Orli Firestein (she/her)

I utilize the following frameworks to explore and dismantle anxiety with clients: CBT, mindfulness, and radical acceptance

As a former school social worker with a background in working with children who have been diagnosed with behavioral and emotional disabilities, I have extensive experience working with children and adolescents with a variety of needs, strengths, and backgrounds. When working with children and adolescents, I incorporate play therapy, collaborative problem solving, and creative self expression to explore thoughts, feelings, and experiences.

I have a passion for working with individuals who identify as having Asperger's, tailoring my treatment approach to each client's needs and interests, be it navigating social interactions and nonverbal body language in the workplace or at school, disability/self advocacy, or expressing and managing strong emotions.

I have found that children (and many adolescents) are able to more freely share their inner and life experiences through play, be it with dolls, action figures, or a simple board game. I incorporate social skills modeling, psychoeducation, and asking open ended questions when using play therapy with child clients.

I have completed an intensive 8-week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course, led by Julia Sarazine, DNP, APN, FNC-BC. In this interactive course, I learned how to incorporate mindfulness techniques, such as body-scans, guided relaxation, finding a physical anchor to ground myself, and the use of a mantra to remain present in stressful situations. This approach is shared with clients who are struggling to manage strong emotions, trauma, and stressful situations.

I have completed two separate year-long trainings through JCFS Chicago on the topic of CBT, with the first training providing a more general overview of CBT while the second training focused on CBT for Depression. I have found the collaborative and goal-oriented nature of CBT to be especially useful for clients who are struggling with a harsh inner critic and/or self-destructive behaviors or relationship patterns.

Family systems approach can be helpful in building self-awareness and insight related to the roles and patterns that occur within one's relationships.