Gabrielle specializes in clinical counseling combining body-centered assessment and intervention with traditional verbal processing. Gabrielle collaborates with the individual to address difficult issues using body-based strategies for decreasing uncomfortable feeling states, increasing self-soothing skills and developing safe and effective ways of expressing emotions. Some of these body-based strategies include simple non-instructional body part movement, breath work, rhythmic group activity and use of imagery and symbolism. Use of props, games, art-work and role playing is common with younger clients and children.
Verbal processing allows for a mental integration of the movement material
and the development of insight, problem-solving skills, as well as greater
understanding and compassion for the self. Gabrielle works with individuals
on a one-to-one basis and in groups. Workshops are no larger than ten
persons per group and explore issues around self-care, self-esteem, spirituality,
grief, assertiveness and boundary setting.
Gabrielle’s goal is to assist the client in a timely manner in moving
towards resolution of conflicts that are presented during the initial
assessment. It is the responsibility of the client to share his or her
personal goals with the practitioner as well as any special needs s/he
may have. Confidentiality is insured when working with individual clients
but cannot be guaranteed within group sessions.
Gabrielle Deschaine holds a master’s degree in Dance/Movement Counseling
and Therapy from Columbia College, Chicago and a BA from the University
of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. She currently holds a license as a clinical
professional counselor in the state of Illinois and Michigan. She has
worked with children, adolescents, adults and seniors in various settings
such as hospitals, shelters, retirement communities and foster care homes.
Gabrielle had been employed with MacNeal Hospital, Berwyn, Illinois, as
a clinical therapist for five years where she practiced counseling as
part of the Adjunctive Therapy staff for both inpatient and outpatient
mental health settings. Her main responsibilities were direct patient
care through individual/group psychotherapy sessions. She also trained
the mental health technicians and nursing staff to provide psycho-educational
groups. More recently, she has been employed on a contractual basis with
the following agencies as an independent practitioner of Grow in Motion
from 2003-2005: Volunteers of America Child-Care Services and Roosevelt
University, both in Chicago, Illinois. She also trained the in-house clinical
staff for The Youth Campus Foster Care Agency, Chicago, Illinois, in 2006.
Call or email to register for current workshop or to schedule an individual appointment with Gabrielle.
As of Spring 2005, Gabrielle can accept inusrance payments through Private Healthcare Systems. www.phcs.com
