Lorraine LaSusa-Weymouth
Lorraine LaSusa-Weymouth, LCSW, is a graduate of Loyola University, Chicago, with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Social Work. She has over 20 years of psychotherapeutic experience working extensively with people of all ages, cultures and various issues. Her counseling style is genuine, warm, open and direct, as well as action and solution oriented.
Lorraine’s vast experience in community has been pivotal in collaborating with physicians, school personnel, the judicial and law enforcement systems as well as with DCFS. She was Executive Director of Talkline/Kidsline, a non-profit 24 hour comprehensive crisis intervention hotline. She designed and implemented KidsLine, the first 24 hour hotline in the nation for after-school latchkey children, for which she received the national President’s Action award. She also spearheaded the TeenLine hotline to address teen suicide prevention, for which she received Illinois’ Governor’s Home Town Award.
She also taught at Roosevelt University in the Public Administration program and has experience working in Human Resources which lends itself to the life coaching of people through difficult transitions and life stages.
Clients Served and Treatment Issues:
Adults: Depression, bipolar issues, panic, phobias and stress, anger management, substance abuse, grief, relationships, divorce and custody, parenting, family concerns, domestic violence, surviving sexual/physical/emotional abuse, and workplace issues.
Couples: Communication, extended family problems, financial issues, sexual disharmony/dysfunction, relationship enhancement re: intimacy – distance, premarital and family planning.
Adolescents: Oppositional defiant disorders, bullying, substance experimentation and abuse, poor social skills/lack of self esteem, body image, eating disorders, sexual orientation, ADHD, school refusal, suicide ideation, and coping with chronic illness and pain.
Children: Depression, anxiety, phobias, making friends, separation anxiety, discipline issues, ADD & ADHD, divorce adjustment and school difficulties.
Families: Communication, rules & consequences, setting limits, chores and allowances, religious/moral upbringing and dysfunctional generational problems.
Treatment Modalites:
Cognitive Behavioral Treatment (CBT):
CBT is based on the idea that our negative and/or irrational thoughts can cause feelings that lead to one’s own inappropriate behaviors, not in others or based on events. CBT is considered among the rapid therapies for achieving results. We can change the way we think to feel and act better even if others or situations do not change.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT):
DBT was developed originally for chronically suicidal individuals but today it is utilized for a variety of disorders, such as for borderline personalities, depression, elderly depression, suicide, adolescents and eating disorders. Clients learn mindfulness and skills to remain in the present moment as well as focusing on effectiveness.
Structural Family Therapy (SFT):
SFT is a psychotherapy developed to address problems of family dysfunction. SFT therapists “join” the family as a catalyst for positive change in the family system/structure. SFT defines family rules, boundaries and stressors and assists in restructuring them to become more functional.
Solution Focus Therapy (SFT):
SFT focuses on what works in order to change positively vs. what has caused the problem/ issue. SFT concentrates on creating specific goals that are realistic, reasonable and rational (“the 3 R’s”) and improvement.
Other treatment modalities used include Narrative Therapy, Transactional Analysis, Psychodynamic and Spiritual Therapy.
Lorraine is an in-network provider for many Insurance and Managed Health Care Companies as well as Employee Assistance Programs. These include Blue Cross/Blue Shield, United HealthCare, Humana and Aetna.
Lorraine’s office is in Hoffman Estates. She can be reached for an appointment or for counseling questions at 847-884-7502, extension 114. She is available weekday afternoons and evenings, and Saturdays.
Her dog’s name is Mama Mia.