“My style combines compassion and support with thoughtful directness and challenging clients when needed, to help them achieve their goals and create meaningful change.””
Whitney DeMeuse, MS, AMFT
Pronouns - she/her
Education and Training:
I received my Bachelor of Arts from the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota with a double major in Psychology and Family Studies. Post undergrad, I completed comprehensive training and gained valuable experience in childhood trauma working with Court Appointed Special Advocates in Wisconsin. I then received my Master of Science in Marriage & Family Therapy from Northwestern University in Illinois. While at Northwestern, I completed intensive training and gained vast clinical experience at The Family Institute’s Bette D. Harris Family & Child Clinic. I also served as a teaching assistant for Marriage 101: Building Loving and Lasting Relationships, a popular course at Northwestern University. At the moment I am currently working towards completing specialized training in Gottman Methods Couples Therapy.
Three things I love:
Homemade pasta, freshly brewed espresso, and a sunny beach day—best enjoyed with friends or family!
Approach to Therapy:
As an integrative systemic therapist, I utilize various therapeutic models and theories to tailor treatment to best fit each client’s unique needs. I believe in the importance of finding a therapist who is a good fit, and consulting our core values can assist with that. Three of my top core values as a therapist are compassion, clear communication, and cultural humility.
● Compassion—I believe compassion is a step above empathy. I sit with and feel my clients’ emotions alongside them; however, I also take action to demonstrate that I am there to support and help them.
● Clear Communication—I encourage collaboration and open feedback from my clients throughout the course of treatment. I strive to ensure my clients know what to expect and that we are on the same page. Furthermore, I consider myself to be direct; I never wish to waste my clients' time, and I am there to help them achieve their goals.
● Cultural Humility—I take a client-centered approach and hold the belief that the client is the expert on their own life. I work with an open mind, and do my best to take a non-judgmental stance, refrain from making assumptions, challenge implicit biases that may arise, and approach my clients with curiosity.
Clinical Interests:
I work with individuals, couples, and family systems, including children and adolescents. As a systemic therapist, I love working with relationships, whether it be romantic relationships, parent(s) and child(ren), or siblings. Some relational areas I especially enjoy working with include: improving communication, breaking negative conflict cycles, building relational self-awareness, pre-marital work, grief support, repairing trust, and strengthening feelings of connection. In addition, I enjoy working with individuals looking for support with managing stress, emotional dysregulation, anxiety, and grief/loss.
Whitney can be contacted at: whitney@amandaatkinschicago.com.
Whitney is supervised by Amanda Griffith-Atkins, LMFT.