Watch Hill Therapy
Watch Hill is a Chicago-based therapy practice specializing in individual and trauma therapy, with a unique focus on enhancing relationships, healing from the past, and thriving individually.
We also host trauma-informed workshops for clients and therapists that provide information, resources, access to community, and CEU options.
Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE®)
TRE® is a series of exercises that assist the body in releasing deep muscular patterns of stress, tension and trauma. As mammals, we have a unique, naturally occurring shaking/tremor response that occurs in the body to release the excess charge after significant stress or a traumatic event. TRE® safely activates a natural reflex mechanism of shaking or vibrating that releases muscular tension, calming down the nervous system. When this muscular shaking/vibrating mechanism is activated in a safe and controlled environment, the body is encouraged to return back to a state of balance.
Regularly practiced, TRE® has been shown to:
- Improve sleep and mood
- Decrease anxiety, emotional reactivity, and hypervigilance
- Improve emotional resiliency
- Increase flexibility, mobility and range of motion
- Increase quieting of the mind and deepening of relaxation
- Increase sense of connection with self and others
- Help with symptoms of PTSD
TRE® is an effective complementary practice and integrates well with other more traditional mental health and physical treatment modalities to support wellness on all levels.
Speaking / Teaching
Therapists at Watch Hill speak and teach regularly on topics related to relationships and trauma. Some examples of speaking topics include:
- Mind-Body Techniques for Treating Complex Trauma
- Navigating the Therapeutic Relationship with Trauma Survivors
- Understanding the Impact of Working With Trauma Survivors
- Trauma Informed Care for Sex Trafficking Survivors
- Trauma Informed Care for Non-Profits and Treatment Centers
- Beyond Trauma Informed: Complex Treatment
If you are interested in learning more about having a therapist at Watch Hill speak at your organization or event, email us for more information.
To learn more about past speaking engagements, teaching, and consulting projects click below to view our Linkedin profiles:
While parenting is often rewarding, it brings unique challenges and stressors. Parents are often bombarded with conflicting information in regards to managing their children’s behavior. Consequently, parents are frequently left feeling unsure and frustrated. Furthermore, the birth of a child, and the demands that accompany a baby and young child, can trigger confidence issues and difficulties in parenting due to past traumas or experiences. Therapy at Watch Hill can help provide parenting support and guidance.
Adjustment to Parenthood
Discipline
Behavioral difficulties
Attachment
Helping children overcome:
- difficulty adjusting to family changes
- sleep, eating, or elimination problems
- separation anxiety
- excessive shyness
- excessive anger, worry, sadness, or fear
- behavioral regression
- low self esteem
- aggressive behavior (hurting others or self)
- learning or other school problems
Marital problems
Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders
Postpartum Depression
Consulting
Navigating work with trauma survivors or in a traumatized environment can be overwhelming and complex. There are many unique factors that combine to ensure competency, treatment success, and fostering individual healing. The need for training, support, and guidance is essential to staying vital and relevant in the lives of those you are working with. Some of the services we provide are:
- Strategic planning and implementation of trauma informed treatment services
- Individual, supervisory, and staff training –Training on topics unique the the needs of the clients within the organization to build competency and resiliency in working with trauma survivors. Learn the impact on the clinician, parent, and/or organization on working with and caring for trauma survivors. Learn how to prevent compassion fatigue and work through vicarious trauma, increase productivity, value and prioritize self-care, become aware of red flags and pit-falls, and foster an environment that helps survivors flourish
- Teaching & public speaking on trauma related topics
- On-going consultancy for clinicians who work with trauma survivors
Child Therapy
Play therapy creates a safe environment for children to explore and express feelings in their natural form of communication. Children are given the opportunity to express their feelings naturally and safely through the therapeutic use of play. Children who have experienced significant changes in their lives or who have survived traumatic events need to express and understand their feelings.
Play Therapy Helps Children:
- Deal with parental conflict, separation or divorce
- Process traumatic experiences such as sexual,physical or emotional abuse
- Adapt to adoption, foster care or other changes in their family system
- Cope with grief and loss
- Who have witness domestic violence
- Who are experiencing:
- excessive shyness
- excessive anger, worry, sadness, or fear
- behavioral regression
- low self esteem
- aggressive behavior (hurting others or self)
- learning or other school problems
- preoccupation with sexual behavior
- difficulty adjusting to family changes
- sleep, eating, or elimination problems
- separation anxiety
- physical symptoms such as headaches or stomach aches that have no medical cause
EMDR Therapy
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is a type of psychotherapy that attempts to alleviate the pain of traumatic or disturbing memories and experiences. When we experience an upsetting or traumatic event it is often not processed or stored correctly in the brain. EMDR taps into those memories and helps to process them correctly so that they cause less distress.
EMDR is conducted in phases. It begins by identifying traumatic and painful experiences, memories and negative self-beliefs. Next, through a process of desensitization, the memories and beliefs are transformed so that they are no longer emotionally disturbing. The last step helps individuals to form positive feelings about themselves and their experiences.
You may wonder if EMDR really works. Approximately 20 controlled studies have researched the effects of EMDR. The studies have consistently found that EMDR decreases and/or eliminates the symptoms of post traumatic stress for the majority of clients. For more information about the research studies, click here.
Is EMDR for you? Research has shown that EMDR is particularly useful for processing traumatic events. It can also be useful for working through painful memories, difficult behavioral issues, and feeling “stuck”. Examples of issues that can be targeted are:
- Panic Attacks
- Performance Anxiety
- PTSD
- Addiction
- Sexual/Physical Abuse
- Sexual/Physical Assault
- Disturbing Memories
- Complicated Grief
- Sexual issues
Trauma Therapy
Trauma has a profound impact on our relationships, mind/body, and emotions. Therapists at Watch Hill are uniquely trained and skilled at helping individuals bring resolution to painful past experiences in a safe environment.
Trauma Therapy Services:
- PTSD
- Childhood Trauma
- Sexual Abuse & Sexual Assault
- Physical Abuse
- Witnessing Violence
- Complicated Grief
- Self-Injury
- Problems in Relationships
- Emotional Distress
- Dissociation
Individual Therapy
Watch Hill Therapy provides therapy for adolescent and adult individuals looking to deepen relationships, work through on-going or problematic issues, or revitalize their life.
Some examples of individual therapy services include:
- Relationship & Family Issues
- Emotional Distress
- Anxiety & Depression
- Grief & Loss
- Performance Anxiety
- Career/Success Blocks and Failures
Services
TRE®
Speaking/ Teaching
Parenting Support
Consulting
Children
EMDR
Trauma
Individual
Our Team
Tovah Specializes In
Jennifer Specializes In
Jessica Heiman Freilich Specializes In
Teri Specializes In
Becky Specializes In
Ana Specializes In
Tovah Means, MS, LMFT, Owner
Tovah Means, MS, LMFT is the founder and co-owner of trauma specialty group practice, Watch Hill Therapy, located in downtown Chicago. She is uniquely trained to work with individuals who are recovering from childhood emotional, physical, sexual trauma, neglect, dissociative process, somatic issues, extreme trauma, and deep soul injuries.
Tovah received her Masters of Marriage and Family Therapy from The Family Institute at Northwestern University in 2009. After graduating, she completed a 2 year fellowship at Womencare Counseling Center where she began developing her specialty in treating complex, developmental trauma and dissociation. In addition to running the practice, Tovah speaks, teaches and consults about treating complex trauma through local universities, group practices, medical practices, and Watch Hill Therapy.
Tovah developed a passion for humanism and anthropology in college before becoming a therapist, which enabled her to travel and experience many different cultures and broaden her lens of how trauma impacts all human beings. She has lived in Ghana, West Africa and spent time in many other international countries with a wide diversity of economies, political leaders and uprisings, and traumatic experiences. Tovah diligently works to understand the effects of historical trauma, structural abuse, dissociation, and relevant cultural realities that impact survivors such as denial, racism, sexism, transphobia, and the discrimination against the expression of one’s true self by society. Finding and recovering the authentic self is at the core of Tovah’s clinical work and consultation.
Connect with her on LinkedIn!
Jennifer L. Rolnick, PSY.D., Owner, Certified TRE® Provider
Jennifer is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, who received her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology. Her clinical practice focuses on individual therapy with children, adolescents, and adults. Her areas of interest include trauma, mood and anxiety disorders, and life transitions. She uses an insight-oriented, relational approach with an emphasis on collaboration, connection, and empowerment. The therapeutic relationship facilitates growth by identifying and exploring both past and present patterns that keep people feeling stuck. Jennifer sees therapy as a collaborative effort that allows people to observe and more deeply understand themselves, their relationship patterns, and their characteristic ways of thinking and feeling.
A particular area of passion and specialty for Jennifer is working with child and adult survivors of trauma. When traumas occur within the context of a relationship, those traumas need to be healed within a safe and trusting relationship. Her goal is to be that safety and connection for her clients.
Jennifer is also available for professional consultation and to lead workshops or provide trainings for organizations and individuals wanting to deepen their skills and knowledge base in providing excellent care for trauma survivors.
Jessica Heiman Freilich, PSY.D.
I work with adolescents, young adults and adults who struggle with anxiety, depression, life transitions and trauma. I am committed to helping individuals foster well-being and positive relationships despite the challenges they face. My approach is to utilize relational and insight-oriented therapy while collaborating with clients to personalize my work in order to most effectively aid in the implementation of useful strategies and coping skills to improve quality of life. I bring warmth, genuineness and a sense of empathy to the therapeutic relationship.
My particular areas of specialty and passion include treating individuals who are recovering from traumatic experiences and working with new parents to help navigate and cope with the transition to parenthood and providing support surrounding parenting. I have specialized training in treating trauma and perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. I am also dedicated to supporting marginalized individuals and recognize the significant impact culture, race and intergenerational transmission of trauma has on one’s emotional and physical health.
Teri Cicurel, MA, LCPC
Teri is a relational, insight-oriented psychotherapist specializing in the treatment of trauma, depression and anxiety. She is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor who earned a master’s degree in Clinical Counseling from National Louis University. Teri works with individuals and couples and is committed to providing a compassionate, non-judgmental space where her clients can begin to deepen their understanding of how they relate to themselves and others, and how patterns and behaviors act as barriers to living the life they would most like to live. She supports clients as they explore issues of self-esteem and identity, grief and loss, parenting and family concerns, social and relational difficulties, substance use and process addictions and posttraumatic stress.
Teri recognizes the importance of adapting her approach to meet the unique needs, goals and experiences of her clients. Teri’s relational, reparative, strength-based approach to therapy is augmented by utilization of EMDR, mindfulness practice, DBT, CBT and somatic awareness, to name a few. She has extensive experience and certifications in providing support, advocacy and crisis intervention for survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and childhood trauma.
Taking the first step towards self-discovery and more meaningful connections may feel daunting. It is with this understanding that Teri joins her clients to ensure that they are seen, heard and valued as they embark on their healing journey.
Becky Jenkins, MA, LCSW
Becky is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in the relational treatment of trauma. Becky earned her master’s degree in clinical social work from Loyola University Chicago and is a graduate of Womencare Counseling and Training Center’s 2-year Postgraduate Fellowship program, where she developed her specialization in treating complex and developmental trauma.
In her practice, Becky works with adolescents and adults as they navigate complex areas of life involving trauma, identity, and profound loss and change. Becky holds an inquisitive space for storytelling and collaboration that honors all experiences and parts of ourselves. She recognizes the significance of the therapeutic relationship and its role in building competency, experiencing connectedness, and cultivating resiliency. She also has strong interest in working with athletes navigating issues around abuse, identity and body image, and is engaged in post-graduate training to deepen this area of her work.
Becky is committed to supporting individuals who hold BIPOC and other marginalized identities and honors each person’s intersectionality with care and compassionate curiosity. She acknowledges the impact that culture, race, and historical context can have on our stories, and actively works to create a brave space for the therapeutic relationship to effect change in both the client and the therapist.
Ana Ferraz, MA, LCPC
Ana is person-centered, insight-oriented psychotherapist specializing in the treatment of trauma, anxiety, depression, and grief and loss. She is a trauma-informed Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and works with children, adolescents, and adults. She is committed to providing a non-judgmental, collaborative, and supportive space to clients through their healing journeys.
The foundation of Ana’s therapeutic work reveals a deep understanding of how the impact of early life experiences and stresses of everyday life shape the way we carry ourselves in the world. When working with clients, she focuses on their strengths and inner resources, leading to an experience of more stability and agency. With great attention to her clients’ stories, Ana uses tools that aid in bottom up trauma processing such as mindfulness, building greater awareness, self-compassion, EMDR, and insight. Her goal is to foster connection and trusting relationships that can pave the way towards healing and growth.
Ana’s unique multicultural background allows her to work with clients of varying identities and intersections. She practices with a culturally sensitive lens, has a broad background of work and education, and values making clients feel comfortable and at ease.
