Sandra Rodriguez, MA
Licensed Professional Counselor
(she /her)
Therapy for Children, Teens, Adults, Couples & Families
Sometimes anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, or overwhelming stress can make it difficult to feel like yourself—or know what to do next. For children and teens, those struggles may look different: big emotions, withdrawal, changes in behavior, difficulty at school, trouble staying organized or focused, or challenges communicating what they are feeling.
I provide compassionate, culturally responsive therapy for children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. I have a special interest in working with children and teens, girls and women, couples, and families, as well as individuals with ADHD and executive functioning challenges.
My goal is to create a warm and supportive space where you feel heard and understood. Together, we can explore what may be contributing to your struggles, build practical skills, and work toward meaningful change.
Therapy for Children & Adolescents
Working with children and adolescents is especially meaningful to me because of my extensive background in education.
I have more than 18 years of experience working in schools as an elementary school teacher and school counselor. That experience helps me understand children not only from a clinical perspective, but also from a developmental, social, emotional, behavioral, academic, and family perspective.
I know that children don't always have the words to explain what they're feeling. Anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, stress, ADHD, and other challenges may instead show up through behavior, irritability, withdrawal, worries, difficulty concentrating, problems at school, or changes at home.
I use developmentally appropriate strategies to help children and adolescents express themselves, understand their emotions, strengthen coping skills, and build confidence. When appropriate, I also collaborate with parents and families so the progress we make in therapy can extend into everyday life.
ADHD & Executive Functioning Support
For children, teens, and adults with ADHD or executive functioning difficulties, everyday responsibilities can sometimes feel much harder than they appear from the outside.
You or your child may struggle with organization, planning, time management, attention, task initiation, completing assignments, remembering responsibilities, managing competing demands, or feeling overwhelmed by everything that needs to get done. These challenges can also affect confidence, relationships, school performance, work, and emotional well-being.
Because of my background as an elementary educator and school counselor, I understand how executive functioning challenges can affect both learning and daily life. I help patients better understand how their brains work and develop practical, individualized strategies for managing responsibilities, improving organization, breaking tasks into manageable steps, and building skills that support greater independence and confidence.
For children and adolescents, I can also work with parents to help them better understand their child's needs and develop realistic ways to provide structure and support at home.
Therapy for Girls & Women
Girls and women can experience unique pressures at different stages of life—from adolescence and identity development to relationships, family responsibilities, career demands, loss, and major life transitions.
I especially enjoy working with girls and women experiencing anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, grief, relationship difficulties, ADHD, and other emotional challenges.
In therapy, I want to give you space to better understand what you're feeling, recognize patterns that may no longer be serving you, strengthen your sense of self, and develop healthier ways of coping and connecting with others.
Couples & Family Therapy
When communication becomes difficult or relationships feel strained, it can be hard to find a way forward.
I work with couples and families to better understand relationship patterns, improve communication, work through conflict, strengthen connections, and navigate difficult experiences together.
My goal isn't to determine who is right or wrong. Instead, I help partners and family members better understand one another's perspectives and identify changes that can create healthier, more fulfilling relationships.
Areas I Can Help With
I work with patients experiencing:
Anxiety
Depression
Suicidal thoughts and self-harm
Trauma and PTSD
Stress and feeling overwhelmed
Grief and loss
ADHD
Executive functioning difficulties
Child and adolescent concerns
Issues affecting girls and women
School and academic difficulties
Couples and relationship concerns
Family conflict and challenges
Religious and spiritual concerns
Multicultural and identity-related concerns
I understand that the same experience can affect different people in very different ways. I individualize therapy around your needs, experiences, strengths, culture, relationships, and goals.
Culturally Responsive Therapy
Culture can influence our relationships, families, identities, beliefs, expectations, and even how comfortable we feel asking for help.
Providing multicultural and culturally responsive therapy is important to me. I welcome conversations about the role culture and identity play in your experiences and in how you understand yourself and the people around you.
As a Puerto Rican woman born and raised in Chicago, I bring both professional training and a personal appreciation for the importance of understanding each person within the context of their family, culture, community, and lived experiences.
I provide therapy in English and Spanish.
Religion & Spirituality
For some people, religion or spirituality is an important part of how they understand themselves, their relationships, their struggles, and their healing.
If your religion, faith, or spirituality is important to you, I welcome the opportunity to incorporate it into our work together. If religion or spirituality isn't part of your life, I respect that as well. Therapy should reflect your values and beliefs—not mine.
My Approach to Therapy
My approach is warm, collaborative, and individualized. I believe therapy should provide a place where you feel safe enough to talk openly while also developing practical tools you can use in your everyday life.
Depending on your needs, I may incorporate approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), mindfulness, person-centered therapy, strength-based strategies, play-based techniques, executive functioning strategies, and culturally responsive care.
Above all, I want to understand you as a whole person—your experiences, relationships, culture, beliefs, strengths, and challenges—rather than simply treating a list of symptoms.
Education & Professional Background
I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Northeastern Illinois University and my Master of Arts in School Counseling from Concordia Graduate School.
Before joining Brighter Pathways, I spent more than 18 years working in schools as an elementary school teacher and school counselor. My years in education continue to shape my work with children, adolescents, parents, and families today, particularly when helping patients with ADHD, executive functioning, school, and academic challenges.
I am a professional member of the American Counseling Association (ACA), American School Counselor Association (ASCA), and Illinois School Counselor Association (ISCA).
Licensed Professional Counselor – Illinois License #178.020648
Ready to Get Started?
Whether you're seeking therapy for your child or teenager, yourself, your relationship, or your family, finding someone you feel comfortable talking with is an important first step.
If you're navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, ADHD, executive functioning difficulties, relationship or family concerns, or other life challenges, and think I may be a good fit, I would 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.