Dr. Pasternicki is a clinician with expansive training and a wealth of experience in treating individuals and families affected by addiction, mood disorders, eating disorders and trauma. She has worked in residential and outpatient treatment settings where she conducted clinical placement assessments, provided individual, group and family therapy, and facilitated family education. Dr. Pasternicki is committed to high quality of clinical services and demonstrated it not only in her direct therapeutic contact with clients but also in her approach to training and supervision of clinical staff and students at all treatment centers where she worked. Additionally, in her role as a Clinical Supervisor at a nationally renowned residential treatment center, Dr. Pasternicki exemplified her leadership and professionalism in her client driven curriculum development and program management.
Dr. Pasternicki has an integrative approach to clinical assessment and treatment which derives from Person Centered Theory, Positive Psychology, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Family Systems, Motivational Interviewing and Transtheoretical Model of Change. She prides herself on being very empathic and compassionate which enables her to establish strong rapport with clients and use it to encourage and support therapeutic change. Dr. Pasternicki is known for her clinical skills in direct service delivery, as well as, for the way in which she maintains strong collaborative relationships with clinicians and treatment centers in the Chicagoland area.
Dr. Pasternicki received her Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Clinical Psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology. Dr. Pasternicki is also a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor by the State of Illinois.
