Anna Elagina (SHE/HER/HERS)

MA, CADC, CODP1, NCC, LCPC

Anna Elagina grew up in the Southern part of Russia, where high mountains meet the Black Sea, where the unbelievably warm climate allows palm trees, peaches, and oranges to grow, and where multiple cultures and nationalities meet and learn from each other.  In her early 20’s Anna left this paradise, moved to Moscow where she received her education and training from the prestigious faculty from Moscow State University, earning a degree from Dubna University.  There she met her husband who was offered an opportunity to continue his Ph.D. in physics in the United States of America. 

The decision to move to the U.S. coincided with a larger idea Anna had– that she could help people and work as a psychologist anywhere in the world.  The quick realization of this wrongful thinking came on the first day in the United States when Anna realized that in order to help people with the skills she learned in school, she would need to learn the language! Unbelievably, in two short years Anna learned and became fluent in English. She then attended Waubonsee Community College and received a Certificate in Substance Abuse Counseling (CADC). For 9 years Anna worked as a substance abuse counselor assisting people with recovery from drug addiction in a variety of treatment modalities. She graduated with her Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Governors State University in 2019 and completed intensive training while working at Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital in Hoffman Estates.

Anna loves working with adolescents and adults while helping them to overcome a variety of mental health issues, including anxiety disorders, OCD, BFRB, Depression, Bipolar Disorder, ADHD, and substance abuse.  She is experienced in individual, family, and group therapy, and truly understands the value of family dynamics and the cultural background of the family.  She is well versed in evidence-based therapeutic approaches, including CBT, Habit Reversal Training, and ERP.  Anna is a member of the American Counseling Association. 

“Hearing that someone is feeling better after talking to me or someone’s life has changed for the better gives me energy and desire to continue helping.”