Ms. Bithynia Abarca, MA, LMFT

Education: Masters Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, Wheaton College; Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education, University of Illinois at Chicago.

 

Ms. Abarca is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

 

Client Base: Approaching therapy with a systems lens, she recognizes that relationships can impact a person’s ability to function; and when appropriate and helpful, she encourages clients to include others whom they are in relation with. Her history includes working with individuals, families and couples – ages ranging from post retirement to junior high. She is working to eventually include children, as young as 6 years-old, in her repertoire of clients. Ms. Abarca has worked with clients who are Christian, culturally and ethnically diverse, part of the LGBTQ community, and multi-stressed. Her background includes working with those experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety, ADHD, and other symptoms that can be related to trauma.

 

Therapeutic Approach: Ms. Abarca provides therapy in both English and Spanish. She understands that therapy can bring up negative emotions, and sessions can be trying at times, so she strives to create an empathetic, safe, and welcoming environment. Her approach is integrative, using different modalities to best fit the needs of each client, using such approaches like CBT, IFS, Psychoeducational, Contextual, etc., all with a family systems framework. She is curious by nature, non-directive and non-judgmental, working with clients to increase insight of their behaviors directed at self and in different networks and learn healthy and helpful coping skills to increase their quality of life and relationships. 

 

Ms. Abarca is a member of both The Illinois Affiliation of Marriage and Family Therapists and American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.