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Brittany Gerard, M.Ed.

Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

(she/her)


Available for Telehealth Sessions Only

You Don’t Have to Have Everything Figured Out

There are times in life when the path you thought you were on suddenly feels uncertain. You may be grieving a loss, questioning a relationship, struggling with your relationship with food or your body, exploring your identity or sexuality, or simply wondering, “Is this really what my life is supposed to look like?”

I work with adolescents, adults, couples, and families who are looking for a supportive place to slow down, make sense of what they are experiencing, and figure out what comes next.

I especially enjoy working with people navigating grief and loss, quarter-life transitions, relationships and couples concerns, eating disorders and body image, sexuality, and identity development.

My goal is to create a space where you can be honest—even when what you are thinking or feeling is complicated, uncomfortable, or difficult to put into words.

Who I Work With

Grief & Loss

Grief can come from the death of someone you love, but it can also follow the loss of a relationship, friendship, identity, opportunity, life stage, or version of the future you expected to have.

I can help you make space for your grief while finding ways to continue moving forward without feeling like you have to “get over” what mattered to you.

Quarter-Life Crisis & Life Transitions

Your late teens, 20s, and 30s can bring an enormous amount of pressure to figure out your career, relationships, identity, finances, family, and future—all while it may seem like everyone around you already has their life together.

If you are feeling stuck, overwhelmed, behind, directionless, or unsure about what you really want, therapy can give you a place to sort through those questions without judgment.

Together, we can explore who you are becoming, what matters to you, and how to build a life that feels more authentic to you rather than simply following the path you think you “should” be on.

Couples & Relationships

Relationships can bring both tremendous connection and tremendous stress.

I work with individuals and couples experiencing communication difficulties, recurring conflict, disconnection, trust concerns, changing relationship expectations, intimacy concerns, family conflict, separation or divorce, and other relationship challenges.

Therapy can help you understand the patterns that keep showing up in your relationships and develop healthier ways of communicating, setting boundaries, expressing needs, and connecting with the people who matter to you.

I welcome clients from a variety of relationship structures, including those exploring or participating in consensual non-monogamy and open relationships.

Eating Disorders, Body Image & Your Relationship With Food

Struggles with food and body image can take up an exhausting amount of mental and emotional space.

I work with individuals who are experiencing eating disorder concerns, difficult relationships with food, body image struggles, self-esteem concerns, and the pressure to look, eat, or live a certain way.

My approach is supportive, collaborative, and body-positive. Therapy can help you better understand the thoughts, emotions, experiences, and patterns affecting your relationship with food and your body while working toward greater self-compassion and flexibility.

Sexuality, Identity & LGBTQIA2S+ Concerns

You deserve a therapy space where you do not have to minimize, defend, or explain who you are.

I welcome conversations about sexual orientation, gender and identity development, sexuality, relationships, intimacy, body image, sexual values, and the ways identity intersects with family, culture, relationships, and everyday life.

I strive to provide LGBTQIA2S+-affirming and sex-positive care and welcome clients from diverse identities, backgrounds, relationships, and communities.

What Therapy With Me Is Like

I believe a strong therapeutic relationship begins with feeling comfortable enough to be yourself.

My style is collaborative, validating, transparent, and often includes humor when appropriate. I want therapy to feel like something we are doing together, rather than something being done to you.

We may spend time understanding where certain patterns came from, identifying what is no longer working for you, developing healthier ways of coping, improving communication, or simply giving you a place to say the things you have not felt comfortable saying anywhere else.

I tailor treatment to the individual rather than expecting everyone to respond to therapy in the same way.

Depending on your needs, I may incorporate approaches including:

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

  • Person-Centered Therapy

  • Narrative Therapy

  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) strategies

  • Mindfulness

  • Creative interventions

  • Bibliotherapy

Additional Areas I Can Help With

In addition to my primary areas of interest, I work with concerns including:

  • Anxiety

  • Depression and mood concerns

  • Trauma

  • Stress and overwhelm

  • Self-esteem

  • Identity development

  • School and academic concerns

  • Communication difficulties

  • Family conflict

  • Divorce and separation

  • Behavioral concerns

  • Social skills and interpersonal difficulties

My Background

I earned my Master of Education in Counseling from DePaul University and my Bachelor of Arts in American Literature from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

My previous clinical experience includes work in college counseling, schools, community mental health, crisis lines, and advocacy, giving me experience supporting people through a wide range of life circumstances and transitions.

I have also completed continuing education related to trauma and PTSD, suicidality, intimate partner and domestic violence, professional wellness and self-care, and LGBTQIA+ concerns, and I am working toward certification in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT).

I am a professional member of the American Counseling Association (ACA), Association for Creativity in Counseling (ACC), and National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC).

My practice is grounded in acceptance and respect for individual identity and lived experience. I strive to provide care that is LGBTQIA2S+-affirming, body-positive, sex-positive, and welcoming of diverse relationship structures and backgrounds.

Ready to Get Started?

Whether you're grieving a loss, questioning what comes next in your life, struggling with food or body image, trying to improve an important relationship, or exploring your sexuality or identity, finding a therapist you feel comfortable being yourself with is an important first step.

If you’re navigating grief, a quarter-life crisis or major life transition, eating or body-image concerns, relationship or couples challenges, sexuality, identity, anxiety, depression, or trauma, and think I may be a good fit, I’d be happy to help you take that next step.

Call Brighter Pathways at (224) 723-5772

Our patient assistant can answer your questions, help determine whether I may be a good fit for your needs, schedule your first appointment, and verify your insurance coverage.