experience
Dr. Kristen Brendel is the founder and executive director of Per La Vita Wellness, PLLC, a social enterprise dedicated to individual, family, and community wellness. She holds a doctoral degree from Loyola University Chicago and a Master of Social Work degree in addition to her clinical social work and professional educator licenses in Illinois. She is certified as a yoga therapist by the International Association of Yoga Therapists. She has twenty-five years of experience working on behalf of clients of all ages using evidence-based practices such as cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, EMDR, acceptance, and commitment therapy, solution-focused brief treatment, mindfulness-based stress reduction, neuropsychology, yoga for mental wellness, and dialectal behavior therapy. She has worked in public schools, hospitals, private practice, as a consultant and as a tenured professor of social work at Aurora University. She is an educator, speaker, researcher, and published author in the areas of anxiety disorders and mindfulness-based interventions.
Details
Dr. Brendel’s specialties include working with those in the helping profession, including other mental health providers, educators, and healthcare professionals. She also specializes in working with clients with chronic pain/chronic illnesses, trauma, and women’s issues (balancing numerous demands, fertility, new mothers, parenting, sandwich generation, midlife transitions, menopause, caretaking, and aging), stress reduction, depression, and anxiety disorders. She integrates her experience with her client’s needs, values, and evidence-based practices and works collaboratively with clients on their goals. She believes in approaching clients with their entire system in mind and intervening in a manner that helps clients achieve their goals and overall health and wellness. She refers clients to other clinicians if clients request couples therapy or report/present issues related to suicidal thoughts, substance abuse, and active eating disorders. Dr. Brendel has openings for persons aged 18 and older via telehealth and in person at her office in southwest Naperville. She is LGBTQIA2S+ and social justice allied.
Insurance
Dr. Brendel is in-network with BCBS PPO and United Health Care/ Optum plans. Please contact your insurance before our first session for a quote for benefits and to verify that she is in your network.
Self-pay is also available for $150.00 per session.
Don't hesitate to contact Dr. Brendel at dr.kristen@kristenbrendel.com or 630-474-5119 for availability or a short consultation to assess fit. For the quickest response, please email or text.
Location
Dr. Brendel is licensed to work via telehealth with persons residing anywhere in Illinois. The in-person location is near the intersection of Rt. 59 and 95th Street at 3420 Lacrosse Lane, Naperville, IL 60564.
The office is on the west side of the building, behind Taps and Tenders & the Trek bike shop. Please park in the lot facing Rt. 59.
Once you leave your car, go to the west entrance and look for “Suite 113.”
Please have a seat in the waiting area, and Dr. Brendel will come and greet you at your appointment time.
Excellent location for those in Naperville, Plainfield, Aurora, and Oswego.