Malary VanOverberghe, MA, Clinical Mental Health Counselor

Kids, Adolescents, College, Young Adults, Adults, Couples and Parents

Depression, anxiety, ADHD, Gaming/Screen Time Addictions, PTSD, trauma, grief, life transitions, identity development, LGBTQIA+ issues, familial stress, women’s issues, men’s issues, relationship difficulties

Hello and welcome! My name is Malary and I’m very proud of you for taking these first steps towards seeking help by browsing potential therapists. Meeting someone new can make anyone nervous, so let me tell you a bit about myself both personally and professionally.

I grew up on a farm in a small town in Michigan, attending Saint Mary’s College in South Bend for Psychology before moving to the city for my Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Roosevelt University. At Roosevelt, I learned to operate from the lens of cognitive behavioral therapy, helping others gain insight into the connections between their daily habits and the thoughts behind them.

People I work with describe me as calming, kind and curious. I love hearing people’s stories. I’ve seen a lot of different difficult cases, and am open-minded and nonjudgemental. No matter what you’re going through, I would love to walk alongside you in your journey.

Before joining Inspire, I was a clinical intern at Envision Unlimited, which is a nonprofit serving people with intellectual, developmental and psychiatric disabilities. It was built a legacy of care delivered with empathy, offering living options, day programs, mental health services, family programs and foster care for children with disabilities for 4,500+ members.

I also worked at a counseling center assisting clients with life skills, figuring out resources and working closely with court-ordered adults and kids through DCFS (Department of Child and Family Services). Prior to that, I was a personal care technician at a living alternatives center for the developmentally disabled.

Needless to day, I have a passion for advocacy work and supporting others to make changes that enhance their quality of life.

As your therapist, I aim to create a comfortable environment where you feel safe to discuss difficult topics. It’s important to me that you have autonomy over our sessions, handing you the reins to choose what we work on each week. I like to integrate humor and mindful self-disclosure into sessions, working to soften perceived power dynamics and anxieties that may exist within the therapeutic setting.

Knowing that our struggles and experiences change from day to day, it’s important to me that we build a “toolbox” of techniques and strategies to help you navigate life each day. Playing to your strengths, we will fill this toolbox with a variety of hobbies, interests, people and therapy techniques that will allow you to better manage stressors throughout your daily life.

My toolbox has been crafted through my own personal experiences with therapy. Inside mine I have my support system of friends and family. While my family is back in Michigan, I enjoy spending time with my siblings and nephew as much as I can.

In my free time I enjoy playing video games and have a competitive Fortnite ranking! I think it’s important to move your body each day so I like to spend time taking my dog on long walks, riding my bike or practicing yoga. While engaging in these activities I enjoy listening to any kind of pop music, with some of my favorites being Chappell, Charlie and Gracie.

I appreciate you taking the time to read a little bit about me. Again, I am proud of you for taking these first steps to begin browsing and look forward to hopefully meeting you soon.

Depression

Depression makes everything, even little daily tasks, so much more difficult. It can feel like a trap, making the task of getting support or doing activities that can provide help and relief feel extremely difficult.

Depression trickles into all aspects of life. I understand how it can impact the self, relationships and the participation in daily activities like sleeping and eating.

I love helping people break free from the shackles of depression. Together, we can gently and slowly work on finding ways to handle these waves and practice patience in your journey to freedom.

Identity Development

One of the hardest challenges growing up is figuring out who you are and who you want to be. I know there are a lot of pressures and stresses from society, families, friends, beliefs and personal thoughts and feelings that can impact our ability to be our authentic selves.

Whether it is exploring your sexual or gender identity, or finding the courage to break free from relational or family patterns, I am here to support and encourage your journey to developing and finding comfort and confidence being your true to yourself.

Life Transitions

Growing up on a farm before moving to Chicago, I understand what it’s like to feel out of place. Transitions and change can be difficult to undergo, especially when many aspects of our lives are changing at once.

Therapy was always a useful tool for me during these periods, allowing me to access support and stability in hectic times. I am here to provide support as you undergo your own life transitions and together we can develop skills, find meaning and embrace change in the process.

Gaming, Screen Time and Social Media Addiction

As an avid gamer myself, with more than 3,000 wins on Fortnite, I know how rewarding and addicting technology can be. I also know the importance of finding balance. I know personally and professionally how important it is to move your body each day. I have seen the simple power of walking my dog, riding my bike or practicing yoga on mental health.

I love helping people find their balance, so they can enjoy the outlet of technology, and yet still engage and enjoy their life. If you work with me, I will be compassionate, understanding and can help provide real-life examples and plans to help you succeed!

Adolescents & Young Adults

Adolescents and young adults have an avalanche of stressors and new responsibilities.

New relationships, substance use, first experiences with grief and loss, moving, furthering education, evolving friendships and employment (to name a few) are often thrown at you at once and can be difficult to manage. Not to mention the stresses of school, work, friendships, dating all while trying to figure out who you are and your life plan.

Together we will find the tools to identify, categorize and break down life’s big challenges into small, actionable steps to set you up for success.

For Fun…

In my free time I enjoy playing video games and have a competitive Fortnite ranking!

I think it’s important to move your body each day so I like to spend time taking my dog on long walks, riding my bike or practicing yoga. While engaging in these activities I enjoy listening to any kind of pop music, with some of my favorites being Chappell, Charlie and Gracie.

To book an appointment, 847-919-9096 x.1, [email protected]