Julie Fanning

I love helping people live their best life.

I can help you figure out what your best life means to you. It is easy to get caught up in self-doubt. It is easy to spend a lot of time comparing ourselves to others and believe we are lacking. Everyone else seems to have it together. It seems that everyone you meet has great relationships, is self-confident, a good parent, a great friend and has it all together. I can help you embrace yourself.

I can help you heal the broken spaces. Like you, I have my own broken places through which I’ve struggled. Life isn’t easy. Often, we have burdens that we have carried with us making our load heavy. My life, experience and education has taught me how to help you heal and cultivate hope.

I can help you realize that you are worthy and fight shame. One of my strongest beliefs is that each of us is worthy of love and a happy life. Often, the voices of family, friends and society eat away at our confidence and soul.

I offer non-judgement and a safe space. It can be scary starting therapy. I am not a therapist who is looking down at you. I want you to feel safe to share your story, your fears, your struggles and feelings of shame. I want to hear about your success and joys and your progress on your journey.

I look forward to building a relationship with you. I am a “what you see is what you get” type of therapist. I am conversational and use humor. I believe through our relationship and the process of counseling change and healing occurs.

I am OK working with the tough stuff. Many of the individuals I work with have struggles with anxiety, depression and mood disorders. I believe that your struggles don't have to be all there is to your life. You can overcome and live fully. You can feel belonging and complete. Personal experience has led me to love working with families who are struggling with a member diagnosed with a serious mental illness.

Off the Beaten Path. My hope is that I provide individuals who feel as if they don't quite fit into the norm find a safe haven sharing their journey with me.

My Experience

I am a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in the state of Illinois. I graduated from Aurora University with a Master’s Degree in Social Work in 2003 and received a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Social Work from Iowa State University in 1992. Currently, I am in a doctoral program working towards my Doctorate in Social Work.