The Juniper Center

June is Pride Month! It's a time to celebrate, support, and raise awareness for the LGBTQIA+ community and its allies. Nature Mental Health shares powerful insights on how Pride impacts mental health—check out their blog to learn more. https://www.nature.com/articles/s44220-025-00455-x

Cultivating community and centering support for LGBT+ mental health - Nature Mental Health June marks Pride Month, a time dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the le***an, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex and asexual (LGBT+) community. This annual observance honors the pivotal 1969 Stonewall Uprising, a watershed moment in the modern LGBT+ rights movement. Pride...

Work is more than just a place we go—it’s where many of us spend most of our week and find connection, structure, and support. 💼 Because of that, the workplace plays a critical role in mental health. The American Psychological Association highlights why supportive company culture matters and simple ways organizations can better care for employee well-being. https://www.apa.org/topics/healthy-workplaces/improve-employee-mental-health

5 ways to improve employee mental health Start here for positive and supportive workplace practices that can boost employee mental health, company morale, and your bottom line.

After a bit of a hiatus, the Juniper Center University is back in full swing with the next CEU presentation! We welcome Dr. Anna Flores from Charlandra Consulting and Counseling Services for this virtual webinar! In this talk, Dr. Anna will explain what infertility is, how it impacts mental health, and how helping professionals can support the family-building journey. She will explore innovative and holistic approaches to mental health care informed by sociocultural and systemic factors influencing the infertility experience. Participants will learn and practice effective, evidence-based strategies to support those struggling with infertility by promoting resilience and wellness. Be sure to register today!

Equipping Mental Health Professionals: Culturally Informed Strategies for Supporting Clients on the Infertility Journey In this talk, Dr. Anna will explain what infertility is, how it impacts mental health, and how helping professionals can support the family-building journey. (1.5 CEUs)

Meet Katelyn Holsclaw! Katelyn enjoys working with all ages and feels passionate about how people grow throughout their life span. She is especially drawn to the needs of those who have experienced abuse, particularly those in the LGBTQIA+ community. She feels inspired to work with people from all walks of life, and she is particularly skilled in collaborating with individuals experiencing trauma, anxiety, depression, stress, and eating disorders. Katelyn also offers couples and family counseling. https://www.thejunipercenter.com/our-staff/katelyn-holsclaw/

Katelyn Holsclaw, LCSW - Counseling & Therapy Services - The Juniper Center Katelyn enjoys working with all ages and feels especially drawn to the needs of those who have experienced abuse, particularly those in the LGTBQ+ community.

Children and teens can experience a wide range of emotions as they respond to their surroundings. Throw in social pressures, family pressures, and hormonal and developmental changes at every stage, and it can be challenging for parents to provide the support their children need to navigate their struggles. Junior Juniper provides specialized support to children, adolescents, teens, and their parents to help them experience a happy, confident, and meaningful life. https://www.thejunipercenter.com/juniper-junior/

Juniper Junior: Compassionate Support for Children, Toddlers to Teens - Counseling & Therapy Services - The Juniper Center From Toddlers to Teens: Specialized Support to Help Your Child Thrive Children and teens can experience a wide range of emotions as they respond to the

Happy Memorial Day! We want to take this time to remember our US Military personnel who have served our country so courageously. We also want to thank the brave men and women who continue to fight for our freedom every day. We salute you!

We’re growing — and we’re looking for clinicians who want to grow with us. 🌿

The Juniper Center is currently hiring Clinical and Testing Psychologists to join our collaborative, clinician-centered team. With locations in Park Ridge and Downtown Chicago, we’re passionate about providing thoughtful, high-quality assessment services while creating a workplace culture rooted in support, balance, and authenticity.

If you’re looking for a long-term professional home where your work is valued and your well-being matters, we’d love to connect with you.

✨ Competitive compensation
✨ Flexible scheduling
✨ Strong referral base
✨ Administrative support
✨ Opportunities for leadership and growth

Interested in learning more or applying? Send your CV to [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) or reach out to start the conversation.

Let’s grow something meaningful together. 💙

It’s completely normal to feel mixed emotions when asked personal questions 💚 Everyone has experiences they may not feel ready to talk about. Psych Central discusses why opening up in therapy can be challenging, and how clinicians can support clients in feeling safe and comfortable throughout the process. https://psychcentral.com/blog/how-to-open-up-to-therapist-and-be-honest

How to Be Honest With Your Therapist You may need to open up about your darkest secrets in order to get the full benefits of psychotherapy.

The Illinois Psychological Association is now accepting presentation proposals for the 2026 Annual Convention!
📅 October 22–23, 2026
📍 Sheraton Lisle Naperville Hotel
🗓 Proposal submissions due: June 15, 2026
This year’s theme, *Psychology Unbound*, invites psychologists, researchers, educators, students, and leaders in the field to think beyond traditional boundaries and help shape the future of psychology through innovation, leadership, and bold ideas.
We’re seeking engaging, practical, and forward-thinking presentations that:
✨ Challenge assumptions and inspire growth
✨ Offer real-world value and application
✨ Include interactive or experiential elements
✨ Reflect equity, diversity, and inclusion
✨ Are grounded in science, ethics, and leadership
Whether your expertise is in clinical practice, research, education, advocacy, leadership, or emerging trends in psychology, we encourage you to submit a proposal and contribute to this exciting conversation by filling out the Google Form here: https://forms.gle/ha3Te4K5HsNLKmCL6
Questions before submitting?
Please contact Margo Jacquot and copy Jessica Buettner and Abby Brown with the subject line: “CONVENTION2026: HELP!”
Questions about an existing submission?
Use the subject line: “CONVENTION2026: SUBMISSION”
We look forward to seeing how you are helping move psychology forward.

Meet Marilyn Markech! Marilyn is an Art Therapy graduate student at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College who believes deeply in the healing power of art and creativity. While Marilyn has an artistic background, they understand not everyone is comfortable making art and want to prioritize your personal strengths within the counseling room. Marilyn has several years of experience working in childcare, which informs their counseling approach. https://www.thejunipercenter.com/our-staff/marilyn-markech/

Marilyn Markech, Clinical Intern - Counseling & Therapy Services - The Juniper Center Marilyn is an Art Therapy graduate student at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College who believes deeply in the healing power of art and creativity. They have an undergraduate degree in Fine Arts from Ithaca College, with an emphasis in drawing. While Marilyn has an artistic background, they understand not...