Licensed Social Worker specializing in Perinatal Mental Health, Grief and Loss, and Equine-Assisted Therapy

Carolyn is a Licensed Social Worker and holds a certification in Perinatal Mental Health from Postpartum Support International. She earned her Master’s degree in Social Work from Aurora University and provides individual, couples, and family therapy. She sees clients ages 14 and older and her areas of interest include perinatal mental health, grief and loss, depression, anxiety, and life transitions.

Carolyn is passionate about supporting clients through the peaks and valleys of pregnancy and parenthood, including those navigating high-risk pregnancies and the lasting impact of birth trauma. She is especially passionate about walking alongside individuals and families impacted by suicide and cancer. She recognizes how deeply these experiences can affect every part of a person’s life and strives to offer a safe, compassionate space to grieve, process, and find a way forward. Her passion for grief and loss has also led her to pursue a certificate in Thanatology, with a specialization in suicidology and postvention. 

Carolyn takes a client-centered, holistic and strengths-based approach to therapy, believing that each person’s story, needs, and goals are unique. She draws from a variety of therapeutic techniques, including CBT, DBT, ACT, mindfulness, expressive therapy, and narrative therapy to meet each client where they are and support them in finding what works best. 

At the heart of Carolyn’s work is the belief that everyone deserves a life that includes joy, even when life feels incredibly hard. She feels honored to walk alongside clients through difficult seasons, helping them make sense of their experiences, recognize the strengths they already carry, and create a path toward a life that feels meaningful and fulfilling. She strives to create a space where clients feel safe, understood, and free to be their authentic selves. 

Carolyn spent her life surrounded by horses and is excited to be part of Hopeology’s equine-assisted therapy program. She looks forward to bringing her lifelong connection with horses into her work and sharing the life-changing benefits of equine-assisted therapy.

Outside of work, Carolyn is a wife and mom to two young boys. When she’s not working or with her family, you can usually find her gardening, canning, watching a documentary, antiquing, or planning her next Billy Strings concert.

Carolyn is currently under the supervision of Dr. Fitzpatrick and preparing for the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) exam.