Clinicians
Dathan A. Paterno, Psy.D., Clinical Director
Dathan A. Paterno, Psy.D., Clinical Director
Dr. Paterno is a fully licensed clinical psychologist. He received his Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology, Chicago. He completed his doctoral internship at The Arlington Center for Attention Deficit Disorders in Arlington Heights, IL, where he assessed and treated children, adolescents, and adults.
Dr. Paterno was a staff counselor at Lutheran General Hospital for several years on the Child and Adolescent Inpatient Psychiatry unit, performing individual, milieu, psychoeducational, and group therapies. He also developed a journaling therapy, resulting in The Take-Home Therapist. He also worked at Laureate Day School in Niles, IL and Pine Rest Christian Hospital in Grand Rapids, MI, after completing his B.A. at Calvin College.
Dr. Paterno's Philosophy
Dr. Paterno affirms that all people are biological, social, and spiritual beings. He believes that all of these are relevant in assessing and responding to a person's struggles. To ignore any of these facets of the personality, then, would be to ignore an essential facet of a person's being, functioning, and suffering.
He adamantly denies the currently held myth that emotional disorders/problems are the result of genetically transmitted, biochemical imbalances. While he recognizes that biological factors are relevant to psychological/social/emotional problems, he sees "symptoms" as meaningful and purposeful, within the holistic context of the person. This means that almost all problems are essentially normal responses to abnormal situations.
Dr. Paterno denies that psychotropic medications are necessary, effective, or generally safe. Instead, he utilizes non-medical alternatives, which have been proven -- in an ever-expanding body of research and also in his professional experience -- to be largely more effective, safe, and humane.
Jessica Fox, M.A.
Jessica Fox is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She is a compassionate therapist with a fresh, positive outlook on life. Jessica has a Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology from Adler School of Professional Psychology in Chicago, Illinois.
She has a Bachelor's degree in Child and Family Studies from Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York. Jessica is an active member of the Midwestern Psychological Association and has presented at the Roundtable Discussion of the Affiliated Meeting of the Society for Community Research and Action. After providing individual and group psychotherapy and psychoeducation during her clinical rotation at the Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center's outpatient clinic in Chicago, she was nominated for an Excellence Award for client satisfaction.
Jessica has experience working with the adolescent and adult populations. She works primarily with teenagers who are coping with depression, anxiety, social problems, and eating disorders. Jessica recognizes the stress and sadness that arises for young adults when they are transitioning into new phases of life and aims to help ease the anxiety of the new, exciting, and sometimes terrifying responsibilities that are presented in these phases. Jessica has interest in working with individuals with poor self-image and self-esteem issues that may result from disordered eating. She also has experience and a passion for working with adults dealing with family and relationship problems. Jessica works with couples to deepen their relationship through trust building exercises, experiential techniques, and homework. She helps couple's relearn communication skills that are the basis of their relationships. Jessica's empowering techniques combined with her compassion for life satisfaction is helpful for individuals, groups, and couples.
Jessica believes that social and environmental factors are the primary causes of personal turmoil and that by exploring past experiences while emphasizing the present, individuals can find happiness by developing coping skills that will bring them fuller lives. Jessica's integrative style includes interpersonal and cognitive-behavioral therapies that produce positive changes in a short time. She utilizes empowerment as an incredibly beneficial tool while encouragingly influences various areas of individual and interpersonal functioning. Jessica specializes in increasing social and communication skills while maintaining a professional and collaborative relationship with her clients.
Contact Information:
(847) 692-6692
36 Main Street
Park Ridge, IL 60068
Getting Here:
Park Ridge Psychological Services (see Google map) is located near the heart of uptown Park Ridge, approximately 2 miles east of the 294 Tollway, 2 miles north of the Kennedy Expressway, and a block west of Northwest Hwy. It is just a few steps from the Park Ridge Metra train station.