Our Team

Brandy Kenworthy

Brandy Kenworthy, MSW, LCSW is the founder of Mindworthy Counseling & Psychotherapy. Brandy holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from Wayne State University and an undergraduate degree in Psychology from Michigan State University. Brandy is trained in EMDR therapy and has advanced training in Perinatal Mental Health.

Brandy has over two decades of experience working with adults, couples, teens, and families in private practice and community mental health settings. Brandy utilizes an interpersonal and strengths based approach, treating clients with a wide variety of presenting issues including anxiety, depression, perinatal mental health, relational conflict and trauma. Brandy utilizes evidenced based modalities that include Psychodynamic Therapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).

-Not Accepting New Clients At This Time

Focus Areas

Adults/Teens
Individual/Couples/Family Therapy
EMDR
Mood & Anxiety Disorders
Postpartum Depression and Anxiety
PTSD & Complex Trauma
Interpersonal Relationships
Parenting Issues
Divorce
Life Transitions

My Approach

You are the expert of you. I’m just here as a helper…a facilitator of the change you want. As a therapist, I enjoy connecting and relating to my clients. I value the therapeutic relationship and believe it to be paramount to the success of therapy. My style is warm and interactive. I am comfortable both challenging my clients and also sharing in their emotions and experiences. I encourage my clients to connect with their feelings while valuing the importance of finding laughter and gratitude in our lives.

Therapy should not just be about our struggles but also include our celebrations, successes, and strengths. It is my hope to collaborate with you and to assist you in developing your goals for growth. I will help you increase insight and develop tools to change problematic patterns, thoughts, beliefs and behaviors to correct the discomfort you’re feeling today.

Additionally, if applicable, we will address and work toward healing past traumas. In an effort to facilitate change, I utilize a variety of effective, therapeutic approaches dependent on your needs, interpersonal style and your goals for therapy. These approaches will likely include a mix of several theories including psychodynamic therapy, cognitive-behavioral, attachment based, EMDR, and mindfulness practices.

On a Personal Note

Building Mindworthy Therapy has been a long-time dream, and I’m incredibly proud to see it becoming a reality. I’m deeply passionate about mental health and counseling, and I feel truly grateful to be able to offer quality mental health services that are accessible to our community.

Outside of my professional life, I’m a wife and a mom to three amazing kids. You’ll often find me playing the role of their personal chauffeur, driving them to sports events and activities, and cheering them on from the sidelines. Life can get busy, so I truly cherish the slower moments spent with family and friends—whether it’s around the dinner table, a bonfire, or exploring new destinations together.

Patricia (Kamal) Zaretzky

Patricia (Kamal) Zaretzky Kamal Zaretzky, MS, LCPC, NCC holds a Masters degree in Clinical Counseling and an undergraduate degree in Human Behavioral Science from National Louis University. She has worked with clients in community mental health, and currently works in private practice focusing on areas of PTSD, complex trauma, grief and loss, mood disorders, anxiety, divorce, late-life transitions, couples counseling, and relationship issues.

Kamal works with individual adults of all ages and has a primary focus on the treatment of trauma. Kamal is an EMDR trained, and parts work/trauma-informed therapist, with advanced training in perinatal mental health. Based on an integrative, person-centered approach, Kamal also utilizes aspects of mindfulness, somatic awareness, CBT, and existential therapy to meet the unique needs of each client.

Adults/Young Adults
Individual/Couples Therapy
EMDR
PTSD & Complex Trauma
Postpartum Depression & Anxiety
Mood and Anxiety Disorders
Divorce
Grief & Loss
Interpersonal Relationships
Later-Life Transitions
Mindfulness

A dear friend often reminds me that “Life is a Workshop”, a journey during which we face challenges, experience pain and joy, and have our own intrinsic striving towards wholeness, health, and self-actualization.There may be times during this journey, when having someone to work with you in a collaborative and therapeutic partnership, can help to support the insight and healing needed to understand and untangle the challenging and sometimes painful or disturbing emotions that can block a person’s ability to embrace life with confidence.

My goal as a therapist is to empower each client in areas of self-understanding and acceptance as a catalyst for change within the safety of a caring, non-judgmental environment. I see therapy as a collaborative effort on the part of both therapist and client. My passion as a therapist is to help my clients find resolution for past conflicts, and to create a future built on purpose, hope, and resilience.

Please feel free to call me Kamal! This is a nickname that I’ve had most of my life. During my free time, I enjoy spending time with family and friends. I focus on maintaining balance in my life with a personal practice of mindfulness meditation and enjoy quiet walks in nature. Of course there is music (all types), and art! I also enjoy traveling to explore new places in this wonderful world we share.

Arianna Amill-Ramos

Arianna Amill-Ramos, MA, holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a concentration in children and adolescents and an undergraduate degree in Psychology from Lewis University. She has worked with child and adolescent clients in a variety of settings including non-profit, community mental health and school settings. Arianna provides services in both English and Spanish to children, adolescents, and their families.

Arianna is experienced in working with children and adolescents with a variety of mental health issues, including anxiety disorders, depression, emotional regulation challenges, ADHD, interpersonal relationships and sports performance issues. Arianna uses an eclectic approach in her work with clients to best meet their needs and treatment goals, while emphasizing the importance of the client’s role in this therapeutic journey. Her approach is person-centered while drawing from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Play Therapy techniques.

Children/Teens/Young Adults
Individual/Family Therapy
Anxiety & Depression
ADHD
Frustration/Distress Tolerance
Behavioral Issues at Home/School
Sports Performance
Interpersonal Relationships

As a parent or guardian, it can be difficult to watch your child or teen struggle with mental health challenges. Change may seem overwhelming, but it’s also an opportunity for growth and healing. As a therapist, my goal is to meet your child where they are and help them navigate these struggles, turning life’s challenges into valuable moments of self-discovery and personal growth.

I deeply value the importance of the therapeutic relationship and aim to create a collaborative, supportive, and empathetic environment where your child feels safe to explore their thoughts, emotions, and experiences. Together, we will work toward helping them build the life and future they want, one step at a time, with encouragement and guidance along the way.

I specialize in working with children, adolescents and young adults, offering them a space to process their feelings in ways that are engaging and effective—through humor, play, and evidence-based therapeutic approaches. I use a flexible, eclectic approach, drawing from therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Play Therapy, depending on what best meets the needs of your child.

I also understand that, as a parent or guardian, you may feel unsure or even overwhelmed at times. That’s why I believe it’s important to include you in the therapeutic process as well. By working together, we can support your child’s growth and ensure they feel empowered on their journey.

If my approach resonates with you, I would be happy to connect and partner with you in supporting your child or teen through this challenging time.

Self-care is something I encourage everyone to practice, so outside of my career you can find me trying new coffee shops, going on runs, and spending time with friends and family. I look forward to trying new things and find it to be more enjoyable with the incorporation of humor. So, I hope to share some laughs with you during our time together! In my free time, I also enjoy playing the ukulele and drums, as well as catching up on episodes of some of my favorite tv shows.

Max Alvizu

Max Alvizu, MA, LPC is a licensed clinical mental health counselor with a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Roosevelt University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Anthropology from Loyola University. Max has worked with children, adolescents, and adults in both community mental health and private practice settings, and has extensive experience in supporting youth through his role as a summer camp counselor in a mental health program for children and teens.

Max has worked with a broad range of mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, complex trauma, emotional and behavioral dysregulation, ADHD, and interpersonal difficulties. He has experience helping individuals, couples, and families from diverse backgrounds and is dedicated to providing culturally responsive care tailored to the unique needs of each client.

Grounded in an Internal Family Systems (IFS) approach, Max also incorporates elements of Person-Centered Therapy, Psychodynamic Theory, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). His approach is tailored to meet each client’s unique needs, and he is deeply committed to supporting clients on their path to healing, personal growth, and self-discovery.

Children/Teens/Adults
Individual/Couples/Family Therapy
ADHD
Frustration/DistressTolerance
Mood and Anxiety Disorders
Emotional/Behavioral Problems at Home/School
Interpersonal Relationships
Trauma
Divorce
Parenting Issues
Life Transitions

In life, things are going to happen. Thankfully, lots of it will be really good, but there’s no denying there are also challenging times. In those trying times, while difficult to endure, they can also provide us a tremendous opportunity for growth as we learn to overcome adversity and develop resiliency. As your therapist, it is my goal to be there for you through your struggles and triumphs and provide unwavering support and guidance as you navigate this crazy thing we call life.

The therapist-client relationship is unique and powerful, and I consider it an absolute privilege to build relationships with my clients. At its core, I want our time together to be a collaborative and productive process. I hope to serve as a guide that allows you the space to explore your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in a warm and non-judgemental environment. You are the expert of your own life and I am committed to helping you unlock and tap into your own inner resources to help you achieve your goals and relieve the discomfort you’re feeling.

In our time together you can expect that I will bring a genuine and positive attitude and sense of humor to our sessions. With a theoretical orientation rooted in person-centered, psychodynamic, CBT and IFS, I will utilize interventions that provide you with actionable change. I look forward to joining you on your journey of healing and growth.

Outside of my career, I think of myself as a fun-loving individual who enjoys spending time with friends and family and is passionate about all things related to movies, television shows, and video games. One of my favorite things to do is laugh, but most of all, make others laugh! So expect some jokes that may or may not land well. Aside from that, my most controversial opinion may be that Star Wars is far superior to Harry Potter… This is something that needs no further explanation!

Marina Bottiglieri

Marina Bottiglieri, MA, LPC, holds a Master’s degree in Professional Counseling and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Texas State University. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision at Adler University. Marina has experience working with children, adolescents, and adults in a variety of settings, including private practice, nonprofit organizations, and residential mental health facilities.

Specializing in childhood grief and bereavement, Marina also works with clients facing a range of mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, life transitions, sibling rivalry, social anxiety, ADHD, and low frustration/distress tolerance in children. She provides support to adults dealing with anxiety, perfectionism, grief and loss, relationship difficulties, and parenting concerns.

Marina takes an eclectic, integrative approach to therapy, drawing from a variety of modalities to best meet the needs of each client. Her therapeutic techniques include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Play Therapy, Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Child-Centered Play Therapy, Expressive Arts, and Sand Tray Therapy. Marina is also trained in Tier 1 Clinical Hypnosis.

Children/Teens/Adults
Individual/Family Therapy
Grief and Bereavement
Mood & Anxiety Disorders
Sibling Rivalry
Frustration/Distress Tolerance
Perfectionism
ADHD
Trauma
Interpersonal Relationships
Parenting Issues
Life Transitions
Divorce

I consider myself to be an integrative therapist. This means that I do not believe there is a “one size fits all” approach so I adjust my techniques and interventions depending on the needs of the individual client. When working with children, I find myself utilizing cognitive behavioral therapy, child-centered play therapy, and solution-focused play therapy. I also use countless expressive arts techniques and other creative interventions such as sand tray.

When working with teens and adults, I often utilize cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and psychodynamic interventions. I love bringing playfulness into the session (yes, even with adults!) so I may use sand tray or other creative techniques to get my clients thinking. Additionally I am also trained in Tier 1 Clinical Hypnosis, which I have utilized with clients experiencing stress, anxiety, and chronic pain.

Aside from my career, my life revolves around my little family. I love spending good quality time with my husband and our border collie, Archie. We recently moved to Chicagoland from Texas, so our weekends consist of trying new restaurants and checking out our new state! I am a reading enthusiast, so I spend a lot of time cuddled up with a good thriller/mystery and a too-big cup of coffee.

Reality television is my guilty pleasure, so if we need to spend the first few minutes of session catching up on the latest episode of Real Housewives of New Jersey, I will not protest!