Meridian Psychiatric Partners, LLC

02/18/2026

It’s been way too long, so we were really glad to get together and catch up with our good friends at Midwest Counseling & Diagnostics last week! It was so nice seeing you, everyone — we’re incredibly grateful for your partnership in empowering patients in the communities we serve with exceptional mental health care services.

02/13/2026

They flaked on you AGAIN? There’s no doubt about it: When someone breaks your plans together, it’s frustrating — especially at the last minute. It’s important to recognize, though, that this seemingly selfish behavior can actually be the result of a mental health condition like depression. Read on now as one therapist offers helpful advice on how to support a friend who’s struggling while also looking out for yourself.

Our Ask the Therapist columnist, Lori Gottlieb, advises a reader who wants to help a struggling pal but is growing frustrated.

02/12/2026

Our team is growing in 2026! Lamar Nero, PsyD, is our first new addition of this year — and we couldn’t be happier to have him joining us here at Meridian.

Dr. Nero has extensive experience working with individuals navigating trauma, identity-related stress, relationship difficulties, mood and anxiety disorders and life transitions, as well as with couples struggling with emotional disconnection, high-conflict dynamics and the impact of trauma and identity on intimacy.

Welcome to the Meridian team, Dr. Nero! We’re excited to start working together.

02/11/2026

Dr. Arana’s son Kaiyen wanted to demonstrate the vast potential young people have for helping to create a more hopeful future for others. So as part of his senior capstone project, he came up with Healing Without Fear. It takes a look at our most vulnerable immigrant and refugee communities as they face unimaginable hostility, uncertainty and psychological stress amid the immigration and detention crisis.

We were so impressed with Kaiyen’s approach, and it's such a powerful idea, that we wanted to get involved to help expand access to safe, compassionate, trauma-informed mental health care. We’re incredibly proud to have many of our own licensed clinicians here at Meridian offering pro bono therapy to individuals and families who are being impacted.

Visit Healing Without Fear on Instagram and use links in bio to offer your support as a licensed clinician or make a referral as a community partner today. https://tinyurl.com/yjabba9d

02/10/2026

As 2026 continues to take shape, a range of new trends in the psychology space will continue to emerge. From the potential risks and benefits of increased AI chatbot usage and a heightened focus on integrative care to rethinking how to promote early childhood well-being and the importance of advocacy work for the field of psychology — check out all that the American Psychological Association is watching now.

In this issue: emerging trends in psychology for 2026, APA’s new president Wendi S. Williams, most read journal articles from 2025, navigating layoffs, psychology's expanding role in prescribing medication, and more.

02/05/2026

With this week being International Play Therapy Week, what better time to take a tour of Meridian’s play therapy room at our Oakbrook Terrace office? This special space is where Sarah Biehl, LCPC, empowers children ages three and up to express themselves in the ways that work best for them.

Watch now to learn more about what goes on in Sarah’s sessions. It’s the perfect way to get a better idea of what to expect if you’re considering play therapy for your child! https://meridianpsychiatricpartners.com/oakbrook-terrace-play-therapy-room/

Take a virtual tour of the play therapy room at Meridian's new Oakbrook Terrace office now with Sarah Biehl, LCPC.

02/03/2026

Here at Meridian, we’re incredibly proud to offer patients a highly skilled, diverse team of providers in our multidisciplinary private group practice. With 30 psychiatrists, 30 therapists and one advanced practice nurse, we’re one of the largest teams of our kind in Chicagoland!

And that’s not all — this National Women Physicians Day, we’re especially happy to say that 20 of the dedicated psychiatrists at Meridian are women! Today, we’d like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for the instrumental role you play on our team. Thank you for all that you do!

02/01/2026

For young people struggling to navigate what can often be some pretty complex emotions they’re experiencing, sometimes the recipe for success comes down to meeting them where they’re at!

To that end, the power of play can offer a myriad of benefits! In fact, research on child-parent relationship therapy has revealed that as little as just five minutes of regular, daily or weekly child-led play can provide benefits including improved behavioral tendencies, enhanced coping mechanisms and a stronger bond between parent and child.

Ready to try at home? In recognition of International Play Therapy Week, Meridian’s Sarah Biehl, LCPC — a registered play therapist with over a decade of experience empowering young patients ages three and up with exceptional mental health care — has created a calendar of play activities that children and caregivers can have fun with all month long.

From board games and a family scavenger hunt to cooking/baking and a Google Earth expedition — explore all these awesome play activities on our website today! https://tinyurl.com/5n6s2j74

02/01/2026

It's time for Black History Month, everyone! Did you know that the earliest form of this month’s celebration began in 1926, when Dr. Carter G. Woodson launched Negro History Week?

In honor of the 100th anniversary of reflecting upon Black history this year, Reclamation Ventures' is helping to lift up the Association for the Study of African American Life and History’s official theme, “A Century of Black History Commemorations.”

This February, don’t miss ANY opportunities to celebrate Black excellence — from critical moments of breaking down barriers to significant achievements, and everything in between. Sign up for Reclamation Ventures’ “28 Days of Black History” newsletter today. https://www.28daysofblackhistory.com/

01/30/2026

After the loss of a loved one, the grief understandably causes many to distance themselves from others for a period of time. In their journey onward, though, here’s how members of one group are finding strength through the support of people who know exactly what they’re going through.

Walking with other people who are grieving a loss is one way to ease some of the pain and feel less alone.

01/26/2026

A new study of almost 21,000 U.S. adults revealed those who regularly interact with AI chatbots were approximately 30% more likely to experience at least moderate symptoms of depression. At 54%, adults between the ages of 45 and 64 faced the greatest risk of depression among all age groups.

THURSDAY, Jan. 22, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Do you find yourself spending hours chatting with AI programs like ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, Claude

01/23/2026

This Maternal Health Awareness Day, the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists’ official theme is, “Holding Ground on Maternal Health.” Here at Meridian, we’d like to take the opportunity today to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to protecting the mental health and well-being of new and expecting mothers during all stages of the peripartum.

Through the respectful, evidence-based care they provide, the 20+ dedicated providers in our Reproductive Psychiatry Division — one of the largest of its kind in Chicagoland — strive to ensure that every patient and their growing family is empowered to flourish!

If you or someone you know is struggling, please know that Meridian is available to help — many appointments can be scheduled in as little as a few days. Visit our website to learn more about working with the RPD today. https://tinyurl.com/ydvkf7ss