The Bio.
One of the first memories I have of being a social worker took place next to an old, dilapidated apartment building. I was racing an eight-year-old back and forth across the parking lot while we waited for his mother to arrive. He lived in a foster home, and really looked forward to these visits. Just as she pulled into her usual parking space, he won the race and I slid on some rocks, falling to the ground. She got out of her car laughing at me. He and I were laughing too.
When I think of those first few years working with families, memories like this are the ones I love to return to. Not courtrooms and meetings, but sunny afternoons like that one. They remind me why I went into this field in the first place.
As I transitioned to a therapist role, I was eager to learn everything I could about how people heal. I wanted to move beyond helping people reduce and manage their symptoms-trimming branches that inevitably grew back. I wanted to do root work, helping people face unprocessed pain that fuels harmful patterns and cycles. After many books, podcasts, articles, and eventually a doctorate degree, I began to understand how complex therapy is, and how powerful it can be.
My love for learning and collaboration has led to some incredible experiences. For almost a decade I worked at an academic medical school providing therapy, writing and carrying out grant programs, providing group therapy for local homeless shelters, and teaching medical and social work students. I’m deeply grateful for all I learned from those years. Through it all, my patients have been my greatest teachers.
MegMac PLLC was created with, and runs on, coffee, passion, stubbornness, and the wisdom of kind mentors. I don’t know exactly what will fill this virtual (and soon physical) space, but I bring to it my whole heart. I can’t WAIT to see what you will bring to it!
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Education
Bachelor of Psychology, Eastern Illinois University
Master of Social Work, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Doctor of Social Work: Advanced Clinical Practice & Leadership, University of Tennessee at Knoxville
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Certifications & Clinical Licensure
Certified Provider of Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing, EMDR International Association
Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, Evergreen Certifications
Licensure:
-State of Illinois: #149.016557
-State of New Hampshire: #3063
-State of Massachusetts: #LICSW127968
-State of Indiana: #34011412A
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Collaborations
Guest Lecturer: University of IL at Urbana-Champaign School of Social Work’s Illinois Behavioral Health Workforce Education, Learning & Leadership (BHWELL) HRSA Scholars Program
Guest Lecturer: Southern IL University at Edwardsville School of Pharmacy
Volunteer Clinician: A Home Within
Media.
Prior work samples, articles, news interviews, and more! Click links below for original content.