Carolyn Cruse
(She/Her/Hers)
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
I specialize in working with adults who want to explore the impact of trauma and/or improve their relationships with themselves.
Trauma—whether an acute experience or the chronic trauma that can exist within oppressive systems and dysfunctional families—often disconnects people from their intuition and their sense of self. My goal is to help clients reconnect with their own wisdom and to cultivate lives and relationships that are fulfilling and joyful. I work to help clients understand their experiences within the context of their development and their current lives and to build a relationship with themselves that is rooted in self-compassion. I believe strongly that the quality and fit of the therapeutic relationship is the greatest agent of positive change for clients--especially when clients have experienced relational or interpersonal trauma. With a style built on warmth, humor, and flexibility, I work collaboratively with clients to explore and understand their experiences, to utilize their innate strengths, and to heal. I use a Health at Every Size lens in my work with body image issues and disordered eating, I celebrate LGBTQ+ identities, and I hope to create a space that promotes authenticity and growth.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
- Abuse
- Body Image
- Childhood Abuse
- Compulsive Exercise
- Eating Concerns
- Perfectionism
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Self-Esteem
- Sexual Assault
- Trauma
Age groups
- Young adults (18-30)
- Adults (31-64)
Special groups
- Body positivity
- People who are bisexual
- People who identify as gay
- People who identify as lesbian
- People who identify as non-binary
- People who identify as queer
- Transgender
Treatment specialties
Therapeutic modalities
- Individual Therapy
Treatments
- Interpersonal Therapy
- Culturally-Sensitive Therapy
- Feminist Therapy
- Relational Psychotherapy
- Internal Family Systems Therapy
Location
Remote options
- Video
Payment options
$185 — $200per session
Insurance
In-network coverage provided for the following insurance companies
- Blue Cross Blue Shield – Illinois
- Health Alliance – Illinois
- United HealthСare Student Insurance – Illinois
- Out-of-pocket
- Out-of-network insurance
- In-network insurance
- I offer a free consultation
Payment methods
- Cash
- Check
- Credit Card
- Debit Card
- Health Savings Account
Credentials
Licenses
LCSW
149.021078, Illinois
Education
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
MSW (Master of Social Work), 2016