Palen John M PHD

John Palen, PhD, LCSW is a mental health professional with a wealth of experience in providing psychotherapy services to individuals, couples, and families. With a doctorate from the University of Chicago, Dr. Palen has been a part of the staff of the departments of child psychiatry at Michael Reese Hospital and the University of Chicago. He specializes in working with adults, older children, and adolescents in individual and family therapy, with a particular focus on families in transition and collaborative divorce.

Services Offered

Dr. Palen's practice offers a wide range of services tailored to meet the unique needs of each client. These services include:

Child-Centered Parenting Plans and Mediation

Dr. Palen provides mediation focused on developing child-centered parenting plans and serves as a Collaborative Law Coach and Child Specialist. He partners with separated and divorced parents to assist them in their communication about and decision-making for their children. He specializes in working with families experiencing the many challenges of divorce and has extensive experience in developing child-centered parenting plans that are successful over time.

Individual and Couple's Therapy

Dr. Palen's approach to traditional psychotherapy is grounded in the belief that good therapy should be a dynamic partnership focused on increasing self-awareness by identifying, understanding, and then changing patterns that get in the way of achieving goals. His approach is individualized, interactive, and proactive, and he often incorporates cognitive and behavioral approaches when working with people who are experiencing symptoms of anxiety.

Men's Therapy

Dr. Palen works with men invested in becoming more authentic partners and fathers. He also works with men negotiating difficult life transitions such as divorce, career change, fatherhood, loss of a partner/spouse, and with single and married men who are in turmoil about their sexuality.

Child and Adolescent Therapy

Dr. Palen works with children and adolescents to identify and resolve issues related to low self-esteem, social skills, behavioral difficulties, depression, anxiety, and uncertainty about identity. He is relaxed with kids and often invited by many who are frightened by the idea of seeing a therapist to be considered a coach working with them on mutually defined goals. He operates from a family systems perspective and often invites family members to participate in sessions. When working with children and adolescents, he works hand-in-hand with teachers, pediatricians, and child psychiatrists.

Co-Parenting Counseling and Child Custody Consultation

Dr. Palen helps separated and divorced parents to communicate successfully about their children and to make decisions for them. He understands that transitioning from a marital relationship to a co-parenting relationship can be a difficult process and is sensitive to the many hurt and angry feelings stirred up by separation and divorce.

Collaborative Divorce

Collaborative Divorce is a problem-solving approach that utilizes specially trained child specialists, divorce coaches, lawyers, and financial experts to help avoid costly and destructive court battles. This method offers the opportunity to protect children from the pain of being put in the middle of the marital conflict and makes it more likely that the co-parenting relationship can be preserved after divorce.

In conclusion, Dr. Palen's practice offers a comprehensive range of services designed to meet the unique needs of each client. Whether you are seeking individual or couple's therapy, Men's therapy, child and adolescent therapy, co-parenting counseling, child custody consultation, or collaborative divorce, Dr. Palen's expertise and commitment to providing compassionate and effective care make him an excellent choice for those seeking to navigate life's challenges with skill and resilience.