Jenna Morreale, MA, LCPC

Children, Adolescents, College, Young Adults, Adults, Parents, Families

Anxiety, Depression, Self-Esteem, Anger Management, School Functioning or Academic Difficulties, ADHD, Symptoms Related to Trauma History or Exposure, LGBTQIA+ Affirming, Family Conflicts, Relationship Concerns, Life Transitions, and Daily Stressors

Hello! My name is Jenna and I grew up in Northbrook, but also spent part of my childhood in Vernon Hills. I attended Glenbrook North High School and spent a few years at Oakton Community College before transitioning to Loyola University Chicago where I obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with a minor degree in Criminal Justice. After that, I attended Adler University Chicago and obtained my Master’s Degree in Counseling with a Specialization in Forensic Psychology.

While there are many important factors in the counseling process, I believe that one of the most important aspects of therapy is a strong therapeutic relationship. I pride myself on being considered an empath. I am able to utilize my ability to empathize and connect with clients of all ages and backgrounds to develop those strong relationships. Creating a safe and comfortable environment for my clients is what I strive for so my clients feel they can be free with their thoughts and feelings without fear of being judged.

Children and Adolescents

I have been working with the child and adolescent population for as long as I can remember. It began with babysitting and continued through camp counselor jobs as well as my internships for both my undergraduate and graduate programs. After graduating from Adler University, I began working for Lutheran Social Services in their Step-Up program. This allowed me to go into the Chicago Public Schools system and provide therapy services for students and their families who typically would not be able to afford it outside of the school. This experience was stressful, but also incredible! I used a range of interventions to assist children ages five to 15 years old who were experiencing difficulties that were impacting multiple areas of functioning including family, social, and school functioning. I was also able to learn more about what it is like to work in a school setting and the processes that are in place to get students the services that will help them be successful.

Four years later, I passed my licensure exam, became a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, and began working at a private practice part-time to gain more experience in that area of my career. I made the difficult decision to transition out of the schools and into private practice full time toward the beginning of 2023 and, although that was a very hard decision, I feel I have gained new experiences (particularly while working with adults) that I would not have been able to have if I remained in the schools. I still love working with children and adolescents, but I have also loved being able to grow by working with my older teens and adult clients.

Older Teens, College-Aged Adults, and Adults

Gaining experience working with the older teen, young adult, and middle-aged adult populations through my private practice work has been a privilege that I am beyond grateful to have. There are so many stressors that arise during these stages of life and being able to help clients explore, process, and manage difficult emotions related to those transitions has been incredibly rewarding. Currently, the main subjects that have come up during sessions with these populations tend to be related to state testing, college applications, high school and college graduation, family and relationship difficulties, job stressors, marriage, feelings related to pregnancy and fertility treatments, physical health problems and chronic illnesses, separations or divorce, and the complicated emotions surrounding death and grief. These are difficulties and stressors that many people struggle with at some point in their lives and I enjoy being able to listen and help those individuals unravel their thoughts/feelings surrounding those issues so they are better able to understand their emotions and can move forward with a plan that they feels works best for them.

For Fun…

During my free time, I love spending time with my loved ones, snuggling with my dog, watching sports (specifically football, Go Bears!), and engaging in self-care by painting my nails, reading, or bingeing crime shows as well as cartoons.

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