Sheila Tanner, LCSW

Sheila Tanner, LCSW, earned her Master of Social Work from Loyola University of Chicago and Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Indiana University, Bloomington.

Sheila has served children, adolescents, and families over the past 29 years in her capacity as a Social Worker.  She spent the last 25 years as a School Social Worker, engaging, guiding, and counseling students at a local high school. For several years prior to that, she served as a Court Liaison and Caseworker for the Social Service Department, Third District Cook County Circuit Court.  Sheila also worked with children, adolescents, and families in her own private practice — focusing on communication skills, self-expression, and coping effectively with life’s changes and challenges.

Sheila has many areas of expertise… including crisis intervention, anxiety management skills, improving family communication and relationships, enhancing self-awareness, building healthy self-image, and understanding cultural differences between American youth and their immigrant parents. She encourages creative expression and utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy to focus on reframing thoughts and increasing goal-orientation with individuals and groups.

Clients have expressed feeling well-respected, cared for, and heard through Sheila’s empathic approach during their therapy experiences.

She is interested in health, mindset, strengthening resiliency, and creative expression. Sheila believes that it is never too late to change thought processes and perspectives in life. We must grow through pursuing our goals and dreams, using even the lessons of our hardships and challenges, to create a happy and fulfilling life.

Sheila’s personal interests include exercising, music, art, reading, and spending time in nature.