North Shore native Catherine is a mama to a super cutie toddler girl and owner and lead therapist of her busy therapy and counseling center, Good Guidance. Catherine is spreading inspiration in communities one individual and local school at a time!
Where are you from originally and how long have you lived in town?
I was born and raised in Glenview. After graduating from University of Wisconsin- Madison, I moved to the city for a few years before finding myself back in Glenview to start and raise my own family with my husband, Chris.
Child(ren) and Age(s)?
I have one daughter who is 2.
Favorite things to do with your daughter?
She and I love reading books and going for walks. She absolutely loves exploring new places and actually enjoys the cold weather! What I love most is that every single day is different with her as she is growing older and expanding her vocabulary and imagination. It is amazing how much little ones can absorb from day to day!
One thing people would be surprised to know about you…
Beginning in my younger years, I was a very competitive lacrosse player. In high school our team won the State Championship several years in a row (and have continued on that streak). After high school, I played club in college. When I returned from college, I coached lacrosse and field hockey for a few years before my daughter was born.
Anyone special you’d like to thank for helping you through parenthood?
It truly does take a village to raise a child. I can’t think of one particular person, but both my mother and mother-in-law were so supportive and helpful when my daughter was born. They both jumped in with anything and everything from laundry to watching my daughter so I could shower. They were our stilts until we were able to hold ourselves up as a family. Now with my new business venture, everyone has extended an extra hand to make sure I am able to fully commit myself to the business. I really am surrounded by the best family on both sides with such caring sisters and brother and brother in law. I am so lucky to have had help from everyone near and far. I will never forget a nurse in the hospital telling me “you have to take care of yourself so that you can help your child”. That really help put things into perspective for me.
Are you involved in a business venture, a local organization, a creative endeavor, or in the corporate world? Please share!
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and recently started my own business: Good Guidance Counseling and Consultation. At Good Guidance, we support individuals ages 6 through young adult. We aim to bring inspiration and motivation to every individual we meet through identifying and utilizing strengths, collaborating with family and school systems and altering our therapeutic approaches to fit the specific needs of every individual. Good Guidance offers individual and group therapy as well as clinical supervision for current social workers. In addition, we work with schools to help ensure their social work departments are functioning as effectively as possible.
How has the North Shore community been instrumental in getting you to where you are now?
Growing up and living in the North Shore community, I feel so blessed. What a wonderful place to raise a family and start a small business. Everyone I come in contact with or have known since childhood has been instrumental in spreading the word about my business. Similar to the early days with my daughter, I really feel like everyone has come together to help support and grow Good Guidance. I could not have asked for anything more!
What a wonderful resource you provide North Shore communities. What advice or inspiration can you offer to parents with children in the 6-11 age group and 12-18 age group?
There is no manual for having kids. I would say whenever possible, try to have clear expectations and set a predictable routine for all ages. The more structure, the less opportunity there is for acting out. Another common theme we see (and I am guilty of this as well) is trying to solve problems for our children. As a parent, we want to take away any and all pain and suffering our children may be feeling. Acknowledge how your child is feeling instead of offering solutions right away. If you child comes home from school and expresses feelings of stress try
to say, “I am so sorry you are feeling that way. You must be overwhelmed with finals coming up” instead of offering solutions “can you talk to your teacher, stay after school?”, “how can we break up your studying?”
I feel like it often takes parents a long time to muster up the courage to reach out for help. Any advice?
First and foremost, there is no one size fits all solution for parenting. A critical aspect of healthy development is having a strong social-emotional foundation and building resiliency. By linking our children up with a mental health provider during childhood, we are creating and strengthening positive neural networks that will guide our children’s thoughts, feelings and behaviors throughout their childhood. Unfortunately, despite recent significant efforts, a great deal of negative social stigma surrounding mental health still exists. As a role model for our children, help be the change.
Good Guidance Counseling and Consultation
1 Overlook Point Suite 241
Lincolnshire, IL 60069
(847) 834-4106
Sometimes the bravest and most important thing you can do is just show up – Brene Brown, author of 5 #1 New York Times bestsellers