Fernando Gonzalez III
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker in IL
- Foundational Theraplay® Practitioner
- Positive Parenting Program Provider
Clinical Experience
I have over 5 years of experience working with preschool and school-age children, and adolescents. I have done so in residential care centers, schools, non-profit community agencies and in private practice.
Because of my work with young children, I also work closely with caregivers. My work with caregivers consist of parent coaching for behavior management, involvement in child therapy sessions to support relationship building with their child, and coordination of care through collaboration with: teachers, guardian at litem, and school social workers.
I approach my clinical work through a developmental, multi-cultural, trauma-informed and somatic lens. My past experience is primarily in providing client centered play therapy.
Areas of expertise include:
| Anxiety | Anger | Attachment | Depression | Routines | Sexual Abuse | Somatic Complaints | | Transitions | Trauma |
Education and Advanced Training
I obtained my graduate degree in Social Work at the Erikson Institute, a graduate school rooted in child development. Prior to, I obtained my Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology at Loyola University of Chicago.
While in graduate school, my first year of clinical training was completed at the Chicago Children's Advocacy Center supporting caregivers of child sexual abuse survivors. While at the ChicagoCAC, I received training in the Attachment, Self-Regulation and Competency (ARC) framework and Triple P (Positive Parenting Program).
My second year of training was completed at the Center for Contextual Change. My role as a therapist required that I provide individual and group therapy to adult survivors of complex trauma, including child sexual abuse, interpersonal violence, and adults in recovery of sexually problematic behaviors. While at the Center, I received training in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness, and the Collaborative Change Model.
After graduating I returned to the ChicagoCAC where I provided individual play therapy to child survivors of sexual abuse and led psycho-education groups. While at the ChicagoCAC I was certified as a Positive Parenting Program Provider. At the same time, I was a contractual therapist at the Theraplay® Institute in Evanston where I provided dyadic play therapy through the use of Theraplay principles and obtained my Foundational Theraplay Practitioner Certificate. I then transitioned into private practice as a play therapist at Kid Matters Counseling P.C. where I provided individual play therapy, dyadic play therapy, and parent coaching.
At the moment, I am a Medical Social Worker at Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital, I am working towards completing my 3rd year in the Somatic Experiencing (SE) training program to become a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner.