meet renee
she/her
Hi there! My name is Renee Ridolfi. I am a former teacher turned therapist who loves working with adolescents, teens, and young adults.
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I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who is passionate about working with adolescents, their caregivers, and young adults (ages 10-30) because of my own experience with complex trauma and depression. I know how challenging life can be when you feel stuck, overwhelmed, and isolated, which is why I seek to be a source of compassion and reliable support for my clients.
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I welcome humans of all shapes, races, and genders, and I work to create a space that is safe and affirming for my clients to be and explore who they are. I operate from a place of anti-oppression and radical empathy, and I believe you are the expert of your own life. Therapy should be a collaborative process that fosters growth, so I work in tandem with clients to find opportunities to become the most authentic version of themselves and live a meaningful life.
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I utilize a variety of therapy modalities, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Our pain and suffering can also live in our bodies, so I approach therapy through a trauma-informed lens and may incorporate mindfulness techniques in our work together.
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You can easily distract me in sessions by talking about rescue dogs, social justice activism, good food, travel, hiking, or the TV show, Severance.
We live in a world where systems deeply impact our ability to access the care and support we need to thrive. I am committed both personally and professionally to practice from a place of cultural humility and radical inclusivity. I see the world from the perspective of a cis, white, heterosexual, mostly able-bodied woman with chronic pain. I recognize that it is my responsibility to unlearn the systems of oppression from which I have benefitted and been impacted by in order to better understand the perspectives and lived experiences of the folks with whom I work.
statement of positionality & inclusivity
education & experience
education
Master of Social Work, The University of Chicago, Crown School of Social Work, Policy & Practice
Master of Education, Elementary Education, University of Missouri, St. Louis
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology & Spanish, DePaul University
experience
I have experience working with adolescents and young adults, as well as the caregivers of clients under 18, in a private practice and school setting. I hold a Trauma-Informed Certificate from The University of Chicago’s Crown School of Social Work, Policy & Practice, have attended trainings in Restorative Justice, and continue to seek opportunities for anti-racist education and action in my work.
Prior to my experience in the mental health field, I worked with at promise youth in education for almost a decade as a fifth grade teacher and nonprofit professional. Through that work, I learned the importance of collaborating with children and adolescents, families, community stakeholders, and systems in order to create pathways to expanded opportunity, particularly in our most marginalized communities.
