Roger Thomson, Ph.D.

Roger Thomson, Co-director of Integrative Health Partners, received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Northwestern University. With over 30 years experience, he is expert in treating a wide range of problems, with special interests in helping people with anxiety, chronic pain and other medical problems, and marital problems. Personal and executive coaching is also one of his specialties. He has been on the faculty of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine since 1986, and for two decades he was the Director of Training at the Counseling Center of Fourth Presbyterian Church. Dr. Thomson has written and lectured on mindfulness in the practice of psychotherapy. Click here to read articles about meditation and psychotherapy which include interviews with Dr. Thomson

“Both psychotherapy and mindfulness help us encounter our lives with curiosity and joy. In the middle of emotional stresses, that positive energy can seem out of reach, but I believe that all of us, at any time, can take a significant step in that direction. To take that step, again and again, with gentle perseverance, will create a path toward well being and satisfaction.”

“I am interested in working together to find that path. My style of therapy is interactive and collaborative, emphasizing both insight and action. Together we will develop the understanding and openness which is at the heart of constructive change. It is only by turning toward ourselves, our relationships, and yes, even our difficulties, that we find the most skillful response to them. In our therapy sessions, we will make a mutual effort to contact the source of acceptance, awareness, and health that resides in each one of us.”

- Roger Thomson, Ph.D.

 
Mary Connors, Ph.D., ABPP

Mary Connors received her Ph.D. from DePaul University and has a Diplomate in Clinical Psychology from the American Board of Professional Psychology. She is Co-director of Integrative Health Partners and has taught at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology since 1989. Dr. Connors has over 25 years of experience as a psychotherapist, and much of her teaching, writing, and supervision has focused on integrative psychotherapy. She has expertise in the treatment of eating disorders and coauthored The Etiology and Treatment of Bulimia Nervosa: A Biopsychosocial Perspective. Dr. Connors is the author of the book, Symptom-Focused Dynamic Psychotherapy (The Analytic Press, 2006). Click here for Dr. Connors’ paper on integrative psychotherapy

“I view psychotherapy as a conversation in which each participant plays an active role. Each course of treatment is different because it must be specifically tailored to a unique individual. I strive to provide a warm, respectful, and empathic relationship within which it becomes more possible to make desired changes. People often wish both to understand themselves better and to take action in certain ways that will improve their lives. My style of doing therapy supports insight and behavior change through a combination of self exploration, action oriented techniques, and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). Psychotherapy with me might take just a few sessions or a number of years, depending on a person’s goals. I am particularly interested in working with women’s issues, including body image and eating concerns, self esteem, relationships, and work/life balance.”

- Mary Connors, Ph.D., ABPP

 
Becca Meyer, Psy.D.

Becca Meyer is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist. She earned her undergraduate degree at Northwestern University and her doctorate in clinical psychology at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology. Prior to joining Integrative Health Partners, she trained as an individual and couples therapist at Lorene Replogle Counseling Center. She also completed her predoctoral internship at Western Michigan University's counseling center, where she worked with individuals and led groups in mindfulness-based stress reduction and mindful eating.

“I believe therapy provides an opportunity for healing and growth. I offer a nonjudgmental and supportive environment that opens the door to self-discovery. We'll work together to understand what might be getting you "stuck" in certain areas of your life, drawing on your strengths to develop healthier ways of coping with the challenges you face. When appropriate, we will focus on relieving specific symptoms that prevent you from being happy on a day-to-day basis. But we can also address the root causes of those symptoms to empower you with life-long self-insight.

“I have both experience and interest in helping clients deal with a variety of issues, including depression, anxiety, difficult relationships, eating disorders, body image problems, addictions, loss and grief, career concerns, and life transitions. Above all, I hold a deep respect for clients' individuality and recognize that each therapeutic relationship will evolve in its own unique way.”

- Becca Meyer, Psy.D.

 
Nancy Easton, Psy.D.

Nancy Easton completed her doctorate in psychology at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology. She brings over a decade of clinical experience working with individuals and couples in private practice settings, as well as through counseling centers at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Northwestern University, and Fourth Presbyterian Church. She also practices mindfulness meditation.

“Psychotherapy can be an effective way to gain insight into how and why you perceive the world as you do, in light of your unique life experience. Tremendous change can come about as the result of increased self-awareness and understanding, combined with learning different ways of interacting with the world. My approach to psychotherapy is interactive and incorporates psychodynamic self-exploration with mindful awareness, in order to help clients process and resolve painful feelings and experiences so that they ultimately have more choice in how they respond, rather than react, to people and situations around them.”

“People often come to me seeking help understanding painful experiences that initially manifest in feelings of sadness, anger, worry, or emptiness. These feelings may result from problems such as anxiety, depression, self-image concerns, substance use or other addictive behaviors, or other troubling issues ranging from identity development or major life transitions, to relationship or career conflicts. One of my primary goals as a therapist is to help clients understand and integrate diverse aspects of their identity and experience into a more cohesive whole. I strive to provide an empathic, supportive space in which you can explore the context of your life.”

- Nancy Easton, Psy.D.

 
Jacqueline Herbstman, LCSW

Jacqueline Herbstman is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She earned her Master’s degree from New York University’s School of Social Work. She also received a Master’s in Health Sciences from Maastricht University, The Netherlands, with a focus on mental health issues in the workplace. Most recently, Jacqueline worked in a Boston community mental health center, where she provided therapy to a diverse group of clients with issues ranging from mild anxiety to severe mental illness. She is a practitioner of Vipassana meditation and strongly believes in bridging the gap between Western, evidence-based science and the wisdom of centuries old Eastern traditions. Jacqueline uses mindfulness and acceptance based treatments in her work. She is interested in helping people with a variety of struggles and challenges, including those of life transitions, cultural adjustment, and career.

“In my experience, people often come to therapy because they feel disconnected from themselves and others, or from their values and dreams about a life worth living. You might be feeling this disconnection in many ways, including sadness or worry, panic attacks, anger, relationship problems, parenting difficulties or addictive behaviors. I believe that everyone already has the inner resources needed to heal, and my holistic approach to therapy focuses on helping you to access and use these resources in a healthy way.

“Our work together is about finding out what thinking patterns, habits, or memories stand in the way of feeling more empowered and alive. By learning new ways to be with emotions, thoughts, and challenging experiences, your inner capacity to accept life as it is will grow. Paradoxically, acceptance will make it easier for you to make desired changes. I welcome the opportunity to help you live a more fulfilling life.”

- Jacqueline Herbstman, LCSW

 
Anjannette Padilla Ryan, Ph.D.

Anjannette Padilla Ryan is a Postdoctoral Fellow at Integrative Health Partners. She earned her undergraduate degree at the University of California, Berkeley and her doctorate at the New School in New York City. She is also completing her postdoctoral hours at Cathedral Counseling Center where she sees both individuals and couples in psychotherapy. She has previously worked in the Cardiac Surgery department at Northwestern Memorial Hospital where she helped cardiac surgery patients make health behavior changes and reduce their risk for heart disease by managing stress levels and alleviating symptoms of depression. At the VA hospital in the Bronx, she provided Dialectical Behavior Therapy to veterans struggling with PTSD, mood symptoms and substance abuse. She is also experienced in Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction, Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

“My clinical and research experience is largely based on mindfulness and its benefits in psychotherapy. I believe in the use of mindfulness-based therapies to alter our relationship with our emotions so that we feel accepting and patient with them. I also believe that improved integration of our emotional experience leads to freedom from the avoidance behaviors that can limit our lives.

“I look at therapy as a collaborative exploration of the challenges that one faces in life and gaining an understanding of our strengths so that we can learn ways of overcoming them. It is both a process of accepting everything that we are while also trying to make shifts that allow us to live a fuller and richer life.”

- Anjannette Padilla Ryan, Ph.D.

 
Sheila Somers, LPC

Sheila Somers is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. She received her Masters in Pastoral Counseling from Loyola University Chicago and completed her clinical training as a therapist at Lorene Replogle Counseling Center. Experienced with bereavement counseling and chaplaincy at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Sheila supports clients with life-limiting illnesses and their families in hospice and end of life care. She is also trained in couples sexual dysfunction and clinical pastoral education.

"My interests include collaborating with individuals and couples on issues of bereavement, anticipatory grief, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, and rediscovering life purpose. I specialize in sexuality, LGBTQ issues, empowerment, and building successful relationships."

"My role as a Pastoral Counselor is to integrate counseling psychology with the client's values, 'meaning making', and ways of relating to self and others. My style as a therapist is collaborative and integrative, using insight, mindfulness and cognitive focuses. My goal is to help clients move towards healing and peace in their relationships, at work, and within themselves. An important part of this process is creating a safe place to heal unresolved loss and conflict, deconstruct harmful patterns of thinking, and rediscover strengths while promoting healthier ways of being. "

- Sheila Somers, MAPC, LCPC

 
Carrie Thomas. Psy.D.

Carrie Thomas is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist. She earned her Psy.D. at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She has trained at Lorene Replogle Counseling Center in Chicago and interned at Holcomb Behavioral Health in Exton, PA, where she provided individual therapy and community based family therapy. During her postdoctoral work at Ada S. McKinley Community Services, she developed a specialty working with children, adolescents and families. Dr. Thomas worked with other Chicago area private practice groups before coming to Integrative Health Partners.

“My experience includes working with adults who are having difficulty in many areas of their life including relationship difficulties, identity exploration, emotion regulation, depression and anxiety. I also work with teens, pre-teens, and their parents, helping with anxiety, interpersonal problems, developmental transitions, and identity issues. I have a special interest in helping individuals with chronic pain who are looking for proactive pain management or a holistic approach. I work primarily from a integrative perspective which emphasizes the therapeutic relationship and incorporates psychodynamic, mindfulness, and cognitive behavioral techniques.

“The therapeutic dialogue is a unique collaboration in which exploration and growth can occur while addressing difficult issues around relationships and life. I work with clients to navigate their challenges and explore the parts of themselves that have held them back or limited their ability to make satisfying decisions. Each person coming to therapy is in a different place with different needs. I meet them at that place and work with them to move forward. My goal is to approach clients with compassionate understanding, whatever their circumstance. ”

- Carrie Thomas, Psy.D.