Licensed Clinical Social Worker
LCSW, MSW
Therapy for kids 8+, and women 18-40
Deanna Charles
While I have extensive experience working with children and adolescents, I’m also passionate about supporting teens, young adults, and early adults on their journey toward healing and personal growth. I truly believe that psychoeducation—understanding the “why” behind behaviors and thought patterns—can unlock powerful healing and transformation.
I enjoy working with women and youth who experience generalized anxiety, separation anxiety and have difficulty regulating their emotions. Through my own personal experiences with anxiety, I’ve learned how powerful it can be to better understand our brains, our emotions, and the purpose anxiety can serve in our lives. Gaining that understanding has been incredibly empowering for me, and it’s something I love helping others discover so they can feel more confident, capable, and able to enjoy life more fully.
I’m also dedicated to coaching parents through behavioral and emotional challenges their children are experiencing. My goal is to help parents strengthen their approach and connection with their children in a way that creates sustainable change, with the understanding that growth does not happen in a vacuum—it requires support, consistency, and clear boundaries.
My approach is always client-centered and trauma-informed, ensuring a comfortable and empathetic environment. I believe that with the right support and encouragement, everyone has the potential to lead a fulfilling and satisfying life. Even if it feels impossible right now, you’ll be met with understanding, empathy, and encouragement, and together we’ll take small steps to build your confidence and trust in yourself, and the belief that change is possible.
About Me:
I love gardening, making and sharing flower bouquets with my people, hiking and dog walks, taking pictures of random cute little things that might go unnoticed, and appreciating our earth for all its glory. I also love baking sourdough bread, cooking new foods, and listening to audiobooks and podcasts.
Education:
Bachelors in Social Work, Southern Illinois University, May 2019
Master of Social Work, Southern Illinois University, May 2020
What are your top specialties?
Anxiety, emotional regulation, children, life transitions, self-esteem and stress. I enjoy working with children, teens and women up to age 40.
What would you say to someone considering therapy with you?
I’m so glad you are here. This is your space to show up exactly as you are—judgment free. Together, we can navigate life stressors, emotions that feel too difficult to manage, trauma, parenting difficulties, and relational conflict, all while helping you grow in self-confidence, self-understanding, and self-love.
What insurance do you accept?
BCBS PPO, Aetna, Anthem, Cigna/Evernorth, and United Healthcare/Optum.
How do clients describe you?
Comfortable, authentic, and pragmatic.
Who is your ideal client?
What lights me up most in therapy is when a client shares the intentional effort they’ve made to practice the skills and strategies we’ve worked on together. Those moments reflect growth, courage, and a willingness to engage in the process.
My ideal client is someone who may not know where to start, but has a genuine desire for change and is open to support along the way. I value working with individuals who are willing to show up, be curious, and take small, meaningful steps toward healing and creating a life they truly enjoy living.
What does a typical session with you look like?
Because my approach is client-centered, sessions can look different depending on what feels most helpful that day. Meaningful, sustainable change can happen in a variety of ways; through processing, skill-building, and developing a strong therapeutic connection.
When working with youth (and adults who are open to it), sessions may include games, fidgets, or creative activities. These tools help us connect, practice new skills, process emotions, and build understanding in a way that feels engaging and relevant.
I also offer movement-based options, such as walk-and-talk therapy or incorporating light stretching and grounding exercises, for clients who feel more comfortable or regulated when they’re not sitting still.
Deanna’s Approach
I use a mix of strategies, tailored to each individual, to help people feel more in charge of their lives and make changes that actually stick. Part of our work is noticing thoughts and patterns that hold you back and figuring out ways to shift them in everyday life.
I pull from approaches like CBT, to help you spot unhelpful thoughts and habits and practice new ways of responding, and ACT, to help you focus on accepting what you can’t control, while still moving toward the life you want. I will incorporate Mindfulness to encourage simple ways to stay present, manage stress, and respond to emotions instead of reacting automatically.
I can also use TF-CBT, which is a more structured approach for youth who have experienced trauma and continue to feel its impact. It guides us through understanding and managing emotions using skill-building, processing, and parent coaching, so parents and caregivers can support their child and respond in the moment. I also use DBT skills to help manage big emotions, cope with stress, and improve relationships.
For me, therapy is all about walking alongside you—figuring out what works, what doesn’t, and helping you make changes that feel doable, not overwhelming. I’m always learning new ways to support my clients, whether it’s anxiety, trauma, OCD, or just feeling more like yourself day to day.
Click here for more detailed information on therapeutic modalities.
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a structured, goal-oriented type of talk therapy that can help manage mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety, and emotional concerns, such as coping with grief or stress.
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Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) addresses the mental health needs of people suffering from the destructive effects of early trauma.
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a type of psychotherapy that helps you move beyond negative thoughts and feelings in a meaningful way by accepting that your thoughts and emotions are an appropriate response to certain situations and committing to making changes in your life that match your values.
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Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a type of talk therapy, specially adapted for people who experience emotions very intensely. DBT is especially effective for people who have difficulty managing and regulating their emotions.
Top Specialties:
Anxiety
Emotional Regulation
Life Transitions
Parenting
Self-Esteem
Separation Anxiety
Stress
Areas of Expertise:
ADHD
Adolescents
Autism
Behavioral Issues
Caregivers
Children
Coping Skills
Depression
Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
Relationship Issues
Walk-and-Talk Therapy
Trauma and PTSD
Book with Deanna.
Interested in working together? Fill out the form below, call (630) 940-6828 or email scheduling@paderatherapy.com. We also offer a 15-minute free phone consultation.
Questions about insurance?
Give us a call or email scheduling@paderatherapy.com. We can often work with insurance companies if we are out-of-network. If we are an out-of-network provider or you do not have insurance, our rate is currently $135.00 for a 53 minute session. However, we also offer reduced rates in special circumstances. Finances should never be a deterrent for seeking help! We work with families to come up with a number that works for you.