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FOUNDER & CLINICAL DIRECTOR
Meet Lauren Brymer, MA, LCPC, CADC
Lauren Brymer graduated in 2004 with a Masters of Arts in Counseling Psychology from the Adler University (formerly Adler School of Professional Psychology) in Chicago, also receiving a certification in Drug and Alcohol Abuse Counseling. Lauren maintains a Illinois Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) license and a certification as a Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counselor (CADC). In 2018 and 2020, Lauren obtained her certifications in Internal Family Systems Model in Chicago from the Internal Family Systems Institute.
In her time at Adler, Lauren learned a holistic approach to humankind with a strong emphasis on social interest. She later adopted this theory as a practice model because of its strength based approach to humankind. Lauren's beliefs in people's strong emphasis toward social purpose, positive functioning occurring from encouragement rather than discouragement, and drive to "belong in the world" laid the foundation for her private practice.
LAUREN BRYMER
From 2002 to 2005, Lauren worked with individuals suffering from chronic and sever mental illness at Lincoln Park Psychiatric Unit. While adhering to Adlerian Theory, exploration into where the individuals came from and treating the individuals inferiorities helped drive them toward successful treatment. In 2004, Lauren shifted her focus toward assisting underprivileged children and families with the Illinois Youth Advocate Program in Harvey, IL. She had the opportunity to provide counseling services to children and adults involved in the child welfare system due to poverty, mental health diagnosis, legal, and/or substance abuse issues. Lauren found herself working toward reuniting families after successful treatment outcomes, and advocating for children lost within the welfare system. During this time, Lauren also worked at the Will County Health Department counseling both adolescents and adults suffering from substance abuse issues.
In 2008, Lauren founded 21 Reflections Professional Counseling in Naperville, IL. Her mission remains to provide psychotherapy treatments encouraging individuals and families to explore the influences in their lives most affecting their overall functioning. Clients attending therapy understand that the therapeutic relationship is critical toward achieving client driven goals. Clients are encouraged to evaluate and understand the influence in their lives stemming from parenting, birth order, lifestyle, career, relationships, and life experiences using various therapeutic techniques.
Lauren's therapeutic approach continues to center around a holistic model utilizing Internal Family Systems (IFS), Adlerian Psychodynamic Theory, Mindfulness-Based Interventions, and Family Systems. Gaining an understanding of oneself from a holistic perspective can provide insight into the connection between one's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors - leading to a happier and healthier style of life.
Lauren and her family took on the ultimate adventure and moved to Coastal Mississippi in 2024. Being drawn to live near the ocean and fulfill the professional desire to counsel veterans. Lauren continues to see Illinois client's on tele-health and is running all the day to day operations for the practice while in Mississippi. Lauren's practice has been molded by her professional experiences and training that align with the sentiment of paying it forward. However, personal struggles, life experiences, and accomplishments have provided a continuous foundation for Lauren to relate to clients on a personal level. Lauren has counseled clients with grief and trauma experiences from the beginning of her career. In 2014, Lauren experienced a personal tragedy by losing her father to a long battle of cancer. Her father was an integral part of Lauren's life and the starting of her therapy practice. Even in the passing of her father, he has continued to influence her practice by creating a new found strength and empathy inside Lauren for client's.
Personal battles can rip us apart and create unimaginable pain, however; we need to decide how we want to rebuild around those experiences. For Lauren, her father will always be the butterfly on her shoulder.
EXPERTISE
Credentials & Services
Licenses
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Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
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(Illinois LCPC) - 180.006727
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Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counselor
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(CADC) - 25633
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Licensed Professional Counselor
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(Mississippi LPC) - 3138
Trainings
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2005 - Trauma Therapy
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2006 - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
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2018 - First Aid -Mental Health
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2019 - Internal Family Systems Therapy (Level 1)
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2020 - Internal Family Systems Therapy (Level 2)
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2021 - Integrated Trauma Therapist
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2022 - IFS Treatment for Healing and Restoring Health
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2024- Certified Addictions- Informed Professional
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2024 - Certified Parent Trainer with IFS
Treatment Offerings From Lauren
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Adolescent and Adults
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Clinician's learning the IFS model
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Client's experiencing past trauma, grief, suicidal ideation, depression, anxiety, life transitions, and relationship issues.
LEAD CLINICIAN | MARKETING MANAGER
Sarah Cairo, MA, LCPC
Sarah Cairo earned her Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Lewis University in August 2020, with a specialization in Child and Adolescent Counseling. During her graduate training, she developed an eclectic therapeutic approach that integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Person-Centered Therapy. Sarah became a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in 2021 and achieved her Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) credential in 2023. She is committed to ongoing professional development and regularly participates in workshops and continuing education to expand her clinical knowledge and skills. In August 2020, Sarah attended a Suicide Prevention Conference focused on recognizing suicidal ideation and implementing comprehensive, holistic treatment approaches for individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts. In 2025, she completed Level 1 training in Internal Family Systems (IFS), further enhancing her ability to help clients explore their inner world, understand emotional patterns, and heal from past experiences. From 2019 to 2020, Sarah served as a counseling intern at Laureate Day School, where she worked with children and adolescents diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and co-occurring mental health conditions. She provided individual and group therapy, as well as peer social development groups, using psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral frameworks. Sarah collaborated closely with students, families, and educators to develop individualized home and school behavior plans, gaining valuable experience in identifying the function of behavior to inform effective treatment interventions. In 2020, Sarah joined Rogers Behavioral Health, providing intensive outpatient care to children and adolescents struggling with anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). During her time at Rogers, she received specialized training in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy, which she continues to use in her work with clients experiencing anxiety and OCD. Sarah’s counseling style is compassionate, collaborative, and client-centered. She believes in each individual’s capacity for growth and healing and works alongside clients to establish meaningful goals that guide the therapeutic process. By helping clients identify and build upon their strengths, Sarah creates a warm, nonjudgmental space where individuals feel supported in exploring their inner experiences and fostering lasting change. Sarah is a wife and mother who brings warmth, compassion, and a sense of comfort into the therapy space. With a background as a dancer and dance teacher, she values creativity, self-expression, and the connection between mind and body. Outside of the office, Sarah prioritizes time with her family, nurturing meaningful friendships, and traveling which helps to keep her grounded and connected. Shaped by past life circumstances, she embodies resilience and strength, which inform her empathetic, supportive approach to helping others navigate their own journeys.
SARAH CAIRO
EXPERTISE
Credentials & Services
Licenses
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Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
(LCPC) - 180.015715
Trainings
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2020 - Therapeutic Crisis Intervention
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2025 - Internal Family Systems (Level 1)
Treatment Offerings From Sarah
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Children, Adolescent and Young Adults
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Client's experiencing anxiety, OCD, school issues, ADHD, somatic issues, depression, family conflicts, life transitions, and peer struggles.
CLINICIAN
Mary Trovato, MA, LCPC
Mary is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) who earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of St. Francis in 2017 and her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Adler University in 2020. She obtained her LPC and NCC in 2021. Her clinical background includes experience in both community mental health and private practice, where she has worked with and supported individuals through a wide range of mental health challenges including anxiety, depression, trauma, self-esteem challenges, stress, life transitions, psychosis, behavioral difficulties, and intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Mary primarily works with adolescents and young adults, creating a supportive space where they can talk openly, feel understood, and work through challenges together. She helps clients deepen their understanding of themselves while building practical coping skills to navigate difficult experiences, so they can feel more grounded and confident in their daily lives. Mary is passionate about continued professional growth and is committed to deepening her knowledge and clinical insight to best support the individuals she serves. She strives to build a therapeutic environment that feels genuine, safe, and empowering, where clients are supported in creating meaningful change in their lives. Outside of therapy, you’ll find Mary spending time with loved ones, running, being outdoors, or cooking at home. Connection, movement, and being present remind me of some of the most meaningful parts of life.
MARY TROVATO
EXPERTISE
Credentials & Services
Licenses
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Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)- 180.017799
Trainings
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2026 - Treating Trauma Certification
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2026 - ADHD Certification
Treatment Offerings From Mary
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Adolescent and Young Adults
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Client's experiencing anxiety, school issues, ADHD, somatic issues, depression, family conflicts, life transitions, and peer struggles.
CLINICIAN
Vera Santiago, MA, LSW
Vera Santiago is a licensed Social Worker who graduated from Aurora University in 2023. Vera has experience working with children, families, and adults. Her family centered approach guides her therapeutic abilities to see each individual person as part of a larger system. Treating the individuals and the couple/ family is a holistic approach to higher functioning. Vera has worked in private practice, outpatient clinic, and community mental health agencies. This broad line of work has helped Vera obtain a holistic approach to therapy, providing resources from multiple lines of treatment. Integrating tools and working from a creative perspective to meet the client's expectations is a strength of Vera's. Originally from Brazil, Vera brings a rich multicultural perspective to her work. Having lived and practiced in diverse settings, Vera incorporates the cultural nuances of each client in her work. As a therapist, she is aware of the nuances involved in family dynamics, parenting, and personal identity. Fluent in English. Spanish and Portuguese, and being able to provide services in all of these languages ensures accessibility for a broad range of clients. Vera works with children, teenagers, and their parents to improve family relationships, manage emotional challenges, and improve self-esteem. Vera also helps parents build effective communication skills and develop positive discipline strategies. She believes that when parents work on their own healing, children feel safer to work on themselves. That is why collaborative work is so important to her. Vera also has experience working with women navigating life transitions, such as career shifts, relocation, relationship issues, fertility issues, and motherhood. She focuses her work on fostering resilience and empowerment to help clients manage stress, anxiety, and depression that stem from these changes. Vera uses a collaborative, strengths-based approach tailored to each client’s needs. She integrates evidence-based techniques such as CBT, mindfulness practices, and family systems therapy. With warmth and compassion, Vera creates a safe space where clients feel seen, heard, and supported in achieving their goals. Vera is a mother of two who moved from Brazil nine years ago. Drawing from her multicultural background, she understands how deep environment shapes who we are and enjoys thoughtfully integrating cultural perspectives into her work. Outside the office, Vera enjoys playing board games with her family, reading, watching movies, and traveling.
VERA SANTIAGO
EXPERTISE
Credentials & Services
Licenses
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Licensed Social Worker
LSW - 150111923
Trainings
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2022 - CBT, DBT, and Motivational Interviewing at Linden Oaks Behavioral Hospital
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2023 - Child-centered play therapy at Family Counseling Services
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2024 - Sand tray therapy at Kid Matter Counseling
Treatment Offerings From Vera
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Children, Adolescents, Families, and Adults
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Client's struggling with communication, AHDH, school challenges, parenting struggles, relationship dynamics, family transitions, discipline challenges, anxiety, depression, fertility journeys, motherhood, career transitions, and health struggles
CLINICIAN
Amber Enerson, MA, LPC
Amber Enerson is a trauma-informed therapist who offers compassionate, affirming care to individuals seeking deeper understanding, healing, and self-connection. She earned her Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Capella University in 2025, building on her academic foundation with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (2020) and a Master of Arts in Psychology (2022) from American Public University. Her training emphasized evidence-based practices while honoring the emotional, relational, and nervous-system-based aspects of healing. She became a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in 2025 and continues to pursue ongoing education to support ethical, responsive, and inclusive care. Amber works with adults and adolescents navigating concerns such as trauma and complex trauma, anxiety, depression, identity exploration, emotional regulation, relationship challenges, and life transitions. Her approach is neurodivergent-affirming, LGBTQIA+-inclusive, and she is committed to creating a therapeutic space where clients feel seen, respected, and safe to show up as they are. She recognizes how systems, identity, and lived experience shape mental health and thoughtfully integrates this awareness into her work. Her clinical experience spans a variety of settings, including the Department of Corrections, Community Mental Health, and Crisis Management. These roles have informed her trauma-focused lens and deepened her understanding of how chronic stress, survival responses, and systemic factors impact mental health and emotional well-being. Clinically, Amber draws from a blend of trauma-focused, relational, and skills-based modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and parts-informed/attachment-based approaches. She also integrates holistic and spiritually informed perspectives when aligned with a client’s values and beliefs, honoring the mind-body connection, and the innate wisdom within each individual. Her therapeutic style is warm, collaborative, relational, and grounded, with an emphasis on pacing, consent, and nervous system safety. She believes that healing occurs through safe connection and thoughtful pacing. She works alongside clients to identify goals, develop coping skills, build insight, and cultivate greater self-trust, resilience, and emotional safety, while honoring each person’s unique rhythm and readiness for change. At the core of her work is the belief that clients are not “broken,” but adaptive, and have been conditioned by their environments and experiences — with the right support, understanding, and tools, meaningful growth and healing are possible.
AMBER ENERSON
EXPERTISE
Credentials & Services
Licenses
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Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) 178.022214
Trainings
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2024 Crisis Training
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2025 Disordered Eating
Treatment Offerings From Amber
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Adolescent, Families, Couples, and Adult Clients
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Clients experiencing trauma, ADHD, anxiety, crisis support, LGBTQ+ challenges, and somatic issues.
What Client's Are Saying
TESTIMONIALS
"Just as the butterfly grows unseen, personal transformation begins within—through mindful reflection and compassion."
- UNKNOWN