Gretchen Clemens, LCSW

Education and

 Licensure

1991  Bachelors of Arts, Psychology

          University of Michigan, Graduated with distinction

1994   Masters of Social Work, Clinical Track

           Florida State University

1997   Licensed in IL  (Licensed Clinical Social Worker)

Experience

Early in my career, I did a lot of victim-advocate work, both with the college student population and at the States Attorney Office.  This was the beginning to my experience with and insight into how abuse and trauma can effect someone's life.

I then worked with children in the foster care system, helping their biological parents work towards reunification.  This led to working with children in the custody of DCFS who had extreme behavior problems and were in residential treatment.  I worked intensely on a unit housing nine girls, whose ages ranged from 6-14.  This was probably one of the most challenging and rewarding jobs I have ever had.

My experience as an outpatient therapist in a clinic setting started in the Uptown neighborhood in Chicago.  Here I worked with a variety of populations struggling with issues from economic hardship to serious mental health challenges.  I was also part of a multi-disciplinary team that conducted sexual abuse evaluations.  The knowledge I gained from this team experience was instrumental in my understanding of trauma, PTSD, and what is involved in living with a sexual abuse history.  Abuse victims are a population that I take a lot of care with, and have an enormous amount of respect for. 

I have worked in a private practice clinic since 2006 where I have developed skills to assess and intervene with a wide array of clinical issues.   Life stresses and life transitions are often the root of the anxiety or depression being presented.  Divorce, parenting, adjustment to adolescence, academic pressure, sports pressure, social confusion and anxiety, relationship break-ups, relocation and career changes are some of the issues that can become overwhelming.