Mindful Psychology Associates

Licensed Clinical Psychologists in Evanston, Illinois

Jennifer Contarino Panning

Mood and Anxiety Group

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Have you recently completed an intensive outpatient program (IOP) and are transitioning back to outpatient care? Or are you finding that you could benefit from the support of a group in addition to your weekly individual therapy sessions?

Navigating the transition from an IOP to an outpatient therapy setting can feel challenging. During this time people are beginning to implement newly-learned skills with a decreased level of support from what they were recently receiving.

The Mood and Anxiety Group provides group support for individuals navigating this change. You will find a space to talk about where you are struggling and where you are progressing while receiving support from your peers.

Ideal candidates for this group are individuals who are stepping down from a higher level of care program or recognize they need more support than once-a-week therapy currently provides. This may also include individuals currently considering stepping up to or on a waiting list for a mood, anxiety, trauma, or dual diagnosis IOP who would like additional support. 

Facilitated by psychologist Amanda (Snell) Stagg, Psy.D.

  • Thursdays
  • 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
  • minimum 8-week commitment
  • via Zoom
  • $50 (can bill BCBS or Aetna PPO insurances)

Register using our online Scheduling Form.

For more information, please email Dr. Stagg at amanda@evanstonpsychologists.com.

How to Help Your Employees’ Psychological Health as They Continue to Navigate the Pandemic

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The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a negative toll on mental health…many studies have shown the negative impact with increased depression and anxiety symptoms and as a result, Americans seeking mental health services in large numbers.

A primary task of an emotionally attuned leader is to create a psychologically safe and caring environment — especially during times of upheaval and transition. When faced with transition and change, humans tend to react with anxiety and uncertainty.

In an article for Medium — How to Help Your Employees’ Psychological Health as They Continue to Navigate the Pandemic — Dr. Jennifer Contarino Panning discusses the best practices that leaders can implement during this time of uncertainty including acknowledging the weird, practicing being vulnerable, validating emotions, and creating a feedback loop to help navigate ongoing change.

Read the article on Medium >>

effective leadership team

Need Therapy Support: New Scaffolding Group

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Are you waiting to work with an individual therapist? Join this special interim support group.

These sessions will help prop you up. Young adults will learn one psychological skill/theme per week from a “greatest hits” curriculum featuring skills and ideas from various schools of psychology. Plus, we’ll work with the new Rising Higher app that uses AI to take voice input and measures anxiety and depression.

Each session includes a mindfulness exercise.

Facilitated by psychologist Dr. Jennifer Contarino Panning.

  • Thursdays
  • Noon – 1:15 pm
  • 8 weeks
  • via Zoom
  • $60 per session (can bill BCBS PPO or Aetna PPO)

Register using our online Scheduling Form.

adolescent therapy group

We’re Hiring! Licensed Therapists Wanted

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Join our supportive team.

Licensed Clinical Psychologists
Postdoctoral Fellows
LPC/LCPC, LCSW, LMFT

We take care of our clinicians so you can take care of your clients — as well as having time for your family, hobbies, living…life!

Qualities desired include: solid clinical skills, humility, collaborative focus, strong communication skills, openness, and vulnerability.

Therapists who join our team are excellent clinicians, align strongly with our mission, are team players, and are interested in working with young adults/college student mental health. They may also be interested in either strengthening one of our current treatment areas — trauma, eating disorders, RO-DBT, LGBTQ issues, couples therapy — OR developing a new treatment area.

Benefits include:

  • Work/life balance with 25 clinical hours a week
  • BCBS PPO group health insurance plan
  • Full admin, scheduling, billing & marketing support
  • Cohesive & supportive team

For more info or to apply, contact us at hello@evanstonpsychologists.com.

Americans are Grieving as We Face the One-Year COVID-19 Anniversary

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No one needs a reminder of what a horribly difficult and challenging year 2020 was. Many of us are still experiencing the dread, uncertainty, and stress of the COVID-19 pandemic — not to mention the ramifications of 2020’s election stress, racial injustice, and natural disasters. None of these situations have been neatly resolved and packed away for reflection and analysis — all persist with complex and complicated solutions yet to be determined.

In an article for Medium — Americans are Grieving as We Face the One-Year COVID-19 Anniversary — Dr. Jennifer Contarino Panning reports on the waves of worry, stress, and anxiety Americans have been experiencing as the pandemic stretches into year two, acerbated by the political landscape.

Read the article on Medium >>

Opportunities and Challenges Post COVID-19: A Psychological Perspective

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Dealing with the COVID-19 global pandemic has forced individuals and companies to adapt quickly to change — creating much chaos and fears, as well as opportunities for flexibility and innovation. What will the world look like after people are back to work, kids are back to school, and some semblance of ‘normal life’ resumes?

Dr. Jennifer Contarino Panning proposes that we will experience significant changes in this recovery period including: post-traumatic hyper vigilance, striving towards homeostasis while also acknowledging the limitations of this old model, more care and connection between humans, and an adaptation to a world of ongoing uncertainty.

Jennifer Contarino Panning, Psy.D., (she/her/hers), Founder and President of Mindful Psychology Associates PC, has been an Illinois Licensed Clinical Psychologist for sixteen years. In 2017, she authored a chapter for the New York Times best-selling book “The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump: 27 Mental Health Experts Assess a President”. Her contribution entitled “Trump Anxiety Disorder” has led to interviews, writing and speaking engagements related to anxiety and fear amidst the existing sociopolitical climate. Dr. Contarino Panning has since been featured in publications such as New York Magazine, Washington Post, healthline.com, Esquire, Thrive Global, Raw Story, The Bill Press Pod, and CBC News. See more about Dr. Contarino Panning >

Learn more about our Corporate Wellness Presentations >

To schedule Dr. Contarino Panning for a presentation about this topic (or others) to your group or business, use our Contact Form or call  847-864-0600.