Tatiana Perkins is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has a strong passion for working with children and adolescents. Tatiana specializes in helping young individuals navigate through the emotional and psychological impacts of trauma. Tatiana graduated in 2016 from Southern Illinois University of Carbondale, with her undergraduate’s degree in Social Work. She later received her master’s in social work from Aurora University in 2020.
Prior to joining Polaris Counseling, Tatiana worked at a therapeutic day school providing services to children and adolescents that suffer from school refusal, anxiety, trauma and major mental health diagnosis. There, Tatiana developed the skills working with IEP’s, 504 plans, networking between schools and outside health providers to help aid in the child’s progress. Tatiana also worked as a therapist at a local domestic violence shelter where she further gained experience working with children and adolescents that had significant traumas related to grief and loss, attachment and identity disorders, as well as sexual and domestic violence abuse.
With extensive experience in family therapy, she works to strengthen family dynamics and support healing within the home environment. Tatiana expertise extends to addressing a range of mental health disorders, such as anxiety, depression, complex PTSD, DID, OCD and many behavioral issues, providing personalized therapeutic approaches to foster resilience and emotional growth in young clients. Through empathy, communication, and evidence-based interventions, Tatiana has the tendency to create a safe space for children and adolescents to process their experiences and develop healthy coping strategies.
Therapeutically, Tatiana understands that certain circumstances or life events may have impacted you, but she believes your past shouldn’t control your future. “Just like history; your story continues”, meaning don’t let anything or anyone end your story for you. “In order to see progress, you have to trust the process and believe you will overcome all things meant to destroy you”.
What people are saying about Tatiana:
“Hello Ms. Perkins. I pray you are doing well… you’ve been weighing very heavily on my heart lately and I just wanted to reach out and see how you’re doing. I wanted to let you know the impact you’ve made on me and just how important you are. You truly helped me heal years of trauma and have been my number one advocate through these years. I’m not sure if you get the recognition you deserve, but I want you to know that all your efforts are seen. You are such a wonderful person, and I want you to know how much of a difference you make. Although I do have moments of weakness, I’m always reminded to pick myself back up because you’ve encouraged me to love and take care of myself. I know one day you will help another person just like me, grow and love themselves, and I hope they realize how lucky they are to have you!”
Tatiana’s Recommended Readings:
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma – Bessel van der Kolk M.D.
The Shadow Work Journal 2nd Edition: a Guide to Integrate and Transcend Your Shadows: The Essential Guidebook for Shadow Work – Keila Shaheen
Inner Child Recovery Workbook – Linda Hill
Increasing Connections – Felicia Edwards, LMFT
Vibrate Higher Daily: Live your Power – Lalah Delia
The Silence that Binds Us – Joanna Ho
The Art of Breaking Things – Laura Sibson
The Origins of You – Vienna Pharaon
It Didn’t Start with You – Mark Wolynn
No Bad Parts – Richard C. Schwartz, PHD
Childhood Disrupted – Donna Jackson Nakazawa
Codependent No More – Melody Beattie
Stop People Pleasing – Hailey Magee
It’s Okay That You’re Not Okay – Megan Devine
Genograms: Assessment and Treatment – Monica McGoldrick MA MSW PhD
