Rate Maria Conforti

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Illinois. My experience spans 16 years as a social worker in a variety of settings including private practice, group homes, incarceration, community resources, non profits, high profile cases, and many more. In those settings, I have had the privilege of working with a variety of children and family issues, specialized in pediatric adhd, provided couples therapy for a variety of sexually oriented couples, assisted in divorce mediation with a concentration on child well being and direction of co-parenting agreements, lead extensive integration programming for at risk young men, and group counseling for affluent young women experiencing self esteem issues and many other issues involving human interactions in various environments.

My clinical background includes professional training in dialectical behavior therapy which I received as part of an intensive training through my work as a DCFS contracted provider in a group home for high risk children. I use an eclectic style of therapeutic interventions including cognitive behavioral therapy to create a custom approach tailored for each client and their preferred styles. I pride myself in offering a judgement free zone, keeping in mind that I'm not going necessarily sugar coat what needs to be worked through. I use compassion and a tender approach knowing we are ALL just doing our best and at the same time, need to do better (based on the assumption that's what we are here for).

I truly understand what it is like to feel isolated by friends and family and offer a unique perspective that helps each client figure out what's really at the root of things. I use psychoanalysis when it's appropriate to help understand the mechanics of how childhood experiences affect adult situations. I like to focus on solutions that make sense. Once we have identified the issues in the past, I prefer not to stay there but rather, make peace, offer forgiveness where needed and help my clients get on with their lives as they would like to live them. Often figuring out what we want is the most difficult part, but I like to think I can help guide my clients to a point of self satisfaction. I believe in collaboration. If I put in 100 % and my clients do the same, I have full faith in a positive outcome.

My professional goal is to render myself obsolete by encouraging the skills and offering the tools needed to live a therapeutic life, not a life in therapy. The ideal client for me is going to be ready for change and willing to do the work. They will be open minded and willing to hear truths that are not necessarily easy to take but will lead to the outcome they are looking for. I am not for everyone, but for those clients that find my style helpful, I am confident will feel helped in the end. I have nothing but respect for anyone who is brave enough to take up the arduous task of self improvement and I do my best to gently stretch my clients out of their comfort zone. So anyone wanting to work with me should be aware that this is a critical part of the process and while I believe therapy to be a healing art, I must admit, it doesn't always feel as comfortable as we wish it could be. Having said that, I work hard to offer sincere compassion to the people I work with and do so with genuine respect for their right to self determination at every turn.