Areeba Munir is a graduate level diagnostician on the Psychological Assessment team at WCG. Areeba received her Bachelor of Science in psychology from Loyola University Chicago with a minor in neuroscience. Her clinical experience includes working as a neurobehavioral therapy technician with children and adolescents experiencing ADHD, ASD, GAD, MDD, amongst others. At Wellington, Areeba provides psychological assessments across the lifespan. She currently attends The Chicago School as a psychologist-in-training in their doctoral program.

In addition to her experience with neurobehavioral therapy, Areeba has also worked at nonprofit organizations, such as Step Up For Mental Health and Light of Loving Kindness Chicago. During this time, Areeba worked with populations in the South and West sides of Chicago as a Peer Support Facilitator and provided assistance to fulfill basic and mental health needs. Additionally, she evaluated data to observe whether participants believed mindfulness programs were helpful in increasing their wellbeing. 

In her free time, Areeba enjoys spending time with friends and exploring Chicago’s wide selection of restaurants. 

Alexa is a bilingual Licensed Professional Counselor with a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. As a Latina woman, she brings a deep understanding of cultural identity and is dedicated to providing client-centered, culturally sensitive care to her clients.

She specializes in working with children and adolescents, using trauma-informed, evidence-based approaches that emphasize safety, collaboration, and that incorporate the child’s emerging authentic voice. Alexa is known to integrate play and storytelling through video games in therapy, helping teens express themselves, build emotional regulation skills, and develop tools for real-world change. She integrates psychoeducation for both clients and caregivers, helping them understand the impact of trauma and guiding interventions at a pace that supports healing and readiness.

Alexa’s therapeutic approach is integrative and flexible, grounded in creating a safe, affirming space for growth and healing. She views therapy as a collaborative process, honoring each client as the expert of their own life. She is especially passionate about neurodiverse-affirming care and is committed to supporting individuals with complex needs and histories of harm.

Alexa has worked with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those navigating housing insecurity, reentry from incarceration, and a history of complex trauma—experiences that have shaped her deep respect for the ways people adapt to survive challenging environments and thrive as the work of healing takes root.

In her free time, Alexa enjoys spending time with loved ones, reading nonfiction, and long walks on the beach with her dog.

Cheryl Grens supports adolescents and adults as a learning specialist and executive functioning coach. Working within a one-on-one coaching format, Cheryl helps her clients “crack the code” on things like time management, planning, organization, task initiation and completion, and analysis of work habits. Cheryl provides each of her clients with the tools to improve their grades and performance, develop confidence to complete tasks on time and meet expectations. Her approach involves fostering the increased self-awareness needed to recognize how they work best, while bringing creativity toward discovering new ways to approach a problem. Through individualized strategies and practice, Cheryl believes that all of her clients have the ability to develop new habits and improve their performance.

Cheryl holds an Illinois Professional Educator’s License and has over twenty years of experience in the classroom. In addition to teaching high school Spanish classes and serving as department chair, Cheryl has also led popular study skills workshops for incoming high school freshmen. She recently completed a Graduate Certificate in Organizational Behavior at Harvard University’s Extension School, and holds a Masters of Spanish Language and Literature from Roosevelt University. She majored in Spanish and secondary education in her undergraduate studies.

In her free time, Cheryl enjoys spending time with her two rescue dogs, gardening, and painting.

Martin McGovern is a Licensed Social Worker who works with youth, adults, and couples to navigate difficult mental health challenges, relationship dynamics, and life transitions. With a calm, collaborative presence, Martin helps clients slow down, tune in to their internal experience, and make intentional choices that align with their values.

Drawing from evidence and strengths-based approaches, Martin helps clients explore the deeper roots of their patterns while developing practical tools for change. Additionally, he integrates cognitive and mindfulness-based strategies to support emotional regulation and self-understanding.

Before becoming a therapist, Martin worked in career coaching and communication strategy, experiences that informed his work with professionals seeking clarity, purpose, and healthier work-life balance. He is particularly passionate about supporting individuals facing burnout, perfectionism, and anxiety.

Martin earned his master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Illinois at Chicago. He is dedicated to creating an affirming, inclusive space for all clients and is attuned to the impact of culture, identity, and systems on mental health.

Martin sees clients at Wellington Counseling Group’s River North and Lakeview locations.

(Polska wersja poniżej)

Paul Stojek is a compassionate Marriage, Family, and Individual Therapist dedicated to helping people navigate life’s challenges, with a special emphasis on Men’s Mental Wellness, Premarital Counseling (Prepare & Enrich Certified Facilitator), and serving the Polish community. He brings a unique blend of empathy and clinical expertise to his practice. For couples, his Gottman Level 2 certification is key to empowering them to build stronger, more fulfilling relationships through effective communication and a shared vision; he also offers specialized Discernment Counseling for those at a marital crossroads. Fluent in both English and Polish, Paul ensures he creates a welcoming and culturally sensitive therapeutic environment for all his clients. He deeply believes in the transformative power of a collaborative, solution-focused approach, working with individuals to explore solutions and actively re-author their life stories. Recognizing that feelings of overwhelm, discouragement, or confusion are common experiences, Paul’s central goal is to establish a therapeutic partnership where clients feel safe, respected, and empowered to tap into their inner strengths and reclaim their sense of agency. Paul’s journey to becoming a therapist is enriched by a diverse academic foundation, including a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and a Master of Science in Healthcare Information Systems and Operations Management from Loyola University Chicago. His prior experience in the healthcare industry provides valuable systemic insights, which he later complemented with a Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy from Capella University. Beyond his professional life, Paul enjoys cherishing time with family, friends, and his dogs, staying active, taking long walks, and connecting with new people—all of which reinforces his personal dedication to helping his clients find greater comfort, joy, and peace in their lives

Polish Version:

Paul Stojek to pełen współczucia Terapeuta Małżeński, Rodzinny i Indywidualny (Marriage and Family Therapist, MFT), oddany wspieraniu ludzi w pokonywaniu życiowych wyzwań, ze szczególnym naciskiem na Zdrowie Psychiczne Mężczyzn, Poradnictwo Przedmałżeńskie (Certyfikowany trener programu Prepare & Enrich) oraz służenie społeczności polskiej. W swojej praktyce łączy wyjątkową empatię z wiedzą kliniczną. W pracy z parami kluczowy jest jego certyfikat Gottman Level 2, który umożliwia wzmacnianie relacji, pomagając budować silniejsze i bardziej satysfakcjonujące związki poprzez efektywną komunikację i wspólną wizję; oferuje również specjalistyczne Poradnictwo Decyzyjne (Discernment Counseling) dla osób znajdujących się na rozdrożu małżeńskim.

Biegła znajomość zarówno języka angielskiego, jak i polskiego pozwala Paulowi stworzyć przyjazne i wrażliwe kulturowo środowisko terapeutyczne dla wszystkich swoich klientów. Głęboko wierzy w transformującą moc współpracy i podejścia skoncentrowanego na rozwiązaniach, pracując z klientami nad szukaniem rozwiązań i aktywnym współtworzeniem ich historii życiowych. Uznając, że uczucie przytłoczenia, zniechęcenia czy zagubienia jest powszechnym doświadczeniem, głównym celem Paula jest nawiązanie partnerstwa terapeutycznego, w którym klienci czują się bezpiecznie, są szanowani i upoważnieni do wykorzystania swoich wewnętrznych sił i odzyskania sprawczości.

Droga Paula do terapii została wzbogacona o różnorodne podstawy akademickie, w tym tytuł licencjata w zakresie Administracji Biznesowej oraz tytuł magistra w dziedzinie Systemów Informacyjnych i Zarządzania Operacjami w Opiece Zdrowotnej, uzyskane na Loyola University Chicago. Jego wcześniejsze doświadczenie w sektorze opieki zdrowotnej zapewnia cenne, systemowe spojrzenie, które później uzupełnił tytułem magistra Terapii Małżeńskiej i Rodzinnej zdobytym na Capella University.

Poza życiem zawodowym, Paul ceni sobie czas spędzany z rodziną, przyjaciółmi i psami; lubi pozostawać aktywny, odbywać długie spacery i poznawać nowych ludzi – wszystko to wzmacnia jego osobiste zaangażowanie w pomaganie klientom w odnalezieniu większego komfortu, radości i spokoju w ich życiu.

Briana Rodriguez is a psychotherapist with Wellington Counseling Group. Briana works with couples and individual adults at our River North and Lakeview offices, and is available for telehealth sessions. Briana holds her Master of the Arts in Clinical Psychology Counseling Practice from Roosevelt University. 

Briana will provide a supportive environment for clients to process issues including: trauma, challenging life transitions, relationship challenges, and deficits in self-esteem. Briana is down-to-earth, empathetic, and authentic. She believes in meeting clients where they’re at. Often clients come in feeling stuck, especially when it comes to a reliance on unhealthy coping mechanisms, learned in the past, but an ill-fit for growing into the future. Briana can help support clients in identifying why they are drawn to these same patterns of behavior, and to develop and incorporate new, more functional behaviors of their choosing. Briana practices with a systemic mindset, aware that we do not live in isolation, and are impacted by our families, peers, and the larger culture. 

Outside of providing therapy, Briana enjoys spending time with loved ones (including her dog), being out in nature, catching up on TV shows, and singing.