Annette Popernik

My Story

Hi, I’m Annette, and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in practice since 2017. As a multilingual and Latina therapist, I provide psychotherapy to adults of all ages ( including college students) struggling with relationships, family dynamics, depression, anxiety, life transitions, grief and loss, work stress, chronic illness/pain, cultural concerns, racial injustice, and various disabilities. Asking for help is such a sign of strength. You ARE enough. I believe that people don’t need to be “fixed”; we need to be seen, heard, and allowed to grow. Coming to therapy is a way for you to seek peace, support, and encouragement. I remind my patients that you could indeed go through your challenges alone, but at what cost?

Therapy is where we create a safe space to have ongoing conversations in a non-judgmental environment; in that way, we build a therapeutic relationship. My goal is to empower you to use your strengths while believing in yourself and what you can do on your own healing journey. We find a balance between validating you and challenging you to grow. We’ll work on building awareness of your symptoms, coping skills, a strong support system in your personal life, and more. I am here to shine a flashlight, to guide, but you are and will be the person to create the change and healing you need in your life. To support that emotional wellness, I focus on promoting both physical and mental health and care. We’ll talk about the intersection of our emotional and physical well being and how stress can manifest emotionally, mentally, and physically.

As a Latina therapist and Mexican-American, my cultural identity is integral to who I am and to my practice. Fluent in English, Spanish, and Italian, I am passionate about providing linguistically and culturally competent care which means that I will provide therapy in the language that you are comfortable with while being aware of your culture. I work with individuals from various races and ethnicities including immigrants. We may share a culture or not but I will always strive to see your unique experience as an individual. Using this culturally aware and strengths-based approach, I listen to your needs and guide you based on your values and beliefs whether that be to incorporate your culture, faith, identity, sexual orientation, or simply your values as a person.

For those interested in more details of my professional background, I received my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Master of Social Work with a specialization in Mental Health from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I completed my clinical rotations at Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital. I have extensive experience in practicing various treatment modalities including cognitive-behavioral therapy, exposure and response prevention therapy, motivational interviewing, and self-compassion. 

In my free time, I love being in nature, spending time with loved ones, painting and making art, journaling, reading, and exercising. I would love to learn more about you, your hobbies/interests, and the ways in which I can support you. Please feel free to reach out and we can have a free 15 minute phone consultation if you would like.