REGINA VERHELST, LCPC, CEDS
Regina is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Certified Eating Disorder Specialist, specializing in working with clients with eating disorders, disordered eating, and body image concerns with a focus on Health at Every Size (HAES) and body liberation approaches.
CLINICAL EXPERIENCE:
With over three years of experience in private practice, Regina is committed to supporting individuals in their journey towards healing and cultivating a positive relationship with food, their bodies, and themselves. Regina completed her clinical internship at The Renfrew Center of Chicago, working with adolescents and adults with eating disorders, mood disorders and trauma. As an intern, she provided individual and family therapy in addition to facilitating groups and meal support therapy. In private practice, Regina continues to provide individual, family, and group therapy. She helped launch a body acceptance group utilizing the Accept Yourself! framework developed by Dr. Margit Berman, and has provided training on this model to other eating disorder professionals. In addition to eating disorder treatment, Regina is passionate about providing therapy related to identity development, life transitions, perfectionism, people-pleasing, self-esteem, anxiety, OCD, depression, and trauma. Regina also has obtained her Certified Eating Disorder Specialist (CEDS) designation.
REGINA'S APPROACH:
Embracing the principles of Health at Every Size, Regina firmly believes in the inherent worth and value of every individual, regardless of their body shape, size, or ability level. In her therapeutic approach, Regina creates a safe and non-judgmental space where clients can explore their relationship with food, body image, and self-esteem. She collaborates with each client to decide on goals for treatment and ways to incorporate their individual strengths.
Regina utilizes multiple modalities for an integrated approach including Intuitive Eating, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). Regina also incorporates experiential approaches such as mindfulness to help clients strengthen the mind-body connection. Regina practices from the lens of social justice and intersectional feminism and participates in education and advocacy work to support her clients’ growth outside the therapy room. Regina has also completed trauma training in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Trauma-Focused ACT.
Regina believes in the power of growth-fostering relationships to bring about change and prioritizes creating a compassionate space in which clients can show up as their real, true selves. She is grateful for the opportunity to be present with clients as they explore connecting with their values and building a meaningful life.