Lauren Brymer, MA, LCPC, CADC
Founder
Clinical Director
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 is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in Illinois, holds a certification as a Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counselor (CADC) in Illinois, and is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Mississippi. 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.
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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.
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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.
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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. We are creatures of connection, and the connection begins within; if that connection is missing, the lack of self-attunement often shows up as disconnection, distress, or relational struggles. Lauren thrives in supporting clients as they deepen their inner awareness of their experiences, thoughts, and feelings, fostering insight, self-compassion, and meaningful growth.
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Lauren, her husband, and two teenagers moved to Coastal Mississippi in 2024. Being drawn to live near the ocean and fulfill the professional desire to counsel more veterans, made the move the ideal location. 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 spends her time outside the office being her kids biggest fan on the field and on the court. When she can grab free time she enjoys walking the beach with her dogs and reading books in her backyard. ​
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Licenses
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
(Illinois LCPC) - 180.006727
Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counselor
(CADC) - 25633
Licensed Professional Counselor
(Mississippi LPC) - 3138
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2005 - Trauma Therapy
2006 - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
2018 - First Aid -Mental Health
2019 - Internal Family Systems Therapy (Level 1)
2020 - Internal Family Systems Therapy (Level 2)
2021 - Integrated Trauma Therapist
2022 - IFS Treatment for Healing and Restoring Health
2024- Certified Addictions- Informed Professional
2024 - Certified Parent Trainer with IFS
Trainings
Treatment Offerings From Lauren
-Adolescent and Adults
-Clinician's learning the IFS model
-Client's experiencing past trauma, grief, suicidal ideation, depression, anxiety, life transitions, and relationship issues.
Sarah Cairo, MA, LCPC
Lead Clinician
Marketing Manager
Sarah Cairo graduated from Lewis University with her MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a focus in Child and Adolescent Counseling in August 2020. During her time at Lewis she developed an eclectic counseling style focusing on cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, and person-centered counseling. Sarah received her LPC in 2021 and her LCPC in 2023. She continues to attend workshops and classes to continue to expand her mental health knowledge.
Sarah has attended the suicide prevention conference in August 2020 to learn more about how mental health providers can help to recognize suicidal ideation in others and how to provide a holistic treatment approach for those who suffer with suicidal ideation.
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In 2019-2020 Sarah worked as a counseling intern at Laureate Day School working with children and adolescents with Autism and co-occurring mental health diagnoses. She worked from a psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral lense to provide individual therapy, group therapy, and peer social development groups. Sarah worked with the student, the family, and the teachers to come up with home and school behavioral plans to best accommodate the individual. Sarah transitioned to virtual treatment during the pandemic of 2020 and helped with the transition at the school to virtual care thorough planning groups and providing one on one care to the child and their family. In working with this population, Sarah learned how to identify the function of one's behavior and use this knowledge to better inform the treatment provided.
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In 2020, Sarah started working at Rogers Behavioral Health where she currently works in intensive outpatient care for children and adolescents with anxiety, OCD, depression, and PTSD. While working at Rogers, Sarah was trained in exposure and response prevention therapy which she uses in treating anxiety and OCD. At Rogers, she works with the family system and the individual, leads groups, and coordinates treatment plans with the treatment team.
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Sarah's counseling style is kind and compassionate. She believes that everyone has the ability to be the best version of themselves and helps the individual to identify goals which lead the treatment process. She has worked as a dance teacher, theater teacher, and children's church coordinator. Through all these jobs what Sarah learned is that she loves to build relationships with people. Sarah helps to identify and use one's strengths to help conquer their weaknesses.
License
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
(LCPC) - 180.015715
Trainings
2020 - Therapeutic Crisis Intervention
2025 - Internal Family Systems (Level 1)
Treatment Offerings From Sarah
-Children, Adolescent and Young Adults
-Client's experiencing anxiety, OCD, school issues, ADHD, somatic issues, depression, family conflicts, life transitions, and peer struggles.
Mary Trovato, MA, LPC
Clinician
Mary Trovato is a Licensed Professional Counselor who graduated with her Bachelor’s in Psychology from University of St. Francis in 2017 and Master’s in Clinical Mental Health from Adler University in 2020. Mary obtained her LPC and NCC in 2021 and continues to expand her expertise and training interests. Mary uses an eclectic approach to treating all of her clients.
From 2019-2020, Mary began her counseling experience with United Stand Family Counseling Center as a counseling intern. During her experience she provided personal and group counseling to students, assisted students with special needs in compliance with IEP and 504 guidelines, and worked alongside school's diagnosticians for further assessment in developing treatment plans.
Beginning in 2021, Mary began her journey at Sertoma Centre, Inc. This experience was a stepping stone in her career where she assisted in client case management needs, provided individual and group therapy services to a wide range of populations/age groups/mental health diagnoses, and ongoing training in diversity/social services/other miscellaneous arenas to further develop professionalism in career. Mary wanting to deepen her areas of treatment lead her to working in the hospital system. Her experiences treating clients in outpatient and inpatient settings has provided her in expertise in diagnosis, crisis management, and mental illness needing escalation of services.
Mary is a driven and passionate therapist exercising various therapeutic strategies and techniques to service those within the surrounding communities. Her focus is to empower and connect with youth, adolescents, and adult clients to build confidence in others to recognize their strengths as well as learn strategies to help navigate life’s roadblocks. Mary’s style is to create a safe, genuine, and positive environment for her clients through a Person-Centered Approach. Mary’s experience includes a variety of mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, Bi-Polar I and II, Schizophrenia, and more. She is committed to continuing to learn and train to build her knowledge and expertise within the field.
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License
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Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
(LCPC)- 180.017799
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Treatment Offerings From Mary
-Adolescent and Young Adults
-Client's experiencing anxiety, school issues, ADHD, somatic issues, depression, family conflicts, life transitions, and peer struggles.
Vera Santiago, MA, LSW
Clinician
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.
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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.
License
Licensed Social Worker
LSW - 150111923
Trainings
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
- Children, Adolescents, Families, and Adults
- 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.
"Happiness is like a butterfly. The more you chase it, the more it eludes you. But if you turn your attention to other things, it comes and sits softly on your shoulder."
-Henry David Thoreau
