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Andrea Rako, LCSW
Staff Therapist
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Biography
Andrea Rako, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 30 years of experience working with individuals across diverse backgrounds and throughout the lifespan. She earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and is dedicated to providing compassionate, individualized care that supports each patient’s unique needs and goals.
Andrea uses an eclectic approach that incorporates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), while always maintaining a supportive, person-centered foundation. She believes a strong therapeutic relationship is essential for positive change and creates a warm, respectful environment where patients feel heard, empowered, and supported through open communication and collaboration.
Andrea begins by giving each patient space to share their story in the language and at the pace that feels most comfortable to them. She strives to make therapy a safe space where patients can be their authentic selves. Together, she and her patients develop individualized treatment plans aligned with their goals, while regularly evaluating progress using empirically based measures.
Expertise and specialties
Education and training
- Bachelor of Social Work, Southern Illinois University
- Master of Social Work, Southern Illinois University Carbondale