Building Gentle Social Confidence)

• Superboys & Supergirls Club (For Neurodivergent Kids New to Their Diagnosis)

• Navigating Relationships with Autism (Peer Connection & Social Nuance)

• Big Feelings, Big Toolkit (Emotional Regulation & Coping Skills)

• Boundary Builders & Self-Advocacy Lab (For People-Pleasers)

• Making Friends 101 (Foundational Social Skills)

• Middle School Support Groups (Navigating Stress, Academics, & Social Shifts)

• Divorce & Family Separation Support Group

• Self-Esteem & Self-Love Clubs

*Group Investment, Ages, & Waitlist Note: Our specialized groups are offered across a variety of age ranges (elementary through high school) and operate strictly on a private-pay model (insurance is not accepted for group therapy). If a specific group topic interests you or you are looking for a different age bracket, please fill out our contact form to join our email list for priority updates and applications as new cohorts open throughout the year.

Therapy does not have to be a solo journey. Our specialized micro-groups give kids and teens a vibrant space to bond, embrace what makes them unique, and realize they are never alone in what they are feeling. It makes the path to self-love so much lighter, less lonely, & way more exciting.

Interested in Group Therapy?

Let us know.

The Friendship & Confidence Lab

A Signature 8-Week Micro-Group for Girls in Grades 3 & 4

In-Person at Thrive Collective by Tapia | River North | Winter 2027 (Now Scheduling Placement Screenings)

A Gentle, Supportive Space to Bloom

Growing up today comes with complex social dynamics. The Friendship & Confidence Lab is an intentionally curated, clinician-led micro-group designed specifically for sweet, sensitive, quirky, or quiet 3rd and 4th-grade girls. If your daughter is finding her voice, navigating social nuances, or looking for "their people," this small group provides a warm, low-pressure environment to polish social skills, ease peer anxiety, and cultivate early self-love. By keeping our cohorts strictly limited to just four girls, we ensure every participant receives personalized clinical care, soft guidance, and a deeply welcoming space where she can truly shine.

What Makes Our Cohort Unique

• Ultra-Small, Capped Group Dynamics: Capped at 4 seats so introverted, thoughtful, or observant girls never feel overwhelmed or overlooked.

• Boutique River North Studio: Weekly in-person sessions hosted in our warm, calm, private therapy suite designed for therapeutic softness and real comfort.

• Clinician-Led & Skill-Based: Utilizes published guided journals, evidence-based exercises, and creative peer activities to foster authentic connection and self-esteem.

• Parent Alignment & Growth Metrics: Weekly strategy digests and comprehensive end-of-cohort clinical summaries keep your family connected to her real-world progress.

• Curated Peer Harmony: Every cohort is intentionally matched through a multi-step intake process to guarantee a safe, balanced, and supportive group vibe.

How Placement Works: A 2-Step Process

To maintain an exceptional clinical experience and ensure group harmony, placement in our cohorts follows a thoughtful two-step journey.

Step 1: Pre-Group Placement Intake Screening

• Investment: $125 (billed separately upon booking)

• What’s Included: Every family completes a mandatory placement assessment before a seat in the cohort is finalized. This includes:

  • A 30-minute virtual parent alignment consultation to explore your child’s history, personality, and social goals.

  • A 30-minute in-person child evaluation at our River North office to evaluate peer chemistry and ensure our group dynamic is a supportive match for her.

• Our Alignment Guarantee: Because we cap groups at just 4 seats, careful curation is everything. If the current cohort's schedule, age balance, or clinical focus isn't the perfect fit for your daughter right now, your $125 screening fee is protected. It rolls over to hold your priority spot on the waitlist for an upcoming cohort, or can be fully applied toward individual therapy sessions or targeted 1-on-1 school advocacy consultation. We will always ensure your family leaves with a clear, supportive path forward.

Step 2: The 8-Week Cohort Experience

• Cohort Investment: $1,000 (covers all 8 group sessions and all curriculum materials)

• What’s Included:

  • 8 weekly, 75-minute in-person interactive sessions led by a licensed clinician.

  • Specialized, clinician-authored guided journals and creative growth materials.

  • Weekly parent strategy digests offering tools to reinforce skills at home and school.

  • A comprehensive end-of-cohort clinical progress summary detailing pre- and post-baseline metrics.

Group Policies & Enrollment Details

• Schedule: Weekly in-person sessions starting January 2027 (will be either on a weeknight or weekend based on all group availability).

• Financial Details: Private-pay only. Insurance is not accepted for group offerings.

• CPS Guidelines: Due to district conflict-of-interest guidelines, this private cohort is open exclusively to non-CPS / independent and private school students.

• Attendance & Makeup Policy: To maintain group consistency and safeguard the curated dynamic of our 4-seat micro-groups, cohort tuition is fixed and non-refundable. Missed sessions cannot be refunded or prorated. If your daughter misses a session due to illness or conflict, we offer one (1) complimentary 30-minute individual makeup session per 8-week series (held virtually or in-person based on office availability). This ensures she has a dedicated time to catch-up & stay aligned with her cohort's curriculum, and doesn't miss a beat.

Ready to Reserve Her Spot?

Because our micro-groups are strictly limited to 4 seats, placement screenings are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. Email Clinical Director, Alisha, at alisha@thrivecollectivechicago.com or fill out the contact form below.

SPECIALIZED ADULT INDIVIDUAL THERAPY

Therapy for the Healers & Educators. I work with adults through an intentional, restorative lens, specializing in supporting educators, school staff, early-career social workers, & mental health professionals. If you spend your life holding space for everyone else, you deserve a safe, judgment-free zone to process burnout, set firm boundaries, and care for yourself with that same devotion.

*Ethical Note: To maintain clear professional boundaries, I am unable to provide therapy to CPS staff members with whom I share a direct school assignment or supervisory overlap.

CLINICAL SUPERVISION

Mentorship for the Next Generation of Healers! Navigating the road to clinical licensure shouldn't feel overwhelming or leave you broke! I offer rich, high-impact individual and group clinical supervision for social workers who are ready to sharpen their clinical skills, unpack complex cases, and step into their power as therapists. I built this supervision space to be genuinely flexible and accessible to provide you with top-tier, real-world guidance and honest support at rates that actually respect your budget. Let’s get you licensed with confidence!

EDUCATIONAL & SCHOOL-BASED CONSULTATION

Navigating early learning and school systems shouldn’t feel intimidating or overwhelming. Drawing on nearly a decade of experience within public education, I partner with both families and school staff to bridge the gap between mental health, social-emotional needs, and actionable school support.

• FOR FAMILIES: SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL & MENTAL HEALTH SCHOOL ADVOCACY

For parents navigating school systems outside Chicago Public Schools, I help you decode and advocate specifically for your child’s mental health and social-emotional needs at school. From securing emotional and behavioral accommodations within 504 Plans and IEPs to translating clinical mental health recommendations into practical classroom supports, I work directly with you to ensure your child’s social and emotional well-being is championed in the classroom.

• FOR SCHOOLS & DAYCARES: STAFF PD & SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL CONSULTING

I consult with private daycares, preschools, and private elementary staff to build emotionally supportive, trauma-informed environments for early learners. My professional development training and consultation services include:

• Social-Emotional & Behavior Support: Training educators to recognize the root causes of emotional distress and challenging behavior, implement classroom-based social-emotional tools, and gently guide parents through mental health and developmental support options.

• Navigation of Emerging Needs Post-Age 3: Helping private school communities identify social-emotional challenges early and navigate formal support pathways for children over 3 with emerging needs.

• Mental Health & Wellness Policy Shaping: Partnering with daycare and school leadership to design compassionate, evidence-based social-emotional learning (SEL) and behavioral health policies.

EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMAL (ESA) EVALUATIONS

For existing or incoming clients where animal-assisted support is clinically beneficial, I provide thorough ESA evaluations on a case-by-case basis. Every evaluation strictly adheres to the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics and Illinois state law, ensuring ethical, compliant, & meaningful advocacy for your mental health needs.