Meet our Founder: Julia M. Rahn, Ph. D.
drjulia@icanflourish.com
Dr. Julia is a Clinical Psychologist with more than ten years experience helping people meet their individual and family goals. Her expertise lies in health and rehabilitation issues such as overcoming eating disorders and adjusting to chronic illness. Dr. Julia also has a solid record assisting both adults and children with patterns of depression and anxiety, and she takes a special interest in working with families with children with neurodevelopmental disorders including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
Dr. Julia's success is a result of her insistence on addressing each person as a whole and using creative interventions to promote change. To that end, she has frequently ventured outside her therapy offices to research and present ancillary support in the form of resources and products for her clients. Over time it became clear to Dr. Julia that the best way for her to serve the interests of her clients was to integrate all her therapeutic efforts under one roof. Thus Flourish Studios™ was born, a relaxed setting where people can learn to create positive change in their lives at a comfortable pace, using the methods and tools they find most inviting and effective.
In addition to working with clients and overseeing Flourish Studios™, Dr. Julia is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is also sought out for speaking engagements throughout the city to promote self-understanding and individual goal achievement.
Listening to Behavior
Dr. Julia's treatment approach is based on the fact that all behavior, no matter how destructive, is a form of expression and serves a purpose. In order to change an undesirable behavioral pattern, it must first be understood. For example, misbehavior in children may stem from difficulty coping, interpersonal power struggles or verbal communication obstacles. By understanding one's behavior, including reinforcements as well as consequences, a real plan of action can be created leading to true change.
People ready to find answers and make changes in their lives will find the support they're looking for at Flourish Studios™.
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Our Staff
Debra Steele,
Assistant Director
debra@icanflourish.com
Debra is thrilled to be joining Flourish Studios. She recently graduated from The Family Institute at Northwestern University with a Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy this June. There she gained invaluable clinical experience working as a therapist with individuals, couples and families for two years. She both learned and practiced an integrative therapeutic technique so as to better serve a wider range of clients with diverse needs. Also, it was at The Family Institute where Debra discovered her passion for group therapy, running or co-leading an assortment of groups ranging from children with social anxiety disorders, to adolescent girls on body image issues. Here at Flourish Studios Debra is able to express her passion for working with people to find their voice and resolve to bring a greater sense of peace into their lives. She uses her empathy, humor and integrative training to reach her clients through a variety of therapeutic approaches including individual, couple, family and group therapy. Throughout her work Debra nurtures her belief that cultivating healing within an individual also creates healing in families, and ultimately a greater healing in communities. Positive change is not only possible, but probable here at Flourish.
Favorite Quote:
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.”
-Chinese proverb
Dionn McDonald,
Retail Manager
dionn@icanflourish.com
Dionn has spent the last fifteen years in the retail industry, working for nationwide better women's clothing retailers. A desire to add more meaning into her life brought her to Flourish Studios. Here at Flourish, she finds that the things we choose to take up space in our lives can also fill our hearts and inspire change. She hopes that through our store, you can find products to enhance your life and the lives of those you cherish.
Personal motto: "Occurrences only feel random, until we choose to find meaning and live with intent".
Joanna Michelson,
Events Manager
joanna@icanflourish.com
Joanna has spent the last four years completing her Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Gender and Women's Studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago. In addition to a variety of other projects, her professional background ranges from producing The Vagina Monologues at UIC to providing resources and support to survivors of sexual assault and domestic abuse, thus developing an immense passion for diminishing the prevalence of discrimination and violent crimes. Joanna considers education and communication the essential components of self-improvement. At Flourish Studios she is advocating for the realization that an individual making personal changes becomes part of the foundation to creating social change in the community.
Favorite Quotes:
“What each of us needs to do about what we don't know is go look for it.”
-Cherrie Moraga
“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”
-Mahatma Gandhi
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By expanding on traditional models of psychotherapy and converting inspiration to reality, Dr. Julia practices what she preaches: success is the result of positive creativity.
“Flourish Studios™ is the culmination of all I've learned, and it will continue to evolve to accommodate my primary objective: to help people whose paths cross mine with any and all resources available.”
Dr. Julia Rahn
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