At a glance
Best fit for: Couples and family, substance use and codependence, trauma/PTSD, domestic violence, adoption and foster, first responders, OCD, parenting; adults.
Approaches: CBT, psychodynamic.
Who Am I?
Hi there! I’m Patti Zullo (she/hers), a therapist who enjoys working with adults, couples, and families. This journey of self-examination can be uncomfortable at times, and while I can’t help you avoid the uncomfortable, I’ll always sit right next to you. I believe change is always possible if we’re willing to be exposed, look in the mirror, and see reality.
I specialize in working with:
- Adults experiencing interfering anxiety, grief, family-of-origin challenges, life transitions, substance use or codependence, and parenting challenges
- Couples preparing for transitions like living together, marriage, or children, and those working through infidelity, parenting alignment, or separation and divorce
- First responders and the families who support them
- Blended family challenges
- Adoption and foster care exploration, whether you’re an adoptee or growing your family
How I help
Deciding to attend therapy often brings a mix of anticipation, fear, skepticism, and relief. I think it’s most important to welcome and validate all of those feelings while building an emotionally safe space to explore the why of your decisions and how to move toward living an intentional life. I lean on CBT and family systems work, because your family-of-origin experiences strongly shape the lens through which you see the world. I often help people with anxiety and relationships.
What a session with me is like
A session with me is meant to feel like a conversation, not an interrogation. My style is informal and user-friendly, I don’t have a special “therapy voice,” and clients often tell me they can read my face. I’m direct, honest, and solution-focused, always encouraging you to release your feelings unfiltered and messy, because this is never about judgment. I often say my job is to open that closet door, let everything you’ve been holding onto fall out, then pick up one thing at a time to examine why you’re holding it and whether it’s only weighing you down. You can’t shock me, and all I ask for is honesty.
What I believe
A little more about me
I’m a wife, mother, grandmother, and dog owner, and I’m blessed with many friends, including some I’ve had since kindergarten. I love the sun and anything that lets me feel it on my face.
A few common questions
Do you offer virtual sessions?
Yes, I see clients virtually across Illinois, and in person at our Sauganash office.
What do you help with most?
Anxiety, grief, family-of-origin and life transitions, couples work, first responders, blended families, and adoption or foster care.
What insurance do you take?
BCBS PPO, Optum/United, Cigna, BCBS HMO Northshore, and Aetna.
- AetnaBCBS HMO NorthshoreBCBS PPOCignaOptum/United
