With a wide level of interest and experience, our clinicians also serve as a speaker’s bureau.

Our desire is to have opportunity to interact with the communities in which we serve by offering a variety of topics for your group, community or church functions.

Our presentations can range from single topic, single event settings to ongoing series offered over a period of time. We are available to travel throughout the service areas of our three locations (Chicago and North and West Suburbs) in order to facilitate these speaking events. Fees for presentations and workshops are determined on a case by case basis and vary depending on length, number in attendance and other factors.

If you are interested in a speaker for your group, we have developed presentations on many areas of mental health. If your desired topic is not included in our catalog, we are willing to work with you to meet the needs of your group. Please contact us for more information.

See below for our catalog of presentations and workshops.

Our Catalog of Presentations & Workshops

If you are interested in a speaker for your group, we have developed presentations on many areas of mental health. If your desired topic is not included in our catalog, we are willing to work with you to meet the needs of your group. For a description of each presentation or workshop, click on the title of interest. For more information or to arrange a presentation or workshop for your group or organization, click here to contact us.

Anger: Bane and/or Blessing

Anger is a common emotion which is often expressed more easily than other emotions. But is anger always unhealthy, or is it the expression of it which can be healthy or unhealthy? This workshop will explore anger, looking at its function, where it comes from, and how to harness some of anger’s positive function.

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Assessment & Treatment

This presentation is designed to present an overview of ADHD. The workshop will help those in attendance to understand: the various sub-types of ADHD; the clinical process of assessing ADHD; the symptoms of ADHD; and potential treatment options

Borderline Personality Disorder in Adolescents: Managing Emotional Intensity

This presentation unpacks an often misdiagnosed disorder. After first walking participants through the importance of a thorough diagnosis, emotional and behavioral components, and treatment options, the main focus will turn to managing some of the patterns of emotional intensity that usually accompany this issue and which can be an ongoing strain on relationships.

Bipolar Disorder in Children and Adolescents

This workshop will focus on the differential diagnoses, symptoms and diagnostic criteria, sub-types and treatment options for treating children and adolescents with Bipolar disorder. The presentation also takes into account the family dynamics associated with this disorder.

Choices, Choices, Choices: Getting Your Kids to Do What You’d like Them to Do

Parenting is not always easy, and with each child and each developmental stage come new challenges and opportunities. This can at times result in a struggle of the wills. This workshop looks at ways to balance appropriate parental intervention with helping your children to have some agency in their own personal development.

Coping Skills for Parents of Children with Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable Bowel Syndrome can be a very debilitating syndrome if it is not managed well. This workshop will help parents to understand the stressors associated with this syndrome and will teach some specific coping tools to assist both parent and child to manage in everyday life.

Couple’s Communication

Snapping at each other, or maybe not even talking at all? Every couple goes through periods of stress and can settle into patterns which may close down their communication with each other. This workshop looks at some of the blocks to healthy communication as a couple, teaches some techniques for improving communication and allows some time to practice newly learned skills.

The Difficult Connection: Understanding and Working with Children with Attachment Issues

Having a healthy relationship with our kids is a common challenge made even harder for kids who struggle with attachment. This workshop will look at the issue of attachment theory and help participants to normalize some of the effects of this issue on relationship and social development. Whether your child is adopted, is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, or may have had emotional or traumatic issues at birth, this workshop will be of benefit.

Depression and the College Student

Moving off to college isn’t always easy. Learning new life skills, leaving behind life-long friends, and facing a new place and new expectations can be daunting. This workshop will help participants understand what some of the warning signs may be that these challenges have become overwhelming. Participants will discuss the difference between normal coping and adjustment and depression, and will be given some tools for coping and making the adjustment more manageable. This workshop is beneficial for both new college applicants as well as their parents.

Emotional Issues for Children and Parents of Children Living with Chronic Medical Illness

Impacting daily routine, family choices and relationships, chronic medical illness can be like a hidden member of the family. This workshop helps family members to find the appropriate place for this “family member” and gives tools to bring life into a better balance vs. merely organizing life around the illness. Special attention is given to the emotional aspects both for the person experiencing the illness and significant others, as well as coping strategies for this ongoing life stressor.

Effective Parenting

This workshop focuses on the developmental stages of children and parenting in those stages. Participants will be provided with an understanding of appropriate developmental milestones, tasks and challenges for each stage. Other topics considered will be allowing for personality differences in your children, dealing with opposition and anger, and knowing how to care for yourself in the midst of it all. This workshop will give practical tools for the job and also reassurance that your home may be more normal than you think. This workshop can also be customized for age specific parenting groups (Pre-schoolers, School-age, Adolescents, Emerging Adult children).

Helping Your Children Succeed: How to Design and Use a System of Rewards for Positive Behavior

It is often easy to notice what are kids are doing wrong. These are the things which can bring us into conflict and make life less enjoyable. This workshop will focus, instead on ways to use techniques which help positively reward the good behavior and attitudes which we desire for our kids.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder: Diagnosis and Symptoms

We all have our difficult days and can be hard to be around. Sometimes, however, we are faced with particularly difficult people: Perhaps a parent, a boss or friend with whom we have difficulty relating, someone who makes us feel problems are always our fault, that they are always right. Children of parents with a Narcissistic Personality Disorder may experience issues with self-esteem, a lack of confidence in their own judgment, and feelings of shame or not being good enough. These feelings can last well into adulthood. This presentation is designed to help recognize the traits of NPD and some of the ways this can impact relationships. Information regarding best practices for treatment of this condition as well as how to be your healthiest in relationship with those who suffer with this disorder will also be a focus.

Recognizing Attention Deficit Disorder without Hyperactivity

The mention of ADHD conjures thoughts of high energy children who can’t sit still. Often the inattentive type of ADHD can be missed and may be confused with laziness, lack of motivation or learning difficulties. If disorganized backpacks and lockers, lost notices from school, uncompleted homework, or completed assignments which aren’t handed in have you frustrated, this workshop is for you. Our time together will focus on helping parents and educators to recognize some of the classic symptoms of ADHD Inattentive Type and to bust some myths in general, about ADHD. Practical behavioral changes and other treatment options will also be discussed.

Recognizing ADHD in the Pediatrician’s Office

A workshop for pediatricians, the focus of this event is a thorough review of the diagnostic criteria, symptoms, subtypes, and treatment options for ADHD. While the primary focus of the workshop is assessment and diagnosis, attention will also be given to how to best coordinate care and services to treat this disorder.

Seasons and Screen Time: What We Can Learn from Families and Couples Who Make It Work

Does it feel like you are always trying to pry your kids away from the TV, Facebook, Video games and texting? Screen time can be a real battle ground for parenting, causing tension in the home and distraction from more “productive” pursuits. How can you help your kids enjoy technology without becoming lost in it? How do you transition from extended screen time use over the winter and get the kids outside and active when the weather becomes warm again? This workshop focuses on finding balance and utilizes some successful attempts by parents just like you.

So When Do I Get To Take Care Of Myself?

If you serve as a caretaker to an aging parent, to a family member with chronic medical illness, or even if you are a busy parent, you can benefit from this workshop which focuses on prioritizing some self-care in a doable manner. When we finish our time together, you may not drop everything and head for the spa, but you will have some new tools to work some self-care into a realistic plan of action.