Bernice Banks

Bernice Banks is a licensed clinical social worker in Illinois and brings extensive, diverse experience treating adults, children, couples, and families. She earned her master’s degree from the University of Chicago in 1997 and holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Roosevelt University. Over the course of her career she has worked in both public and private settings within social services and mental health.

With more than 20 years of experience working with children and families, Bernice understands that deciding to seek professional help can be difficult. She approaches each person without judgment and believes that, together, there is a path forward. Acknowledging that a situation feels unmanageable on your own is an important first step, and she aims to provide a supportive, collaborative environment from that starting point.

For the past 12 years she has maintained a private practice with a specialization in marriage, couples, and family therapy. She also has a strong background in child and adolescent mental health and has worked extensively with families around those concerns. In addition to relationship and family work, her clinical areas include grief and loss, depression, stress and anxiety, self-esteem challenges, addictions, trauma and abuse, parenting issues, anger management, career difficulties, bipolar disorder, and coping with life changes.

Bernice uses therapy as a practical tool to offer information, support, and skill-building. She incorporates Cognitive Behavioral techniques to help clients gain insight, develop coping strategies, and create lasting change. Her primary goal is to empower clients to better understand their experiences, make informed choices about next steps, and strengthen the skills needed to handle future challenges. Working together, she aims to help individuals, couples, and families achieve those outcomes in a respectful and solution-focused manner.