Christine Manuel, LCSW
(she/her)
Preferred Name: Christine
About Me
As a licensed clinical social worker, I find fulfillment in helping Individuals improve their quality of life
and navigate their personal path. I have over fifteen years of clinical experience and something I have
learned along the way is that people desire to improve their quality of life, but often don’t know how.
We can become distracted by day to day monotony, comparing ourselves to others or feel held back by
things from our past. Balancing responsibilities and meeting the expectations placed on us can cause us
to lose our way at times, but finding your own way to not just live but thrive is possible.
In my practice I enjoy walking side by side with and providing support to Individuals as they set personal
goals to work towards their authentic journey.
Education & Experience
I earned my Undergraduate degree in Psychology from Illinois Wesleyan University, and then went on to
earn my Master of Arts in Social Work from the University of Chicago. In undergraduate school I started
gaining experience through an internship with the Department of Children and Family Services where I
gained a wealth of knowledge around breakdowns in family systems and the impact of ruptured
attachments. I am also so grateful to have grown up in a family that found value in giving and serving
the community, so my desire to help others started from a very young age.
In graduate school I had two internships where I gained experience in providing psychotherapy and
community support to various populations, including at an Adolescent Substance Abuse Agency where I
developed a passion for engaging youth and adults in the community.
Following graduate school I worked in the Renal Dialysis Unit at Northwestern Hospital, supporting
Individuals experiencing Renal Failure as well as their loved ones. Most recently, I worked with families
formed through adoption for ten years with a focus on Adoptees with behavioral and emotional issues,
depression, anxiety, trauma, attachment difficulties, identity issues, grief and loss, and parent
support. I have provided clinical supervision for six years and find a lot of joy in helping new Clinicians
hone their skills.
I am a trained in EMDR, a Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®) Practitioner, and have formal
training in Level 1 Theraplay®
In my personal life, I am married and a mom of two elementary school aged children. I enjoy being
outside in nature, and reading on the couch. I love to travel and experience new things, and I have found
that physical exercise is one of the most impactful ways I manage my own mental health.
Professional & Volunteer Affiliations
NASW
emdria
Specialty Area
- Adoption
- Anxiety/Panic Attacks
- Stress Management
Population Served
- Adolescents (13-17)
- Adults
Language
- English
Insurance
- Does Not Accept Insurance