Petrohilos and Associates Counseling
Counseling & Therapy
Meet the Team
Alexandra Petrohilos
Practice Owner & Therapist
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)
Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)
Licensed School Counselor K-12
Licensed Classroom Teacher K-9
Thank you for visiting. While it may be difficult for you to seek help for yourself or your family, my goal is to work together in a supportive and encouraging way to meet your needs. Part of the therapeutic process will be to learn about what is challenging you and to emphasize on your strengths.
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With over 20 years of professional experience, and as a former classroom teacher and school counselor I have developed my practice and included therapists to focus and specialize in working with school-aged children and adolescents to overcome challenges while providing support and psycho-education for the entire family.
Some of my previous professional experience includes extensive university research in psychology, inpatient mental health settings, classroom teacher, school counselor, long-term care, and private practice. My areas of expertise, include but are not limited to, anxiety, school refusal, depression, attentional issues such as ADHD, anger, behavior problems, divorce, academic challenges, OCD/perfectionism, self-esteem, dual diagnoses, coping skills, parent coaching and support, social skills, and screen-time dependence and overuse.
Julie Dwyer
Therapist
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
Certified Theraplay Counselor
I am an experienced Licensed Professional Counselor who provides individual and family therapy for children, teens, young adults, and adults. My goal in therapy is to hold a warm, supportive and non-judgmental space for acceptance, re-connection, and healing change to occur. As a psychotherapist, I practice with a collaborative style. I will meet you where you are and walk with you towards your treatment goals. My areas of special interest are anxiety, depression, life changes, and trauma. Julie has experience working with youth in a medical hospital setting, residential facility, and outpatient clinics. Julie is passionate about working with her client families and feels honored to be able to help her clients improve their mental health and live a healthier and happier life.
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I specialize in working with younger children, teens and young adults with anxiety and depression, grief and loss, traumatic stress and attachment issues. I also work with parents and families to provide support and strategies for family issues and parenting.​
I am a graduate of DePaul University, where I received a Bachelors of Art in Psychology and Sociology and earned a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from Adler School of Psychology. I enjoy spending quality time with my husband and three children, reading books, running outdoors, and golfing in the warmer months
Katrina Covington
Therapist
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)
Licenced Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate (LCMHCA)
National Certified Counselor
As a military spouse of 24 years, I have had the pleasure of gaining professional experience in a variety of therapeutic settings working with both military and civilian populations. My experience includes working with adults, adolescents, and children in the following areas: substance use, anxiety, depression, trauma, ADHD, conduct and behavior problems, self-esteem, motivation, anger, relationship and communication issues, parenting, children with special needs, intensive alternative family treatment, intensive in-home therapy, emotion regulation, and anger management.
My theoretical orientation is Choice Theory, and my preferred counseling technique is Reality Therapy. However, I understand there are times when a client’s needs will call for a different treatment modality to move them closer to their goals. In those cases, I use an integrative approach drawing from Choice Theory, Person-Centered Theory, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT).
The counseling relationship is both powerful and delicate. As such, I value the time spent working with clients in a collaborative effort to achieve therapeutic goals. I believe my role in the counseling process is to help clients build and enhance the skills needed to live a more satisfying and fulfilling life.
I completed my graduate education with Capella University, receiving a Master of Science degree in Mental Health Counseling. I am a National Certified Counselor, and I am credentialed as a Licensed Professional Counselor by the state of Illinois, and as a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate by the state of North Carolina. I am a trained and practicing SMART Recovery facilitator.
Sarah Franco
Therapist
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
Often, people view therapy as a one-sided conversation with little opportunity for interaction or the ability to experience each other as real people. I believe in being genuine with each one of my clients and I believe each client should be encouraged to be their authentic self and have a voice. I assist my clients on accomplishing their goals by providing support and unconditional positive regard.
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I have experience working with diverse populations, from young adults to seniors as well as with individuals from various cultural backgrounds. I specialize in helping clients with depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, relationship conflicts, anger management, trauma, and family issues. I also have extensive experience in crisis intervention.
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I mostly utilize a Cognitive Behavioral Therapeutic (CBT) to therapy but not exclusively. Each client is a unique individual with unique needs and when necessary I also adhere to other therapeutic modalities in order to provide a more tailored approach to therapy. As a therapist, my aim is to empower each one of my clients to take ownership over their lives, succeed in their goals, and find joy.
Courtney Johns
Therapist
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Licensed School Social Worker
I am a licensed clinical social worker specializing in helping children and teens with a wide variety of needs including anxiety, depression, ADHD, social difficulties, grief, divorce, and behavioral issues. My professional experience includes working as therapist and providing service for children, adolescents, and families involved with DCFS. I also have experience working within the public school system as a school social worker. While I have a specialty in working with children, teens, and their families, I also enjoy working with individual adults.
With regard to my treatment approach, I believe using a strength based, client-centered approach is important in helping clients gain self-awareness and achieve self-empowerment. I utilize various clinical methods, but most often integrate a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) approach. In the end, the work I do with clients is focused on creating a trusting and comfortable relationship that builds skills and empowers them to reach their goals.
When not in the office, I enjoy staying active outdoors and spending time with my husband and four children.
Caroline Masek
Therapist
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor specializing in individual therapy for children, teens, and adults with anxiety disorders, OCD and related disorders, behavioral disorders, and women’s health, including prenatal, perinatal, and postpartum depression, anxiety, and OCD. I use both cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT). In addition, one of my specialities is exposure response prevention (ERP), the gold standard treatment for OCD and proven to be one of the most effective treatments for many anxiety disorders.
I believe the most significant part of treatment is the relationship between the client and therapist. I do my best to be open, lighthearted, and welcoming to create a safe place for clients to work on their most difficult challenges. Life can be hard, and my primary goal is to help make it a little easier.
I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Iowa and earned my Master of Arts degree in Clinical Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. I have spent the last five years working in private practice, but my experience and training also include school, hospital, and outpatient settings. Outside of the office, you can find me spending time with my husband, baby, and our dog.
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Marlene Silva
Therapist
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
Licenced School Counselor K-12
Seeking therapy is a wonderful gift to give yourself and taking the step of reaching out can bring many emotions. It is my hope that I am able to help you navigate them in order to begin building your mental and emotional wellness.
I am a bilingual (English and Spanish) Licensed Professional Counselor with experience working with children, adolescents and their families. I have experience as a school counselor with a focus on removing barriers to learning for school-aged children and adolescents in elementary, middle and high school settings. Some of the concerns I have experience addressing include anxiety, depression, emotional regulation, loss/grief, self-esteem, social skills, and exposure to trauma.
My hope as a therapist is to help individuals forge their paths to a healthier and balanced life. My belief is that a strong counselor-to-client relationship is one of the keys to achieving that. I believe that partnerships with families and school providers are also vital in the counseling process. My approach to counseling is collaborative and I pull from a variety of counseling theories and techniques based on best fit taking into account the presenting situation and client’s needs. It is important to me that the individuals I work with are able to build the skills necessary to reach mental and emotional wellness as we progress through counseling.
I completed my Masters in Counseling from Saint Xavier University and hold a Professional Educator License with an Endorsement in School Counseling as well as an Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) license in the state of Illinois