Prior to starting her own private practice in 2021, Dr. Rachael worked at the Chicago CBT Center full-time for 10 years providing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to children, teens, and adults struggling with a range of anxiety disorders, relationship challenges, and mood and impulse control difficulties. Dr. Schuster also gained experience in leadership by providing individual and group supervision to colleagues working toward licensure. She assisted with interviewing, hiring, and training.
Dr. Schuster has been licensed as a Clinical Psychologist since 2011. She received her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Indiana University in 2010 and her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2005. Before moving to Illinois, Dr. Schuster completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at the Center for the Treatment and Study of Traumatic Stress at Summa St. Thomas Hospital in Akron, Ohio. Her fellowship provided intensive training in cognitive behavioral therapies among adults with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.
For the past 15 years, her caseload has been split: about half adults and half children and teens (along with their parents). She enjoys working with people across the age range and seeing the growth and development of individuals over time. When working with children, it is vital for her to include their parents in the treatment process.
Dr. Schuster has a collaborative approach and enjoys networking with colleagues in the local community, disseminating evidence-based treatments, and teaching. Rachael taught classes in Child and Adolescent Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to Masters and Doctoral students at Rosalind Franklin University in 2012, 2014, and 2019. She has special interests in the mind-body connection, sports psychology, identity development, and issues impacting family functioning.
Click here to review Dr. Schuster’s Curriculum Vitae.
I am a school psychologist who is devoted to helping children develop an
understanding of themself in order to reach their full potential. I serve full time as a public school psychologist and believe that every child deserves a free and appropriate public education according to their individual needs. Often, these needs exceed academics as children can become overwhelmed in this modern day. My career path has led me to create a bridge between school and home in order to best support the individual needs of every child.
Because I aim to support children’s mental, emotional, behavioral, academic, and social health, collaboration with all caregivers is critical. This is most often achieved through rapport building, coaching, open dialogue, and consistency.
I pride myself in being approachable and making sure that parents and children leave each session with clear and practical strategies to approach their goals. Most importantly, I enjoy forming a personalized connection with each client and helping them gain the skills they need to thrive.
My favorite part of the assessment and therapy process is that “lightbulb” moment when a child or parent is able to connect real-life experiences to new insights about the brain and behavior. I use a number of evidence-based strategies that are based in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and an in-depth knowledge of child development. Together, I can help you and your child reach your goals for a more peaceful and enjoyable life.
Click here to review Dr. Deliberto’s Curriculum Vitae.