"Mental Health Tip" 

Encourage good physical health this summer!  Get outdoors in the Chicago area and get some exercise. Good physical health supports good mental health. Healthy eating habits, regular exercise and adequate sleep protect kids against the stress of unusual and tough situations they may encounter. Regular exercise also decreases negative emotions such as anxiety, anger, and depression.

Did you know that Town & Country Pediatrics also offers consultation and therapy to address parenting difficulties and emotional or behavioral issues in children and adolescents? Beth Shapiro, LCSW, and Meghan Dean, LCSW provide Child, Adolescent and Family Therapy, and also parenting coaching and consultation.

Beth Shapiro, LCSW

Beth Shapiro, LCSW

Child, Adolescent, and Family Therapist; Parenting Consultation

Town & Country Pediatrics

Beth is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), with an advanced certification as a  Certified-Advanced Children Youth and Family Social Worker (C-ACYFSW).  Beth received a Bachelor of Arts from Washington University in St. Louis and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from The University of Chicago’s School of Social Service Administration.  Between her undergraduate and graduate degrees, Beth worked in non profit agencies serving as a financial counselor in St. Paul, MN, and later a Public Policy Advocate in Washington, D.C., focusing on family and children’s issues.

Beth came to Town and Country Pediatrics in March, 2006.   Beth’s training includes work at Children’s Memorial Hospital Department of Psychiatry in Chicago.  Beth worked in the Inpatient Psychiatric Units, and also with Outpatient and Partial Hospitalization Units while at Children’s Memorial Hospital.   Beth has also worked with youth in Evanston, at Metropolitan Family Services, and at Youth Organizations Umbrella, Inc.

At Town & Country Pediatrics, Beth provides assessment, consultation, and therapy children, adolescents, and families.  She also provides both short term and long term parenting consultation, and short and long term therapy with children and adolescents.   Beth’s clinical focuses are behavior, depression, anxiety, and all of the issues that come with adjustment to a change in family, change in schools, and change in developmental stage.  Beth’s primary training is in family systems work, and she also uses cognitive behavioral therapy, solution focused therapy, play therapy, art therapy, Brief Strategic Family Therapy, and other therapeutic interventions as necessary.
 
Most often, a family will come to Beth when they notice behaviors in their son or daughter that concern them.  They may see anxiety, sadness, behavior difficulties, or simply observe a mood or behavior and wonder "Is this normal?" The first meeting is generally an assessment and goal setting session with Beth and the parents, and the child will attend the next session if this is determined to be appropriate. 

Beth is well connected to other mental health providers in the Chicagoland area, and provides resources and referrals when a family presents with an issue outside of Beth’s scope of practice (developmental delays, eating disorders, severe abuse or trauma, autism, etc.).

Appointments are scheduled through the front desk at either the Lincoln Avenue office (773-478-4816) or the Halsted office (312-279-8900). 

Beth can be reached directly at (773) 478-4816.  Please do not use this number to schedule appointments.

Meghan Dean, LCSW

Child, Adolescent, and Family Therapist; Parenting Consultation

Town & Country Pediatrics

Meghan Dean is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who provides therapy and parenting consultation to our patients.  Meghan sees clients at the Halsted office on Saturdays, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons and evenings, and at the Lincoln Avenue office during normal business hours on Thursdays.  Meghan will be working closely with our full time social worker, Beth Shapiro, LCSW.  Beth’s schedule will not change.  We are thrilled to welcome Meghan to our practice. 

Meghan has been in the mental health field for 12 years. Most recently she worked at La Rabida Children's Hospital as a therapist doing individual and family therapy with children who had experienced trauma, such as abuse or neglect. During her eight years as a senior clinician at La Rabida, she worked extensively with children diagnosed with anxiety, mood, and behavioral disorders. She also provided consultation to therapists new to the field, and worked collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team for the best interest of her patients. Prior to working at La Rabida, she worked as a therapist at two child welfare agencies, ChildServ and Jewish Children's Bureau (now Jewish Children and Family Services).

Meghan earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology at Washington University in St. Louis and earned her Masters in Social Work at University of Illinois at Chicago, Jane Addams College of Social Work.  Meghan believes therapy is a process that helps people gain awareness in order to provide the opportunity to make significant and meaningful changes in their lives and she is focuses on helping families learn the skills to help themselves. She is very excited to be joining the team at Town and Country Pediatrics!