Megan Storey, MA, MHP
Adolescents, College, Young Adults, Adults, Couples, Families, Seniors
Anxiety, Mood Disorders, Stressful Life Transitions, Grief, Self-Esteem, Personality Disorders, Emotional Regulation, Troublesome Childhoods, Relationship Struggles, Communication, and Trauma
Hello! My name is Megan Storey, and I appreciate you taking the time to learn more about me as a therapist. I am excited about the possibility of working together and supporting you on your journey!
My desire to become a mental health counselor stemmed from an early age due to my love for people and hearing others vulnerably share their emotions and personal experiences. In elementary school, I found myself actively listening to my friends at recess, validating my family’s emotions and concerns when discussing chronic illness, and wanting to provide others with hope and encouragement. I believed in the power of stepping into another’s shoes and instilling hope whenever possible.
Despite not fully understanding what empathy was as a child, I knew that walking alongside others in their pain and brokenness, even in the smallest of situations, had a profound impact on me. I wanted to be a person who could offer support and hope—someone who could walk alongside others during their most difficult moments.
As I grew older, this calling to help others only deepened, and I fully committed to my dream of becoming a therapist. In high school, I took college-level courses to learn more about psychology, and while I was finishing my Bachelor’s degree, I enrolled in Master’s-level classes to prepare me for a career in mental health counseling; I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with an Emphasis in Counseling and a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, both from Trinity International University.
While completing my degrees and starting my journey as a therapist, I served as a leadership coach empowering high school students to embrace their gifts and passions, a summer school teacher educating elementary-aged students on how to cope with their emotions and navigate life’s stressors, the president of Trinity’s senior outreach program leading volunteers to orchestrate activities and have meaningful conversations with senior residents, and a mental health professional providing counseling services to a diverse client population at Catholic Charities.
Now, as a clinician in a private practice, I can say with all of my heart, I genuinely love what I do, and I am grateful to be a part of Inspire’s team of dedicated professionals.
When working with clients, I approach counseling with a deep sense of compassion, meeting each person where they are. As someone who is passionate about empowering clients to share their story, I consider it an honor to be invited into your narrative. My goal is to walk alongside you by listening, leading with empathy, instilling hope, and providing effective tools to help you work through life’s triumphs and difficulties. Having attended individual and family therapy myself, I know what it is like to feel broken, find hope in the midst of darkness, and embrace healing through therapeutic breakthroughs. Given the opportunity, I would be honored to work together!
Your Story Matters
As a therapist, I believe life is like a book, filled with unique chapters. Some chapters are filled with joy, while others carry pain and uncertainty. You may be experiencing the deep pain of loss, wondering how to move forward in the face of grief. Perhaps you are facing the hardships that come with the shift in your family’s dynamics, feeling disconnected, misunderstood, or unsure how to mend deep-rooted conflicts. Or maybe you are struggling to healthily cope with aging, wrestling with feelings of isolation, purpose, or physical limitations. My role as your therapist is to join you wherever you are in your story—whether you are in the middle of a difficult chapter or looking to write a new one. Together, we will explore your narrative, find the underlying themes, and cultivate a story of healing.
Setting the Stage for Storytelling
When coming to my office, you can expect a nonjudgmental and safe environment where you feel seen, heard, and understood. As someone who has worked with people from all walks of life, I understand the courage it takes to share your story, especially the painful parts. I am here to listen, validate your feelings, and help you uncover the root causes of your presenting issue(s). Together, we will establish treatment goals, and I will guide you toward tangible next steps.
How I Walk Alongside
I take an eclectic approach to therapy, meaning I incorporate a mix of styles into each session to provide the best individualized care. This includes Person-Centered Therapy, where you take the lead, and Narrative Therapy, which provides you space to share your story and renarrate certain “pages” or “chapters” to foster healing and change. Additionally, I may utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help you reframe unhelpful thoughts or Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to build mindfulness, distress tolerance, and emotional regulation into sessions when appropriate. When working with couples and families, I use Family Systems Therapy and Structural Family Therapy to address relationship dynamics. In both couples and family therapy, I am a firm believer in the power of role-playing and psychoeducation. This means that you will learn about and practice healthy skills during couple and family sessions. Ultimately, no matter what type of therapy you seek, my goal is to ensure you feel supported and empowered throughout the therapeutic process.
For Fun…
I was born and raised near the Chicago suburbs and have a deep love for this area and its people. When I am not in the office, you will likely find me out in nature—walking in a forest preserve, enjoying Lake Michigan, or taking long drives to soak in the beauty. I am a proud dog mom of two beautiful babies; one is a German Shepherd, and the other one is a Westiepoo. And yes, I do push my little one in a dog-friendly stroller!
When not fulfilling my role as a doggie mom, I enjoy watching professional basketball, singing karaoke, playing board games, and spending quality time with my family and friends.