Andrea Rako

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

My Biography

Andrea Rako is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 24+ years of social work experience in the local community. Andrea received her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Social Work from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Since 1993; Andrea has worked with a variety of different populations; which includes addressing child abuse and neglect in intact families; working with children, teens, and parents in the foster care system; and addressing the unique issues faced at the end of life, as well as providing grief counseling for surviving family members.

Andrea’s approach to counseling is somewhat eclectic; she has a strong dedication to the social work values of self-determination and meeting the person where they are. Andrea utilizes Solution Focused Brief Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy, Narrative Therapy, and Person in Environment Therapy. Andrea has a strong commitment to helping others achieve what they feel is important to them, focusing on the fact that not everyone has the same beliefs and values; that each person is a unique individual and should be treated with dignity and respect. Andrea believes that the client is the expert on themselves, and that they need to be validated, and approached from a strengths based perspective.

Andrea and her three teenage children lives in Belleville, IL, with their three rescue dogs. One of the dogs, Dottie, a long- haired dachshund, often accompanies Andrea to facilities to help calm and engage residents in therapy.

Providing services in:

Illinois

I’m available:

In Person and Telehealth

I work with:

Kids ages 12+

Adults 18+

Geriatrics 65+

My Approach to Counseling

I use a strengths-based approach and believe that the client is the expert on themselves. I meet people where they are, and always respect that they are in charge. I use a variety of different counseling theories, such as cognitive behavioral theory, rational emotive behavioral theory, dialectical behavioral theory, person centered approach, and reminiscence therapy.

My Areas of Focus

  • Abuse (Physical, Sexual, Etc.)
  • Adoption Issues
  • Alcoholism
  • Anger Management
  • Anxiety
  • Assessment and Referral – Substance Abuse
  • Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD)
  • Behavior Modification
  • Bipolar Disorder
  • Borderline Personality Disorders
  • Child Welfare/Abuse
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
  • Compulsive Disorders Treatment
  • Conduct/Disruptive Disorders
  • DBT
  • Depression
  • Development Disorders
  • Developmental Disabilities
  • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
  • Dissociative Disorder
  • Domestic Violence
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Evaluation and Assessment – Mental Health
  • Foster Care
  • Gambling addiction
  • Grief/Bereavement
  • HIV/Aids
  • Home Care/Home Visits
  • Learning Disabilities
  • Long Term Care
  • Marital/Couples Counseling
  • Medical Illness/Disease Management
  • Minority Issues
  • Mood Disorders
  • Nursing Home Visits
  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
  • Pain Management
  • Parent Support and Training
  • Personality Disorders
  • Phobia
  • Physical Disabilities
  • Positive Behavioral Intervention and Support
  • Psychotic/Schizophrenic Disorders
  • PTSD
  • Serious Mental Illness
  • Social Skills Group
  • Trauma Informed Care
  • Trauma Therapy
  • Women’s issues