Monique Cleminson, PsyD

Hello! My name is Dr. Monique Cleminson

I am a licensed Clinical Psychologist specializing in helping individuals build self-confidence, improve relationships, and find relief from anxiety and stress through an active, supportive, warm, and collaborative therapeutic relationship. I deeply value open-mindedness and acceptance of others, which led to the creation of Open Mind Therapy Center.

My strength as a clinician lies in helping you to grow personally and find emotional relief by providing support, reflection, and insight. My approach is genuine, encouraging, energetic, and insightful. I thrive at helping individuals gain resolution and clarity about distressing situations and emotions, uncover and develop personal strengths, generate healing of past and present wounds, and develop more personal freedom overall.

I work hard to create a safe, dependable, and open-minded therapeutic experience through sensitivity, perceptiveness, knowledge, and personal connection. Throughout the course of therapy, we will focus on both current and past concerns, explore how different experiences and relationships have impacted you, process through difficult feelings and thoughts, and build practical skills. I look forward to helping you gain insight, growth, and positive change towards your personal goals!

My Professional Background

I completed my undergraduate degree from Luther College in Decorah, IA in both Psychology and Spanish and obtained my doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from the Adler School of Professional Psychology in Chicago, IL. During and following my studies, I lived and studied abroad in Ecuador, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Argentina. I have a certificate in Art Therapy from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL as well as a certificate in Trauma Studies from JRI in Boston, MA. I am currently engaged in ongoing specialty training in Psychodrama through the Hudson Valley Psychodrama Institute in New York.

Throughout my career in psychology, I gained diverse experience working with adults and adolescents struggling with acute mental health crises within an inpatient hospital setting, adults and adolescents with severe eating disorders on an eating disorders inpatient unit, and individuals recovering from substance use both in a suburban substance use inpatient treatment program as well as within an inner city transitional program for addiction recovery, pre- and post-incarceration, homelessness, and trauma. I also have extensive experience assessing and treating adults struggling with anxiety, low self-confidence, grief, gender transition, depression, substance use recovery maintenence, and trauma.

In addition to work in private practice, I am the Director of Clinical Training at a transitional living facility for homeless adults and families on the West side of Chicago where I train graduate students who are obtaining their masters and doctoral degrees in Social Work, Clinical Counseling, and Clinical Psychology.

Treatment Specialization Areas

  • Stress and Emotional Overwhelm

  • Relationships (i.e. Infidelity, Uncertainty, Trust Issues, Moving On, Dating)

  • Adjustment to Change (i.e. School, Career, Move, Endings, New Beginnings)

  • Self-Esteem/Self-Image

  • Grief and Loss

  • Gender Identity

  • Anxiety

  • Depression

Contact

I see clients both via telehealth as well as in-person in our downtown Chicago office location. I am also licensed in New York state and provide online individual therapy services to New York residents. Email me at mcleminson@openmindtherapycenter.com to set up your first appointment. I am excited to help you move towards your personal goals!