Brigid Zarbock, PsyD Owner of HPC, LLC Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Zarbock attended Roosevelt University, Chicago, where she received her Masters and Doctoral degrees in clinical psychology. She has trained in community mental health, university counseling, and a forensic setting. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Counseling Center, and completed her post-doctoral fellowship at the Illinois Institute of Technology, Student Health and Wellness Center.
Dr. Zarbock's Specialties and Approaches
I work to provide an open space where you can explore, discover, and heal; a space where you feel safe and understood in order to begin to facilitate the growth you wish for. I aid you in understanding yourself, your choices, and the origins of your interpersonal and behavioral patterns.I approach my work with a warm, down-to-earth, attitude. I appreciate humor and hope to make you feel comfortable as we begin our work together. I use a variety of therapeutic approaches to my work with clients, emphasizing the best fit for clients. This can include psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, dialectical-behavioral, and acceptance and commitment approaches. I specialize in weight concerns/body image, overeating, bariatric topics, trauma, depression, anxiety, family conflict, and women's issues. I offer information/treatment/assessments to individuals undergoing or considering bariatric surgery. Please see the section on "Bariatric Counseling." I work closely with many local hospitals, providing education for bariatric patients.
Shannon Merkin, LCSW, PMH-C Licensed Clinical Social Worker Perinatal Mental Health Certified Provider
Shannon attended Loyola University Chicago and received her Masters degree in clinical social work. She has trained in community mental health and has worked in a forensic setting and private practice settings. Shannon is a certified perinatal mental health provider.
Shannon Merkin's Specialties and Approaches
I believe that change begins with a strong therapeutic relationship in a safe and supportive environment. It is important to me to provide individuals with a warm and non-judgmental space where they can identify and explore areas of life in which they are struggling. My approach to therapy is client-centered and I strive to help individuals increase life fulfillment and work toward making meaningful life changes. My style is compassionate and engaging and I work to empower individuals during the therapeutic process. My therapeutic style of treatment is eclectic and includes Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). I focus a great deal of my practice on women’s issues, specifically perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. I have extensive training in perinatal mood and anxiety disorders through Postpartum Support International. I have also done training in perinatal loss through Seleni Institute. I am a certified perinatal mental health counselor (PMH-C). I am passionate about working with this population and helping new parents and parents-to-be in navigating the journey through pregnancy and parenthood.
Jordyn Hoffman (Varga), PsyD Post-Doctoral Fellow in Clinical Psychology
Dr. Hoffman is a Post-Doctoral Fellow at Healing Path Counseling. She attended The Illinois School of Professional Psychology where she received her Master's and Doctoral degrees in Clinical Psychology. She has trained in university counseling, hospitals, and private practice settings. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at Palos Behavioral Health Professionals in Palos Heights, IL
Dr. Hoffman's Specialties and Approaches
My approach to therapy is relational and person-centered as I understand how important it is for you to feel safe within the therapeutic relationship. I focus on meeting you where you are to help create an environment where you feel comfortable exploring your personal journey. It is important to me to understand your perspective, which is why I aim to develop a collaborative relationship with you where we work together to achieve your goals. My style is warm and compassionate, and I work to create a space where you feel supported and empowered. I use a variety of therapeutic approach within my work, including cognitive-behavioral, mindfulness-based, and emotion-focused approaches. I specialize in working with adolescents and young adults struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma, identity issues, and interpersonal relationships. I am currently working on a specialty in bariatric psychology, eating disorders, and body image issues through my post-doctoral fellowship here at Healing Path Counseling. This specialty includes work with adults, adolescents, and young adults struggling with eating, weight, and health concerns.
Oana Varga, PsyD Pre-Licensed, Doctor of Psychology
Dr. Varga is a Pre-licensed provider, having completed her post-doctoral fellowship. Dr. Varga attended Adler University, Chicago, where she received her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. She has trained in school settings and private practice. Dr. Varga completed both, her pre-doctoral internship and post-doctoral fellowship, at Palos Behavioral Health Professionals in Palos Heights.
Dr. Varga's Specialties and Approaches
My clinical treatment approach is integrative incorporating interventions from person-centered, cognitive-behavioral, relational, and biopsychosocial perspectives. I am passionate about making genuine connections and approaching each person with compassion, openness, and a humble mind. I aspire to provide a comfortable and collaborative space for people to freely express themselves and connect with their emotional and rational selves in order to make balanced decisions. I have worked in a therapeutic context with children, adolescents, and adults. My work with children has focused extensively on understanding the child’s experience by utilizing their natural and common language, play. Play-therapy serves to explore the child’s thoughts, emotions, and behaviors by entering their world of communication and imaginative thinking. Children are creative in the way they express themselves, and I believe appropriate attention and genuine interaction helps children learn to regulate their emotions and behave in more adaptive ways. Additionally, I have experience conducting psychological and neuropsychological evaluations assessing attention, learning disorders, behavioral, and emotional difficulties. I embrace connection and relationship, and encourage individuals to attend each session with curiosity, courage, and vulnerability, embarking on the journey to change and growth.