Padera Therapy and Wellness

01/26/2026

If you're a mental health clinician looking for a new place to land, we'd love to hear from you. We are conveniently located to many Chicagoland suburbs, in the heart of Wheaton, Illinois. Our office environment is warm, supportive and full of passionate, experienced professionals. We value work/life balance for our therapists, and have frequent team get-togethers to build connection and community. We believe in creating meaningful change for clients through evidence-based and holistic treatment approaches. In addition, we have intake, marketing and insurance/billing support on staff.

Learn more...
https://paderatherapy.com/job-opportunities

01/23/2026

We are proud to announce that Padera Therapy and Wellness is now an Approved Continuing Education Provider through the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)! This recognition allows us to provide continuing education opportunities to mental health professionals, while meeting the NBCC's high national standards for education, training, and experience.

Stay up to date on upcoming CEU's: https://paderatherapy.com/ceus
Interested in therapy? Give us a call or email scheduling@paderatherapy.com.

01/20/2026

Padera Therapy has immediate openings for new clients with compassionate, experienced therapists. If you’ve been thinking about starting therapy, now is the time. Whether you’re navigating stress, anxiety, relationships, or just need a space to talk, support is available now. You don’t have to do this alone. Book your first session today! These five therapists have immediate availability. Give us a call at (630) 940-6828 or visit us at paderatherapy.com.

Nikoleta Giannakopolous, LPC
Virtual Therapy for Individuals & Partners ages 18+
Relationships | Life Transitions | Young Adults | Anxiety | Depression | Grief
Accepts: BCBS PPO, Anthem, Aetna, Cigna/Evernorth

Leigh Heckman, LPC
Therapy for women ages 18+
Somatic Work | Grief | Identity issues | Highly Sensitive People | Spirituality
Accepts: BCBS PPO, Anthem, Aetna, Cigna/Evernorth

Nadeen Elkhatib, LPC, EMDR
Therapy for ages 5+, families and groups
EMDR | Play Therapy | Children | Trauma | Family Relationships | Domestic Violence | Culturally-Sensitive Care
Accepts: BCBS PPO, Anthem, Aetna, Cigna/Evernorth

Diamari Velez, LCSW
Therapy for Individuals, ages 6+
Speaks English/Spanish
Trauma | PTSD | ADHD | Perinatal Mental Health | Parents | Neurodivergence | Latinx Clients | Play Therapy | Children
Accepts: BCBS PPO, Anthem, Aetna, Cigna/Evernorth and United

Farheen Farooq, LPC, EMDR
Virtual Therapy for women, and children ages 12+
Speaks English, Hindi and Urdu
Eating Disorders | Post-Divorce | Postpartum | Anxiety | Depression | Muslim Mental Health | EMDR | Brainspotting
Accepts: BCBS PPO, Anthem, Aetna, Cigna/Evernorth

01/15/2026

If you're a mental health clinician looking for a new place to land, we'd love to hear from you. We have an office environment that is warm, supportive and full of passionate, experienced professionals. We value work/life balance for our therapists, and have frequent team get-togethers to build connection and community. We believe in creating meaningful change for clients through evidence-based and holistic treatment approaches. In addition, we have intake, marketing and insurance/billing support on staff. Sound too good to be true? It's not. It's Padera Therapy.

Job Opportunities for: LCPC, LPC, LCSW, LSW, LMFT, ALMFT, PSY.D, Ph.D
Apply today: https://paderatherapy.com/job-opportunities

01/02/2026

It is common for our mental health to shift come January. The cold weather, lack of sunlight and fresh air, plentiful winter viruses, and indoor isolation can all lead to the winter "blues." After the festive holiday months, January sweeps in like a wet blanket, forcing us to face the reality of the long, dreary months still ahead of us. Society tells us to make resolutions, implement changes, and become a "new you" for the new year. But nature wants us to stop, slow down and conserve our energy in order to rest and reflect for the springtime ahead. To combat the blues, it helps to get outside when you can, increase sleep and water intake, move your body and even try things like light therapy. Don't lose connection with others - consider volunteering or getting together on a regular basis with friends and family, and as always, if you need extra support, we have a diverse team of therapists available.

Learn more: https://paderatherapy.com/our-team

12/18/2025

As we move closer to the end of the year and the Winter Solstice on December 21, we share some thoughts from Licensed Professional Counselor Leigh Heckman, as well as reflections from 2025 and intentions for 2026 from others on the Padera Therapy team - Sarah Guarini, Jon Matthew, Nadeen Elkhatib, Lesli Gresholdt, Rosangela Maldonado, and of course, Ralph the Therapy Dog.

Leigh shares, "Every year, December 21 brings the shortest day of the year — a day when the Earth’s tilt is pointed away from the Sun. Nature asks us to still and quiet our bodies for rest. There is a silent rhythm directing the leaves to pull their nutrients in and whispering to the bears to ready for hibernation.

What’s unique about this year, however, is that 2025 marks the close of a Universal 9 Year. In numerology, 2 + 0 + 2 + 5 equals 9. In many wisdom traditions, 9 represents completion, integration, release, and mastery — all before starting over at 1. It is the number of the mystic and the healer, a threshold that points toward transformation and new beginnings. Collectively, many of us are feeling this energy, whether or not we are consciously aware of its significance.

As we approach this particularly potent new beginning, here are some reflective questions to consider for your own cycle:

When I reflect on the past 9 years, what have been my themes, lessons, and struggles?
What do I want to carry forward from this chapter of my life, and what is better left behind?
Is there any "unfinished business" calling for my attention?
What fears and doubts do I feel ready to shed as I move forward?"

12/12/2025

{Immediate EMDR Openings!}

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a psychotherapy modality that enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress of trauma. According to the EMDR Institute, repeated studies show that by using EMDR therapy, people can experience the benefits of psychotherapy that once took years to make a difference! EMDR therapy shows that the mind can in fact heal from psychological trauma much as the body recovers from physical trauma. If you're interested in seeing a therapist certified in EMDR, we have current openings with therapists Nadeen Elkhatib and Jon Matthew!

Nadeen Elkhatib is a Licensed Professional Counselor specializing in trauma, anxiety, depression, codependency, emotional regulation, stress, Muslim mental health and play therapy for kids.
https://paderatherapy.com/nadeen-elkhatib

Jon Matthew is a Licensed Social Worker specializing in anxiety, depression, borderline personality disorder, religious trauma, neurodivergence, racial identity, LGBTQIA+ support and more for clients 18+.
https://paderatherapy.com/jon-matthew-lsw

Call (630) 940-6828 to make an appointment today!

12/10/2025

This time of year it's easy to feel like you're being pulled in so many different directions. Holiday parties, family events, school concerts, traveling, shopping and baking and cooking - oh my. A festive time of year can begin to feel very overwhelming. The cold, snowy days invite rest for our bodies and mind - but the holidays can require so much productivity and movement. How can you make sure to fill your cup? Set the intention to bring some quiet time, meditation, yoga, fresh air, movement and creativity into your days to find more balance. Feel like you could use some extra support as we head into the new year? Great! We are here for you. We have 21 therapists - and 1 therapy dog! - here at Padera Therapy, and you are guaranteed to find a provider who truly aligns with your needs, values, and personality. Contact us to learn more at www.paderatherapy.com or call 630-940-6828.

12/09/2025

As we move closer to the end of the year and the Winter Solstice on December 21, we share some thoughts from Licensed Clinical Social Worker Shannon Giovingo, as well as reflections from 2025 and intentions for 2026 from others on the Padera Therapy team - Kirsten Emery, Nikoleta Giannakopolous and Kristin Padera.

Shannon shares, "As we move into Solstice and Yule, we enter a threshold of deep stillness and quiet renewal. This is the longest night of the year, a pause in the turning of the seasons that invites us to soften, breathe, and listen inward. In the darkness, seeds of new beginnings are held gently beneath the surface—unseen, but already forming. Let this be a moment to honor what you’re releasing from the year behind you, and to draw close the intentions you want to nurture in the year ahead. Not with pressure or perfection, but with tenderness. What do you want to grow more of? What wants to be born in you? May this Solstice bring rest, clarity, and the quiet spark of new possibility. May your intentions take root in warmth and trust."

What are your favorite memories of 2025? What intentions are you setting for the year ahead?

12/05/2025

At Padera Therapy and Wellness, our Team Recommendations are thoughtfully curated to provide valuable resources for personal growth, mental well-being, and healing. Today we feature Jacqueline Chaidez’s book choice, “Kitchen Confidential" by Anthony Bourdain.

Jacqueline notes, “As someone who came from the service industry before becoming a therapist, Anthony Bourdain's book hits differently. This raw look at a high-pressure world is a powerful reminder that addiction, suppressed emotion, and nonexistent boundaries thrive in demanding jobs, highlighting how vital emotional regulation and self-care truly are for anyone in a fast-paced environment.”

Jacqueline uses her experience and training as an artist, alongside her therapeutic and clinical training, to connect with and understand her clients. She specializes in working with adults struggling with substance use issues, depression, anxiety, identity issues, and child of immigrant complexities. She enjoys working with neurodivergent individuals and LGBTQIA+ clients. Jacqueline loves arts and crafts,
outside recreation, and exploring the midwest.

Contact us to schedule an appointment or a free 15 minute phone call. Learn more:
https://paderatherapy.com/jacqueline-chaidez

12/04/2025

Interested in therapy that incorporates mindfulness, somatic work, and spirituality? Are you a highly sensitive person that could benefit from some support? Leigh Heckman is a Licensed Professional Counselor and says, "If you’ve been feeling unseen, exhausted from trying to 'get it right,' or like there’s a part of you that’s been quietly waiting to be heard, you’re in the right place. Let's slow down and reconnect with who you really are - beneath the coping, the stories, and the expectations."

Leigh has virtual openings Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and in-person openings Tuesdays and Thursdays. She's in network with BCBS PPO, Aetna, Anthem, and Cigna/Evernorth. Contact us today to set up an appointment or a free 15 minute consultation.

Learn more: https://paderatherapy.com/leigh-heckman

11/27/2025